Can It, Lady!

Okay, okay.  I've been "canning it" all week!

This year, my garden is blossoming and growing into mid-October!  I've never picked vegetables beyond this point in my few past years of gardening.  God is good.

Saturday was spaghetti sauce day.  I had been using a 16-quart pot, without a canning insert, to can for the past few years.  Only two jars have ever broken, so I wasn't too concerned about not having a proper "canning pot."

So I prepared my tomatoes; here's how I do it:  I put an eight-quart pot of water on the stove to boil.  Meanwhile, I rinse then core the tomatoes and set them aside.  It's much easier than trying to core them after their "bath." 

Peeled tomatoes and steamer basket

Once the water is boiling, I lower my steamer basket filled with tomatoes into the pot.  See my steamer basket in the photo above?  I tie twisters to the handles so they stay upright!  The lid still fits on the pot, and I can quickly grab the handles and lift out the basket after one minute of boiling.  I transfer the tomatoes to a large pot, then hand-smush them.  (That's my technical cooking terminology.)

Hand-smushed tomatoes

Back to Saturday and the story.  I left the sauce simmering on the stove, and Fernando took me to the farmer's market and garage-sale-ing.  As we wound our way back through town, we spotted yet another "yard sale" sign.  There hadn't been much of interest so far, but this particular one was different.  They had a back porch stuffed with, well, stuff.  And among that stuff was a huge pot.  I lifted the lid, and saw a wire canning insert and canning tongs.  Wow.  I negotiated my way through the haggling process, and ended up purchasing the canning pot, insert, tongs, a bag of bands and seals, and about three dozen jars for $15.  Did I say God is good?  *big grin*

My "new" canning pot!

What perfect timing.  I took it home, cleaned it up, and started my adventure in canning spaghetti sauce.  I had asked Fernando to decide if I should can more salsa (I already have over two dozen jars in the basement), or spaghetti sauce.  Even though he's Mexican, he enjoys our weekly spaghetti dinners (or pasta of some sort), so he opted for the spaghetti sauce.  I'm half Italian--yum.

Spaghetti sauce

On Sunday, I went to work on the apples from Honey Hill Orchards.  With Jacob's help, I chunked those up and mixed them with an ultra-light syrup.  Two jars didn't seal, so we had a breakfast of Autumn Harvest Baked Oatmeal with apples poured over.  Seriously yummy.

Chunked apples in ultra-light syrup

On Monday, I decided to try my hand at applesauce.  It had been several years since I made it, and I've never canned it.  But with a few tips from Lori, I thought I'd try.  Double-serious in the yummy department.

Cinnamon applesauce

Danny kindly picked a whole bowl of green beans, and those ended up in the freezer.  I got four nice quart-sized bags full.

Danny's green beans

Green beans in the freezer

In hopes of making green-tomato salsa, I had also bought some cilantro at the farmer's market.  My gardening-guru friend Becki told me to hold off on picking those green tomatoes (I'm glad she did!), so I decided to chop it up and freeze it until it's time for green tomatoes.

Chopping the cilantro

On Tuesday, I went to my chiropractor.

I still have about three pecks of apples to process.  Jacob decided--for the entire family--that most of these would comprise chunked apples in syrup.  And I have decided to make some apple pie filling with whatever's left over!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Purity of Heart and Other Thoughts

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

My Home

When we began our homeschooling year, I thought I was doomed.  But I'm much happier now that our schedule is running smoothly and I know what to expect--generally speaking, of course!  Fernando addressed the issue of chores, which was the only item being neglected the past several weeks.  Using my "Home Management" chart, he assigned a son to each day of the week, and laid down some rules.  Praying this works!


College and Homeschool

Jacob is cruising along at college, and always comes home with stories, mostly of what he has learned in class that particular day.  My head gets stuffed with all sorts of tidbits about psychology, U.S. government, criminal law, and juvenile delinquency.  Whew.

Danny seems to have found a rhythm with his online chemistry class, and he complains much less about going to English Comp class with Jacob.  Even though he does not like it, he is more of a natural writer than Jacob, and the professor likes his work so far.  Jacob has to work harder at it.  They enjoy their time together, both in the classroom and in the car.



My Kitchen and Garden

I have an October garden!  Tomatoes are still ripening on the vine, green beans are still growing, as well as herbs, onions--though small, and jalapeños.  I'm happy.

My Project Desk

No pictures to show you, but I've been slowly working on altering blouses to fit better.  I bought several blouses at Goodwill with my birthday discount, and I need to take in sides a little, and sew on hooks and eyes.  Hopefully I'll post some photos for Tackle-It Tuesday.


Behind the Lens

On my way to the garden this morning to capture some veggie images, I almost stepped on this spider web, still wet with dew.  Mr. Spider quickly went into hiding, but the glistening web called me to take its picture.  So I did.

Heart Thoughts

The thoughts emanating from the Scripture our family is reading during devotions have been weighty.  The Lord has been impressing many things on my heart, but I'll share just one verse from Thursday's devotions.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious,

and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart,

this man's religion is worthless.

James 1:26 nasb

Religious refers to ceremonial public worship--the external trappings without the internal belief.  It is simply superficial pseudo-faith, which reminds me of the verse about whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones (Matthew 23:27).  Which it should, because James used this word religion to refer to the Pharisees.

The main thought, however, was in regard to bridling one's tongue.  Fernando's commentary said:

Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech.

It has made me ponder my manner of speaking, and even the words I use.  Controlled brings to mind the lack of angry outbursts, and the welling up of patience as I respond to others.  Proper connotes the actual words I use--hmm, slang, possibly?  The use of casual phrases or words--good luck (do I really believe in luck?), or even "darn" or "shoot" instead of other--um, colorful--expressions.  Purity of heart--may the Lord cultivate self-control in my speech!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tomato Time

It's a day of tomatoes.  Besides picking three bowls of them, we just finished skinning and chopping 10 quarts.  I know it's not a fantastic amount, but to have any amount is just fine with me.  And the tomatoes are one of the few veggies that are proliferating in my garden.

So, I'm taking a break and going to the store to get some onions and a few green peppers, neither of which are doing much in my garden.  Salsa-making, and hopefully canning, await us this afternoon.

Back to life,
Christine
who is thanking the Lord for helpful teenage sons  :)