Summer canning...55 jars of homemade goodness

Summer around here means tending to the garden, pulling weeds, keeping everything watered and then waiting for everything to grow and ripen.  It's that time so I've been busy canning.  I wasn't quite sure I'd find a canning pot that would work with my induction top stove but I found this large size, stainless steel one at Walmart.  Works like a charm.  If you use an induction top stove, just make sure you see the induction compatible icon on the sticker.  Then you'll know you're good to go.

Good canning supplies and clean jars are a must.  I use only sterilized jars that are meant for canning.....no mayonnaise jars or cleaned up pickle jars.  Usually I stick with Ball or Kerr and Ball lids.  I like Certo Sure Jell for my liquid pectin but I tried the powdered version this Summer with good results too.

There's always a little pan of simmering water ready to warm up the lids.  This is key as it gets the rubber on the lids softened and makes for a perfect seal every time. First up was the fruits and Peach Jam.  My local grocery store had some nice, ripe fruit this year that was really sweet.

 This is a favorite and probably reminds me of Summer the most come Winter time. Nothing like it on homemade biscuits.

 My mom always freezer Strawberry Jam but I opted to can mine.

 My jars ended up a little foamy but there was just too much to scrape off.  Tastes just as good on some toast made from homemade bread.

These little jars of Blueberry Peach Preserves will be yummy warmed up and poured over a bowl of vanilla ice cream....or over homemade yogurt with granola.

I spent two full days in the kitchen canning.  Temperatures were very mild so I didn't mind heating up the kitchen for a while.  My kitchen usually looks like this during canning season.  The stove is a boiling, sticky or bubbly mess, the countertops are lined with clean towels and cooling jars.  There's fresh picked zucchini, cucumbers and the like laying around....and there's always that wonderful sound to any canner's ears....the pop, pop, pop of sealing jars. 

Next up I moved on to some sweet green peppers that I picked from the garden.  I purchased the colored varieties at the store. 

 This beautiful mixture is Picked Peppers & Onions with a garlicky/peppery brine.  I added in a few jalapeno slices for a little heat. I plan to dump these over a roast, use on hamburgers or maybe mix some into some salads.  Lots of possibilities here.

 Loved how these turned out straight from the canner.  So bright and fresh looking.

 As always, the heat always turns the veggies a little muted color but these are still so pretty.  I might even enter one of these in the fair this year....just to relive my 4-H days.

Next I picked a variety of hot peppers from the garden.

I was just about out of Candied Jalapenos.  My family loves these over cream cheese with crackers, some dips and in Chili with a cool dollop of sour cream. 

 These are more mild pepperoncini peppers. I sliced some and left some whole.  I'll use these over salads and will dump some over roasts in the slower cooker this Winter.

 That's my beautiful bounty so far.  55 jars of homemade goodness.

It feels so rewarding to grow your own garden goodies, preserve them in fun ways....and then reap the fruits of your labor come Fall and Winter.  All the sweat and hard work pays off.  I have lots of veggies still in the garden so most likely I'll be canning up more jars for Christmas gifts this year.  

Haven't tried canning?  Think it's too hard?  It's not.....just get the right supplies, use fresh ingredients, follow the instructions exactly and you'll be on your way.  Hope you give it a try and that we start a new canning revolution!

The Country Life: Snakes

I'm going to start informing ya'll about the country life. It's dangerous folks. If you've ever thought that you might want to move to the country to live a better quality of life, listen to the birds and grow corn.....well let me tell ya, I brush with death often.

Look what tried to kill me today:
It's true. I went outside for about 30 minutes to look at my flowers, listen to the birds(it ain't all pretty though folks), walk up to get the mail and to just enjoy the beautiful sun-shiney day. I come back down the drive to go back into the house. I had only one door unlocked which was by the garage door. Right where I need to go is THIS MONSTER!! Now I don't usually like to use foul language on my blog but I neeeeeed to say it like it is so you get the real deal. I literally about crapped my shorts right there on the spot, people.

This monster was all curled up with his slithery body just waiting for a good meal. You can't tell from the picture but he was about 6 feet long and 3 feet around and his fangs were so long they looked like stilts!! Seriously, I wouldn't mislead you. I screamed for what went on for 30 seconds or so and back pedalled so fast across the driveway, I looked like a fast blowing breeze.

Now what do I do? I'm being stalked by this spineless monster that wants to eat me for lunch and I cannot escape. He's blocking the only open entrance into my house. I think surely he will sliter away if I throw stuff at him. So after about twenty or a 1,000 rocks, he's not only NOT moving, he's hissing and striking at me. Niiiiiiice. Just so you know, I was about 95% sure that this wasn't a rattle snake because he didn't have the diamonds on his back, or the coloring or the rattles on his tail. But don't kid yourself people, he still wanted to kill me right then and there. I could almost swear I saw his jaws dislocate in anticipation.

So the rocks aren't working. So I'm thinking that maybe I could throw the mail at it one piece at a time and it would be on it's way. First up is the stupid birthday post card that my insurance guy sends me. His secretary signs it for him and like he really cares about my birthday anyway. So I flick it at the monster. I miss. Next up is the 100th piece of Netflix junk mail I've gotten this month. It's heavier so I'm thinking this will work. I miss but the snake gets even more hissier. I'm down to my last piece of mail......an honest to goodness, real life birthday card. I didn't want to sacrifice it but I had to. I miss. Dang. DOUBLE dang, what do I do now?

I look around the yard and find this big board that Eric has in his pickup bed. Yes! I can shield myself from the monster's deadly fangs and make my get away into the house. The entire time that I walk closer to the garage door, the snake is eyeing me and striking. Nice, I can see the headlines now. *Fat woman with ugly plaid shorts, ratty shirt, no make-up or bra and giant board.....killed by snake in her own drive way*.

Against all odds, I make a run for it. The snake strikes at me some more but I make it! I immediately snap a photo of it from the inside window and send it to Eric via cell phone. He calls me and says...*Why don't you just get the broom and shoo it away*. Um helllo? This thing would use the broom for a toothpick!!!!! I decide I needed a better photo so that I could have evidence of what about killed me. So I step out onto the deck and take a closer photo.

Just then my dad drives by in his farm buggy. I wave him down frantically and he comes down the drive. I tell him to be careful but to come look at this snake. He comes closer, hoe in hand. My dad says *Well, I think it'll be alright, it's not a rattler*. Just then the snake strikes at Dad. And then my dad chops his head off and says *We'll have none of that!* Ya right, you're scared of him too Dad!!!

I thank Dad and tell him that I'm so glad he was driving by. He said *Well I kinda had to, Eric called me.* OMG, my husband calls my dad to come rescue me!!! All is well now and I'm safe and sound inside!!

So see, I feel compelled to tell you about country life. It's not all about fresh veggies and hay rack rides.