This past few months I have canned more things than i think I have canned in my whole life! I got into the groove of canning & it no longer was a chore, I canned something every weekend since May!! There was of course fruit jams, dilly beans & pickles. The pickles were a bit of a let down but I have learned that you MUST slice off the tips of the cukes before pickling them. For some reason they get soggy if you don't. Lesson learned but my wonderful hubby Mark eats them anyway. I also did Bread & butter pickles for the first time ever(still cannot eat them tho) Mark asked & I did them for him. I have gotten quite good at Salsa and even sell it at my craft fairs!! We have to say we eat at least 5 jars a week!! Nothing better than fresh tomato salsa!. BountifulBaskets.org has helped me make all kinds of goodies. It is a fresh fruit & veggie co~op I participate in every week!! $16.50 & I get 2 big baskets of fruit & veggies a week!! We never know what is in the baskets that I get up VERY (4am) on Saturdays to help unload the truck, sort & load up baskets for everyone to pick up!! I love watching the faces of all those early risers when they see what is in the baskets!! There's always something different, I learned about Jerusalem artichokes, anise, Jicama and a few other things. we all talk about the odd things and learn from others who know what it is!! Fun times!!
This coming year I plan on a garden so I might not get weekly baskets if I can grow my own food!! I also want to try chickens if I can talk Mark into them. Some neighbors have them and I would love to be able to have my own fresh eggs too!! We'll see!!
Right now my food storage is brimming with salsa, jams, tomato sauce,dilly beans, pickles and a couple dozen jars of dilly asparagus. My friend has told me she will show me how to use my pressure canner so I see meats & veggies in jars in my near future.
It's been a good summer & will be a tasty winter!!
