Showing posts with label jam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jam. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A week in my garden and kitchen-

It's been an incredible week here!
Probably why I haven't been posting near as much as I should!
Warning: This post is a big pic heavy!


The peas are here!
And they are delicious, friends.

Last night, we had spinach salads topped with sliced cukes and green peas.
The flavor was sweet and fresh. Love it!


We've been eating our homegrown zucchini!
It's so fresh, cutting it is like cutting butter.


We could use a bit of rain, but the cukes still grow!


We had so many (a dozen in a day and a half) that I made dill pickles!


The yellow cherry tomatoes!
Growing like crazy.
I think there are 3 dozen green ones on this particular plant!

Grew these specifically for Jackson-
Keelin doesn't like fresh tomatoes, although I'm hoping that we can sway her this summer!


He emerged from the sandbox long enough to have a tasty treat!
Check out his sandy little paws!
hehe :)


What I brought in from the garden on Monday-
a zucchini, a dozen cucumbers, a pink egg, a cream colored egg, and a blue egg!


It was our first 3 egg day ever!
We're usually happy to find one- thrilled if there is two!
The third egg means that a new hen has started laying.
Very exciting!


I got some amazing peaches at the Farmer's market!
AND these are my cukes sliced up for pickling in the sterilized jars.


About half of what I made Monday night.
I made 4 pints of peach jam, 3 pints of Moscato wine jelly, and almost a dozen jars of dill pickles!

Oh, and I pickled a few jalapenos for Tim!
Just cuz I love him.


A shot of round 2 of peach jam making.
This batch came out much better than the first, for some reason.

The last of those peaches?
I'm thinking about making Spiced Peaches!
Anyone ever made them before?


This is a picture of what I've put up this week-
-tomato jelly
-peach jam
-moscato wine jelly
-dill pickles
-pickled jalapeno peppers
-apple butter
(although a special post is coming about the apple butter!!)

My father is helping me get a place in the basement ready for all of my canning. It's best to store your jars in a cool, dry place that's pretty dark. We're cleaning up an awesome cabinet to do jar duty- will post pics when it's finished!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Making strawberry jam!

My first experience making strawberry jam!


The gorgeousness we started out with!


Capped and hulled!


What up, compost?!


Wash!


Smursh!
6 cups of smurshed strawberries for my recipe!


A little treat while I worked!


Heating up my lids!


Sterilizing my jars!


Rockin' out!


My big pot after I was finished!


Success!

And I tell you, I will NEVER buy store bought jelly/jam/preserves ever ever again!
This stuff is incredible!

And for those interested in trying it, DO!
It is so incredibly easy-
I'm not kitchen inclined and since then, I've made 20 more pints!
All successful.
It really isn't difficult!
I promise! :)

Sunday, May 29, 2011

A gift for Keelin's teachers!


Here is one of the jars of strawberry jam that resulted from our three, yes three, trips to the berry farm!
:)
Now, on my shelves, I have 20 pints of strawberry preserves, 4 gallons frozen in the freezer for smoothies and baking, plus another two gallons on the counter waiting to be dealt with. Not sure what we will make next! I'm thinking some mixed preserves- like peach/strawberry. We shall see!