Summer extravaganza

So I know I have been sort of neglectful over here. In all honesty there has not been a whole lot of note worthy stuff going on here.

I have been doing a lot of canning as I do every summer. In case you have forgotten last summer...let me remind you. 2008 summer canning extravaganza

This summer has been no exception. Thus far I have done ......

• strawberry jam
• raspberry jam
• raspberry syrup
• blueberry syrup
• blueberry pie filling
• apricots
• beets
• pickles
• salsa
• peach/pineapple salsa
• pickled peppers
• bing cherry pie filling
• stewed tomatoes

My kitchen has been a nonstop conveyor belt of garden goodness. But I have not been documenting all this action on this blog. Instead I have been working a lot over at my other blog Gen x home ec. I have been working at putting up recipes and "How to's" for a lot of my basic stuff.

Come check it out and try some of my recipes out. Lord knows they are family tested.

And then came the green beans....

So to follow in the obsession......today was dilly bean day. I think I may have a problem here :)

Check these beauties out though I mean c'mon!! It may be too bold to just come right out and say it, but shucks, I am going to do it anyway....I RULE!!!!



Also in other news, but totally related to the above and past couple days.....something I have suspected for quite sometime. It turns out I would make an awesome 1930's housewife. Who knew? See if you can beat me score.

72 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

And then came the peaches....

So if you have been playing the home game, you have been following my obsession that happens every summer. I have become obsessed with preserving enormous quantities of produce.

Today my Mom came over and we canned up 2 cases of peaches. In my estimation, these will have been consumed in approximately 3 months. Each year I make more and more, yet we cruise through them like no body's business.

Although we did have a good time. There is something fun when there is someone else to share the canning and blanching responsibilities with. I think the Amish women may be onto something with their canning socials.

Tomorrow....green beans.

But not just beans.....dilly beans. Only like the best pickled vegetable ever.
Stay tuned.

And then come the blackberries....

This year we decided to go across the street for our blackberries. Every year I pick them and make up jam, but this year we didn't have too far to go. We have a protected wetland across the street from us that is a but overgrown. The kids discovered a bunch of blackberry bushes over there last week, so we all grabbed a couple of baskets and went out. We got about a flat or so.

I thought instead of just doing it, I am going to employ the kids help making this jam. That and what better way for them to learn how to this for themselves. This is how I learned many of my domestic skills, by watching and helping my mom and grandma in the kitchen. These are good skills to know .

Everyone took their turn squishing the berries through the sieve. Then the kids had to count the pops of the jars once they went through the canning process to make sure they got sealed. A good time was had by all.

Next on our list....peaches.