Canning

Grape Picking

Hi Sis,

We missed Elderberry picking and making jelly this year. The farm where we go picking is about two hours away, so it is definitely not a trip I like to make on my own. Our neighbor Fran who introduced us to Elderberry jelly usually heads down to pick berries as well, but they were too busy to make it as well. So, Fran and I decided to go grape picking. After all, I need to make my Christmas jellies!

We live in wine country, so there are grape vineyards and wineries everywhere! There are three Pick U self places that I know off within five minutes of our house. We stopped by one, and had fun picking. Twenty one pounds of grapes for $7.00! Sure, is a lot cheaper than Elderberries.

Fran, Evelyn and Grandpa 

Grapes, grapes, grapes

Hey, it is a picture with me in it! I exist honest.

Helping mommy can

Because I am a crazy lady, I canned the jelly the same day that we picked the grapes. Before I know it, it was 8:00 pm and it didn’t cook it down as much as I would have liked, so it is thin… grape syrup anyone? But, boy does it taste amazing! 

Love Jamiegoof

This entry was posted in Canning.

Sweet William’s Pickles

Dear Sis,

Our backyard neighbors, Barb and Duke, gave us some home grown cucumbers. Nobody at our house eats fresh cucumber, but William downs a jar of sweet pickles each week. We made enough for two months:)

Bread & Butter Pickles
Yields 6
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Ingredients
  1. 6 sterilized pint jars with lids & bands
  2. 4 lb. small cucumbers
  3. 4 small onions, sliced
  4. 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  5. 2 T pickling salt
  6. 4 c apple cider vinegar
  7. 3 c granulated sugar
  8. 2 T mustard seed
  9. 1 t celery seed
  10. 1/2 t ground turmeric
  11. 1/4 t ground cloves
Instructions
  1. Trim ends and slice cucumbers 3/16 inch thick. Toss sliced cucumber, onion, and pepper with pickling salt and stand 3 hours.
  2. Rinse and drain salted vegetables twice.
  3. Combine vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric, and cloves in a large stock pot. Cover and bring to a boil on high.
  4. Add vegetable and cook stirring, just until the green of the cucumber skin begins to dual.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, place vegetables in sterilized jars.
  6. Top with brine 1/2 inch from jar top. Wipe jar openings clean with a damp sponge. Top with lids and bands.
  7. Process in a water bath 10 minutes. Stand 24 hours before disturbing. Remember to date and label contents before placing in a cool dark place to store up to one year.
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Poor William wants to try them right away! He’ll have to wait until tomorrow:)

Love,

b

Homemade Sauce

Dear Sis,

At the start of the month, our backyard neighbors gave us a second batch of garden tomatoes. Then, you brought more when you came to visit. Of course, we were much too busy during your visit for sauce making, so I froze the tomatoes for later. 

Later finally came on Sunday. We spent the morning getting the sauce ingredients in a large pot, so they could cook away for hours, whist we made Chocolate Whoopie Pies. We used most of the sauce later that day to prepare a large pan of lasagna for us and a half pan for our backyard neighbors.

Josh got to try some while he was home on Wednesday and gave it his best compliment. “It tastes like Prego.” 

Today we used the last of the sauce for a William favorite… spaghetti.

Homemade Tomato Sauce
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Ingredients
  1. 16 large fresh garden tomatoes or 4 (28 oz) canned tomatoes
  2. 3 carrots; peeled and shredded
  3. 3 ribs celery; minced
  4. 1 onion, chopped
  5. 3 T minced garlic
  6. 2 T Italian seasoning
  7. 2 T olive oil
  8. 2 - 3 T dark brown sugar
  9. 1 c grated Parmesan
  10. opt. 2 lbs. ground beef browned.
Instructions
  1. If using fresh tomatoes, score with a sharpe knife, boil one minute, place in cool water, and peel. If using frozen garden tomatoes, defrost in pot while making sauce, then peel.
  2. Heat oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Add tomatoes, carrots, and celery. Simmer 2-3 hours.
  4. Smooth sauce texture with an emersion blender if desired. Stir in cheese. Add 1 T brown sugar at a time until acidity is to your liking.
  5. Add beef if desired. Sauce is ready to use in your favorite recipes or can be frozen for later use.
Adapted from Space Ships and Laser Beams
Adapted from Space Ships and Laser Beams
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

I only had 6 large tomatoes and 2 small tomatoes, so I also used 2 (28 oz) cans diced tomato. 

If you want to can your sauce, instead of freeze it. Leave out the beef and limit sugar to 1 T so that acid leave is high enough for preservation. Process in a canning bath 40 minutes.

Love,

b

 

Pear Pie Filling

Hey Sis,

Here is the Pear Pie Filling recipe that I came up with.  Turns out, there isn’t as many canning recipes online for Pie Fillings, once you move past apple. lol. I thought about doing Cranberry Pear Pie filling, as it is a personal favorite.  But, then I remembered that Carmin and Nate aren’t big fans of Cranberries. So, I just made a simple, but tasty flavor that is sure to please almost everyone…we will still see about picky Mr. Carmin! Nate was there while I was making it, and liked it too.

Home Canned Pear Pie Filling
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Ingredients
  1. 7 Cups Apple Juice
  2. 3/4 Cup Water
  3. 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice
  4. 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  5. 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  6. 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract
  7. 1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  8. 1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  9. 4 Quarts of Diced up Pear
Instructions
  1. Process 5 Quart jars, lids, and bands in a hot water bath 10 minutes to sterilize.
  2. Chop and peal pears. Leave soak in water with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  3. Combine water, juices, sugar, extracts and spices; stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to simmer.
  4. Whisk Clear Jell into spiced syrup mixture; stirring until dissolved and thickened.
  5. Place pears into jars and ladle in syrup. Poke and stir with a spoon to remove air pockets and distribute filling. Leave 1 inch headspace, as filling expands during processing. Wipe rims and place bands finger tight.
  6. Place into water bath, and build for period recommended for your elevation.
Notes
  1. Makes Approximately 4 Quarts
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/