I love seeing all the "free" fruit and produce this time of year. It kills me to think of it going to waste, so I can it. This canning thing is a real love/hate kind of thing for me. I enjoying being productive and listening to the sealing jars pop, but this spending all day in the kitchen on a nice day about drives me crazy. My kitchen gets taken over with boxes and bottles and big boiling pots. Once I've labeled the last of the jars and am off my feet, my little helper will ask "is tomorrow another canning day?" In the back of my mind I'm thinking "I hope not." To him it's good quality time. This week we made applesauce and chokecherry syrup. You just can't buy this kind of goodness in the store.
As a side note, I've found a way to make my canning day a little more productive in other places in my house. Instead of dumping the hot water from my water bath down the kitchen sink, I'll pick a "sticky" drain elsewhere and give it a good soaking. In between canners I'll put in a few tablespoons of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. Wash it all down with the remaining canner and you're good to go. I also have lots of wet towels hanging around in the kitchen. They're perfect for wiping down the cupboards, bar stools, windowsills or appliances.
1 comment:
The apricot tree over our parking lot is loaded and falling off. I was going to make jam, but I only have four empty half-pint jars. If we can't go through last year's batch fast enough to empty jars it makes me wonder if we need more.
But really, the apricots are just hanging there for free and going to waste. It kills me a bit every day!
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