Just when I think I'm finished canning, I find out I'm not!

One of our hog customers won't be able to pick up their hog so we've stored it in the little freezer for them.  This freezer was ear marked for our chickens, which we needed to pick up last week!  Time to rearrange the large chest and the upright freezers to make room for the birds.

I only put up 9 pints of hot packed chicken, but there is more chicken waiting to be canned.  The shelves in the kitchen are FULL.  This is a picture taken a few weeks ago and I've added more to it since then (and there is more down cellar).

We have been abundantly blessed this year.

Speaking of blessings, Paul & I will be going to "A Weekend to Remember"

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Monday - September 25, 2006

After a full day at work, I tossed a pizza in the oven, spooned out some chocolate chip cookie dough on a cookie sheet to be baked & tackled the basket of pears.

After about 60 minutes of peeling & coring, i had enough for 6 quarts (and 1 pint) of pears in very light syrup.  I make my very light syrup by using 6 cups of water and 1-1/2 cups sugar.

Tonight I plan on preparing the pears for making Vanilla Pear Jelly tomorrow:

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Sunday - September 24, 2006

There are many folks I come in contact with that don't understand how I can do so much WORK.  I tell them it isn't real work because I enjoy it.  Here's a classic example:

Sunday we had good friends come down from the Chicago-land area.  (They homestead on 1/2 acre.  What they don't have in land, they make up in heart.  I don't know too many folks who can year 'round!) 

When they arrived, I was just finishing jarring up some Lemon Basil Jelly.  Ivy & I got to lick out the pan ... yum!  We caught up the draft horses, dressed them in their work clothes, hitched them to the farm wagon and took a 2 mile ride to some neighbors who had an apple tree that was overloaded.  We picked & ate our fill and drove 2 houses down to another neighbor wallowing in pears.  We again picked & ate our fill of pears and headed back down the road.

Some would say picking fruit may be time consuming work, but when it's filled with laughter and fellowship ...

Our friends had brought gifts of homemade pickles, old canning jars with paraffin and even an old, hand-cranked ice cream maker.  We loaded them up with jellies & jams and a fair share of the apples & pears.

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Ever had a cold, damp evening where the only thing that sounds good is a good hearty bean soup??  I like bean soup made from dry beans, but that isn't so easy to whip up when it's 6:00 PM and you're just coming in from work.

My family loves this recipe.  I call it my 'Cheater Bean Soup'.

• 1/4 - 1/2 lb bacon, cut into bite sized pieces
• chopped onion (or two)
• chopped green pepper (optional)
• chopped garlic (optional)

Get these ingredients frying in bottom of pot.  When bacon is cooked & vegetables are tender, add:

• 4 cans of beans - I like navy, black bean, black-eyed peas, red beans
• 1 can sliced carrots, drained
• 1 can sliced potatoes, drained
• 1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

Add to taste:  salt, pepper, lemon pepper

Serve with corn bread.

YUM!

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This is the first time I am making 'wines'.  This is a simple recipe from someone who has tried it and said it works well.

6 cups chunked fruit (any kind)

6 cups sugar

Place fruit and sugar into gallon container.  Fill with water.  Stir well.  Cover.  Stir every day for 30 days.  Rack off (strain fruit & sediment from wine).  Bottle.  Do not decrease amount of sugar!

I'm afraid this will turn into more of a vinegar than a wine, but if it does, I'll put some of my MOV (mother of vinegar) in the containers & have designer vinegars!

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Dried vegetables & fruits are easy!

For the apple wedges, I core the apples and slice (wedge) the apples 8 to 16 times depending on the diameter of the apple.  (You can put the apples wedges in Fruit Fresh at this time if you like.)  For flavored apples, roll apples in cinnamon/sugar or honey.  Place in dehydrator.  It takes about 12 hours to dry.  Place apples in air tight container.

For dried bananas, slice bananas 1/3" thick, dip in honey, place in dehydrator.

For fruit roll-ups, blenderize fruits, adding sugar to taste, to make a paste.  Spread on wax paper and place in dehydrator. 

For dried tomatoes I like using Romas.  Slice about 1/2" thick in circles.  Sprinkle with ground herbs such as basil (lemon basil is wonderful!), oregano, chives, garlic, et al.  Place in dehydrator.  Store in air tight container.
Dried fruits & vegetables will be slightly chewy.  Make sure they are thoroughly dry otherwise you risk mold!

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