You know when you come back from the garden with a basket looking like this you have a full day of work ahead of you. For canned goods so far this season I have put up zucchini relish, zucchini pickles, kosher dill pickles, pickled garlic, rhubarb, strawberry jam, and chicken broth. With the tomatoes I have made spaghetti sauce and a cream of tomato soup which has already been consumed and or I frozen. I LOVE to can but if I can freeze it that is the usually the route I take out of convenience. For any of you new to canning my canning bible is THE BLUE BOOK OF PRESERVING. It can be purchased on Amazon for less then $10. With our gardens I could literally put food up all day everyday but I do not want to spend my summer in the kitchen. I put up what I can and the rest is consumed fresh or given away to friends & family. Today is a work day catching up around the homestead. I will be putting up some green beans and we will start planting our fall crops in addition to moving the cows. The next 2 days we will play! That is kind of how we roll here. Work a couple... play a couple. It is all about finding that balance! We have had a wonderful summer and I have literally taken thousands of pictures in hopes that some day I will have more computer time to sit down and post about a few of our Maine adventures. Stay tuned ;)
My favorites !!!! I would eat all of them and give myself a belly ache !
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to attempt canning, but I never know where to start. I actually saw The Blue Book of Preserving at my local hardware store yesterday (whodda thunk?) and almost went for it. Now I surely will, thanks!
ReplyDeleteMorning, glory...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good way to roll, if you ask me. :)
I have been busy as a bee, canning, freezing and drying more things than ever. Here in the midwest we are prone to power outages in the winter and I feel more secure with things canned or dried. Getting ready to put another batch of onions and tomatoes in the dehydrator. It's been a grand year for the gardens...but get this: my zucchini practically laid down and died!! I got almost no zukes, when usually you start having nightmares about them all. lol
Glad things are well...I'm taking this morning off too.
You are so lucky to have all those tomatoes! I planted 20, have 8 volunteers, and not one ripe tomato yet! My zucchini kept getting blossom end rot so i yanked it, i was looking forward to freezing shredded zucchini for bread all year. But hey that's how mother nature rolls!
ReplyDeleteSo many tomatoes! YUM! I've only had a couple so far.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever canned vegetable soup? I think you'd like having it on hand in the pantry. It is delicious on its own, or as the base for numerous other meals.
Looks like you have been busy too...things are crazy busy here and we have not even started our harvest yet!! Come say hi!!
ReplyDeleteWow! As I look at your tomatoes, I can't help but think ahead at how busy I will get in a few weeks. I have lots of green tomatoes but none are ripe yet but it soon will come.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of work but its so rewarding! I love the beauty of a well filled pantry and jars full of lovely food, cooling on the table!
ReplyDeleteCountry Girl,
ReplyDeleteI just have a quick question for you but couldn't find an email so had to resort to this. I am an environmental blogger. Please email me back at barbaraobrien@maacenter.org when you get a chance. Thanks.
Barbara
Wonderful bounty, but like you said- lots of work ahead! Your garden must have been a huge success this year- good for you!
ReplyDeleteI have already done 4 batches of jams...almost ready to start salsa, pickles, peppers....
ReplyDeleteI just spotted the zuke pickles and relish that I want to give a go in the blue ball canning book! We have zukes growing our the ears, and I too have been freezing. Wash, blanch, freeze. It can't get better then that, especially on hot hot days!
ReplyDelete:)Lisa