Of course, I found this link http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/vertical/msg0622582022244.html on Pinterest and wanted to try it. There are at least 5 pumpkins
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| Small tomatoes :( |
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| Two watermelons! |
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Pork Butchering
A couple a weeks ago we got together with Jerry & Paulette to butcher a sow pig into sausage and a small pig for us. We made German Sauage, Itlaialian, Joey Dean-recipe here. http://www.food.com/recipe/copycat-jimmy-dean-pork-breakfast-sausage-250325 Little Smokie Sauage. The German Sausage and the Little Smokie Sausage were mixes that Jerry bought from his butcher. They are VERY good and we plan to do more.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The snow has arrived
Its official- the snow has arrived. Last night was the first snow storm. We have about 3 inches now. We did not get a chance to rake up the leaves. Hopefully it will melt and we will be able to get that done as there was alot of them!
Today I made a batch of this jelly.http://growitcookitcanit.com/2011/03/17/stout-beer-jelly/ Joe makes homebrew, so when I saw the concept of making a beer jelly, I looked it up and found this recipe. It definitely has a stout flavor. It can be use on grill cheese sandwiches or used as a glaze for ribs.
Then I tried this recipe for Caramel Apple Jam using this recipe http://hitchhikingtoheaven.com/2011/10/caramel-apple-jam.html Can't say that I was thrilled with it. But the boys like it and I think it would be good warmed up on ice cream.
The gardens are put to rest for the winter and ready for spring. We did not get the other bed made before the snow came. So it has become a spring chore to do.
Today I made a batch of this jelly.http://growitcookitcanit.com/2011/03/17/stout-beer-jelly/ Joe makes homebrew, so when I saw the concept of making a beer jelly, I looked it up and found this recipe. It definitely has a stout flavor. It can be use on grill cheese sandwiches or used as a glaze for ribs.
Then I tried this recipe for Caramel Apple Jam using this recipe http://hitchhikingtoheaven.com/2011/10/caramel-apple-jam.html Can't say that I was thrilled with it. But the boys like it and I think it would be good warmed up on ice cream.
The gardens are put to rest for the winter and ready for spring. We did not get the other bed made before the snow came. So it has become a spring chore to do.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Preserving the Harvest
So fall has entered the area and we have been harvesting from the garden. I have canned 6 quarts of tomato juice and probably have another 7 to do yet. Last week I made this huge pot of spaghetti sauce, saved about a third of it for James' birthday dinner of ravioli. (Very good!) So I thought I was going to get at least 4 quarts out of the rest, I only got 2. They looked fabulous but I was disappointed that the batch did not make more. This was the first time I ever made a spaghetti sauce to can and just winged it. I plan to use it for our homemade pizzas! Of course, due to the wet, cold spring, the tomatoes were very small and not plentiful. I did not get a huge return, but since we are not making huge meals as we used to, we are just fine. We still have enough for tomato noodle soup when the snow is blowing outside!
About the last week in September, Joe was in the Yakima area, so he was able to stop at a fruit stand. He brought home a box of peaches, a box of cucumbers and 7 pounds of jalapeno peppers. They were huge! I wanted to make Jalapeno Pepper Jelly for teacher's Christmas gifts. Well they were so big that they did not have a very hot flavor. So I ended up almost doubling the amount of peppers, but still had a lot left to do something with. Katie & Chaz came out on a Sunday afternoon, Chaz made pickled Jalapenos, I tried dill pickles for the first time ever and Katie made a salsa recipe from a free mix I got from the Ball Canning facebook page. This was all new territory for all of us. This is the recipe that I used. http://woodridge.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/crispy-dill-pickles-just-like-klaussens/ It has a lot of red peppers in it and it is a little too hot, but the kids and I like them. Joe cannot eat them. Joe & I later tried making whole pickles in a quart jar, they turned out relly mushy. Chaz liked how this recipe turned out for the pckled jalapenos, but they were a little soft. http://www.examiner.com/farmers-market-in-seattle/easy-pickled-jalapeno-recipe-adaptable-to-other-hot-peppers
We thoroughly enjoy the peaches and since then got another box and ate the whole box of peaches with ice cream. So good. With the first box, I used my recipe that I have had for about 22 years, it uses frozen orange juice concentrate and sugar and you toss freshly peeled and sliced peaches. Then freeze them in freezer bags. Here is the recipe.
Into a large (7-quart) bowl, put in thawed orange juice and sugar. Mix well. Blanch peaches in boiling water, just until skins remove easily, pit, and slice directly in the bowl. When bowl is full, mix well. Fill quart bags and freeze. They will not turn dark unless when thawed they are left sitting for more than 4 hours. So once thawed-make a peach pie or crisp.
Joe & I are really enjoying trying different recipes, not having to can for survivial and being frugal. It has been fun.
About the last week in September, Joe was in the Yakima area, so he was able to stop at a fruit stand. He brought home a box of peaches, a box of cucumbers and 7 pounds of jalapeno peppers. They were huge! I wanted to make Jalapeno Pepper Jelly for teacher's Christmas gifts. Well they were so big that they did not have a very hot flavor. So I ended up almost doubling the amount of peppers, but still had a lot left to do something with. Katie & Chaz came out on a Sunday afternoon, Chaz made pickled Jalapenos, I tried dill pickles for the first time ever and Katie made a salsa recipe from a free mix I got from the Ball Canning facebook page. This was all new territory for all of us. This is the recipe that I used. http://woodridge.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/crispy-dill-pickles-just-like-klaussens/ It has a lot of red peppers in it and it is a little too hot, but the kids and I like them. Joe cannot eat them. Joe & I later tried making whole pickles in a quart jar, they turned out relly mushy. Chaz liked how this recipe turned out for the pckled jalapenos, but they were a little soft. http://www.examiner.com/farmers-market-in-seattle/easy-pickled-jalapeno-recipe-adaptable-to-other-hot-peppers
We thoroughly enjoy the peaches and since then got another box and ate the whole box of peaches with ice cream. So good. With the first box, I used my recipe that I have had for about 22 years, it uses frozen orange juice concentrate and sugar and you toss freshly peeled and sliced peaches. Then freeze them in freezer bags. Here is the recipe.
LIKE
FRESH FROZEN PEACHES
6
oz. can of orange juice, thawed 2
c. sugar peachesInto a large (7-quart) bowl, put in thawed orange juice and sugar. Mix well. Blanch peaches in boiling water, just until skins remove easily, pit, and slice directly in the bowl. When bowl is full, mix well. Fill quart bags and freeze. They will not turn dark unless when thawed they are left sitting for more than 4 hours. So once thawed-make a peach pie or crisp.
Joe & I are really enjoying trying different recipes, not having to can for survivial and being frugal. It has been fun.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Garden Update
The garden finally got itself started as it slowly warmed up. It has issues though. Since we are using railroad ties, we are going to have take each one apart and line them due to the creosote treatment in the ties. The good news- we had a great strawberry crop this year! We had enough to freeze 2 batches of Strawberry jam! The strawberries liked the cold weather! The basil did not grow after 2 plantings and the tomatoes are okay, nothing stellar. Thess photos were taken 2 weeks ago, now the sunflower and dahlias on the edge of the planters are in full bloom. I planted pickling cucumbers, only one planted grew and I have gotten 2 cukes from it. So to sum it all up, we have a lot of work to do with revamping the planters, and adding 2 more where the pumpkin patch area. We defiantly hope next year will bring better soil and better weather.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
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