tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52317433271521610912011-10-03T19:50:47.089-07:00an h changes everythinglivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-61439873780821605442011-09-13T09:25:00.000-07:002011-09-13T09:25:22.868-07:00

I hardly know where to begin since I haven't written about any of my summer projects since the blackberries. Since then, I've made a melange of hot pepper slices which I'd call "Nacho Bizness" if I enjoyed puns. Okay, who am I kidding? I totally love puns!  Digressing... I also put up about 20 jars of fig preserves after receiving what I would refer to as the holy grail of phone calls. It went

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-51614876710000791812011-07-21T12:54:00.000-07:002011-07-21T13:44:35.328-07:00

By the time blackberries came in season this early summer, I was pretty excited. I also quickly discerned that my kids were approaching pro-rural status and was ready to test their picking skills. Son, 8, daughter, 5, and baby in a backpack managed to get out to the farm, pick 5 pounds of berries, and get home inside of an hour. We pretty much rock in the produce procuring process.Blackberry jam

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-7804412570120530962011-06-11T12:49:00.000-07:002011-06-11T13:06:37.312-07:00

So, there was that half cup or so of kumquat syrup reserved from what was left of the preserves into marmalade debacle. I decided to mix it in with a chopped mango, a cup of sugar, a couple of ounces of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of pectin. I cooked the fruit for a bit longer than I might typically, but only because the mango was not as ripe as I would have liked it to be. The yield was 1 half

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-7483742294955725172011-06-09T08:25:00.000-07:002011-06-09T09:00:18.771-07:00

There's been some talk about small batches on the Food In Jars facebook page lately. Obviously, small batches are great for people with small kitchens, little households or who just want to make something to save rather quickly. I was really mentally puffing up like a proud bird, and preparing to do nothing EVER on such a small scale until two things happened: a couple of packages of organic

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-87352820299604273172011-05-27T05:48:00.000-07:002011-05-27T06:19:39.095-07:00

Last week I came into a bushel of Vidalia onions. My father-in-law came back from his annual trip to the beach with bags and bags of these "straight out of the dirt" onions. It was pretty exciting...it has also been pretty intimidating to have 50 pounds of onions in your kitchen with nary an idea of what to do with them. I've imagined bottling my own salad dressings, chopping and freezing some of

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-78867958623348542132010-10-12T09:35:00.000-07:002010-10-12T13:07:45.959-07:00

First of all, I love windfall fruit. Second, I love pears. Third, I love putting them up in jar after sparkling jar where their champagney color shines through. But, sometimes when canning, I start feeling overwhelmed. Oh, say, for instance when I got through my 5th batch of preserves and a healthy stash of baby food, and realized that I still had about 10 pounds of pears left. That said,

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-66366839280623453422010-09-21T08:32:00.000-07:002010-09-21T09:00:12.031-07:00

I've been staring at 5 pounds of organic red onions for 2 weeks--or maybe they have been staring at me. After seeing this recipe, I became convinced that Pickled Red Onions with Mustard Seed was absolutely the next canning adventure I should have. I think it was heavily influenced by the pretty pink onion draped over the delicate, sterling pickle fork that got me.Today, I finally got to it.

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-58962763645570470222010-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:002010-08-05T08:32:33.738-07:00

My son has been following me around the house asking me this question for days mainly because he loves the answer. He teases me, challenges me, and laughs with hysteria as I answer, "plum jam" every time.Him: "Don't you know that PEOPLE are more important than plum jam?"Me: "Noooo...nothing is better than plum jam."Him: "OH COME ON! You like Baby better than plum jam!"Me: "I'm not so sure..."Him:

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-54732647106953185552010-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:002010-07-20T12:04:22.311-07:00

With just a few weeks left of peach season left in middle Georgia I'm feeling a special sense of urgency about getting enough to complete all the peachy things I'd like to put up before our state fruit vanishes until next year. Peach salsa was a huge hit, and so Mom and I have decided to make a double batch to put away in quart jars with a few alterations---maybe an onion with more "oomph" than

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-21832246062231467282010-07-13T08:59:00.000-07:002010-07-13T09:19:04.958-07:00

1. Thinking of last night, I love Belinda's Peach Salsa recipe and am thrilled with the 8 and a half pints I was able to preserve. This recipe has a "slow heat" and would be perfect with meats or just to dip insane amounts of tortilla chips into!2. I love that my oldest son told me, "Life is about doing the helping of others." as I lingered over my email a few extra seconds while the baby cried.

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231743327152161091.post-24987167989911209202010-07-12T10:34:00.000-07:002010-07-12T11:34:12.910-07:00

"Windfall: Function: noun; Date: 15th century1 : something (as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind2 : an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage"I went to visit my sweet friend on St. Simons Island over the 4th of July weekend. As always, good times, juicy conversations, and rolicking laughter were abundant. Also in abundance? Beautiful, small apples from my friend's tree. The

livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380521017004882851noreply@blogger.com8