Canning

This summer my canning has been interesting. I did not plant much garden since I knew we were moving so I have done most of my canning and freezing at dads this year. I did have enough tomatoes for a bath of salsa the day before the packers came so what did I do... Make salsa. Mom and Dad came to visit last weekend and brought tomatoes with them. So while unpacking the ripest tomatoes were made into spaghetti sauce, and the rest were saved for a couple days for a double batch of salsa. Last weekend at the farmers market mom and I could not pass up the peaches so I also canned 9 pints of peaches last weekend. This week at the market I got a good deal on cabbage so made kraut. The recipe is here http://parkhurst1.blogspot.com/2010/07/homemade-simple-sour-kraut.html?m=0  If your interested. It is the easiest thing ever. Don't know what's next. Need more fruit and salsa and spaghetti sauce we will see if it gets done this year.

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Why I LOVE putting up food

Today I tying to figure out what to fix for dinner for tonight and a couple more meals. Since we are waiting to move I am trying to clean out the cabinets and freezer. Well, I am kinda running out of stuff to pull out. That is why it is so great that we get a 1/4 beef from my Dad each year and I can. So for the next couple days we sill be having meatloaf, hamburger has, green veggies from last years garden and some tomato (I also have canned tomatoes from last year)  risotto.

Perserving the Summer Goodnes

I can and freeze A LOT in the summer. So I know what is in our food and in the long run it does save money. And it Tastes better :) I have gotten several emails, phone calls etc lately with questions and thought htis was a great read on how to decide what to make.

This is a good read to think about what you want and need to put up http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/07/planning-what-to-preserve.html#more-11664

For example I have already made 3 batches of pepper jelly most people one batch would be more than enough but I like to give it others and I aslo have an outlet to sell a few of my canned goodies (I usually try to at least sell enought to pay fot the year's worth of canning supplies.) It is not cheap your first year but once you have everything you need you are set and you Will LOve it.

Cleaning out the Pantry and Frezzer

It is getting closer and closer to garden time so  I am working on getting the pantry and frezzer cleaned out a bit this week.

Today for lunch
Baked spaghetti (sauce, from the fezzer and Hamburger using up before we get more beef from Dad next month)

Tonight for dinner
Pork Chops from frezzer
Corn from frezzer
garden bean beans canned from last year
Apple dip

We will see what else I can come up with. Harrison has school tomorrow and I will be working so we won't do lunch at home and leftovers will happening for dinner tomorrow.

Pear and Apples

Last weekend we put a few apples and pears up...

and here are a couple of our favorite recipes for apples and pears. http://akparkhurst.blogspot.com/2008/09/apples-and-pears.html

Veggies & Soup

This year has not be a great year for my garden but I have been trying to put up what I can . Above is bag of frozen veggies for soup this winter. I start the bags in the spring with peas put a few in the bag and freeze. Then as things come in I add them to the bag and put back in the freezer. So now I have peas, cor, carrots, and green beans all ready for big pot of veggie soup. We have also been bring in the sun flowers in to save for the birds this winter, since once again Harrison has to feed all things outside.

Here are a few helpful links

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/09/preserving-summers-bounty-considering-the-savings.html

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/08/preserving-summers-bounty-recipes-and-tutorials-to-keep-you-busy-until-thanksgiving.html

http://www.simplycanning.com/

Corn

Bag of corn from Dad means Corn Hulling at our house.

And Harrison is such a big helper this year (really he is, he loves it and actually does a good job)

Cutting it off the cob.

You have to have a little taste test. The real reason for him eating is so he can take the cob to the chickens :)

Lots of yummy corn.

For the compost which Harrison also takes care of for me.

Then I spread it out on baking pans and freeze then put in bags so I can just grab a handful or two when I need it for a dish or soup.

Its a busy time at our house but we enjoy these goodies all year this way.

It is Canning Time

Canning time is here and in full swing. It is a HOT job but and other things get ignored during canning season but in the winter I am oh so glad I have it. I know just what we are eating and it will be even more important now that Harrison is Gluten Free.

And this year I don't have to do everything while Harrison is alseep. He has been helping and actually really cutting down on my work.

Cute Ideas

Here are a few CUTE ideas I have some across lately and thought I would share and this way I can find them easily as well if I decide to do them in the future. watermelon Rice Krispies

baby blankets

canning party

Homemade SIMPLE Sour Kraut

I love sour kraut but no one else in my house does so this is just for me. This is a super simple kraut recipe pasted to me from my Mom who got it from a friend.



What you need:

Cabbage

banana peppers

green tomatoes

pepper flakes

kosher salt

distilled water ( A MUST SO IT WON'T TURN BROWN)

jars.



In the bottom of your jars put a heaping teaspoon of salt, then a layer of green tomatoes, and banana peppers (I put a lot of peppers)

Fill the rest of the jar with shredded cabbage, punching it down as you go, get as much cabbage in the jar as possible.

Put as much pepper flakes as you would like and another Heaping teaspoon of salt and fill with distilled water.

Put lids on and store for at least 14 days before eating, no processing needed. I really like this recipe since it is not cooked it is fresher tasting and not as sour as store bought kraut.