Canning Tomatos

                            Next on the list ..... Canning Tomato 's !
I have not canned many tomatoes this year.. ok none.
Not because they are not in a thrive ( daddy's mostly ),
but because my Johnny makes some good tomato relish.
So we let him.

                    However, I had some extras I set aside to try
my very own Tomato Sauce.

Introducing........  Rosemary & GArlic Tomato Sauce.
All ingredients from the garden. Except garlic. ahem. next year.
34 Tomatoes, some big some little. Wash, core, then dip in boiling hot water to remove skins. I then cooled them, and squished them in my hands to let the seeds run out. Messy yes.
Next I cut up 5 bell peppers and placed onto pan with garlic cloves, unpeeled. Drizzle in olive oil and roast until skins looks easy to peel off. They still wont be easy, but it was done anyway. It's much tastier. Place tomatoes, peppers, three rosemary sprigs, and garlic ( that you've put thru your fancy garlic presser ) into a pot and boil, then slowly simmer. Voila !

I ate a meal strait away with pasta, cheese and cracked pepper.
Yummy.

True fresh preservative free garden food !
All of that ,,, made three jars. Three stinkin' jars.
I mean, three DELICIOUS JARS.  ;)

Next......

                                                       BABIES !

                                                   - NO Not BABIES, pears -
                                                       Next  is   PEARS. :)

" Putting Up"

 

It's fruit preserving time !!

From the Water edition of TAPROOT magazine (buy HERE) is a great set of fruit recipes to preserve jams and relishes, using Pomona's Pectin, which is a low methyl pectin allowing you to use maple syrup or honey instead of refined sugar !  ( Pomona's Pectin is sold and recipes are HERE).

So I did the Strawberry Vanilla Jam with Maple Syrup and oh.my.goodness.
It is so yummy. Here are two jars , I ended up with 7 half pints and a pint to eat strait up.
On waffles.
Oh yes.
Check out that headspace. I was suppose to leave 1/4 inch and I left over an inch. Yipps.
They all sealed, but I froze 4 and fridged the rest.

MMMMMmmmmmMMMM.



So.then.....

WE pick APPLES  !
These apples are from the tree out at Daddy's House.
And Mamma's. :)
They are big tart delicious juicy apples.

Dear Hubby bought myself a pressure canner , It's my first time ever using one.
And while I will admit a bit of rapid heart beat when putting the jigger thing on
and seeing the pressure mounting up and thinking of explosions and such, all is well
as you can see and I can't wait to use it again ! This first batch is canned apples in a
light sugar syrup ( I use organic non bleached organic cane sugar ).
They called for a 1/2 inch headspace and after canning they rose right up to the top.
Is that what the empty space is for ? Growth and expansion ?  Must be.

This was half the basket of apples, and It yielded up 8 pints. To be used for baking, cooking, eating, whatever. You might be able to see, I have some rather largeish air bubbles that remained. Woops. Is that an issue? They all sealed. Only one jar was funnishish looking and I put that one in the fridge and will eat soon. Aah, the joys of canning ! Apples were really hard work. REALLY HARD WORK. Lots of standing and peeling. My hands and back were aching. We've got 5 apple trees here at our house and a plum tree just loaded with fruit. I have been watching " PRESTO CANNING " on youtube. Green Beans look really easy. I love Green Beans.

Ochre

Hellooooo!
Has it really been so long?
Is it actually almost AUGUST?!
Is my little baby (can it be) 10 weeks old !!!!!!!!

Life is a sweet sweet summer blur at the moment, but I am gradually stepping out of my new mama
cocoon and into the 'real' world again. And so i'll start here !

Look a here ! My OCHRE sweater ( after one year ) is complete! :)

THe pattern is Veera Valimaki's Ochre sweater pattern 

( i havent found out how to copy/paste on my new laptop yet sorry!)

Speaking of.... i loooove my new laptop. 

Apple MacBook. Oh yes.

And now....baby is asleep, off to read my 

Taproot Magazine and make strawberry jam.

:)

A New Baby Boy

He has arrived !
And in fine style ...
announcing our newest little heartbeat -

Jarrah Mica Hillier
Born on the first of May 2013 at 11:55 A.M.
Weighing at 7 pounds 12 ounces ( my smallest baby yet )
length 19 3/4 inches
Head 13.5 inches

A fine healthy great sleeping and breastfeeding baby boy!!!
(and I could not find any shots of his father  holding him....but I promise he is here!)

Projects

 

 

Hello friends!
Thank you all for the heartfelt Wedding Congratulations ~ its great to feel love from family and friends, both near and afar.

We have been so busy!
PROJECTS !!!

Knitting for this sweet little baby to soon come ~ a new test knit for dear Veera Valimaki.
A darling little baby's sweater in Wollmeise. Which I made a size 6 month to match the darling red Disana Overalls that I've had for years. OOH ! The joys of expecting are grand.

Working on several secret top secret hush hush test knits for someone special ~ with a little help from friends willing to share and not to mention the sweet animal too. :)

We had a cedar tree to fall ~ with a bit of help from my father, ahem. And when the tears ended the beachcombing began. Much beautiful wood was gratefully collected, and buttons have been made. Hopes for other things as well :: drink coasters, wall plaques, casserole warmers, children's blocks, etc. AAH ! The joys of making things are grand.

I was able to place (yet another!) delicious fabric order this week as well !
WOO! The joys of upcoming birthday boy sewing projects are grand.

A freaky hail storm yesterday has added several " new " projects .
WAH ! The joys of powerful Mother Nature are grand , and sometimes a bit scary.

Our HOUSE is looking swell indeed !
WE are expecting grandparents to visit from Australia this week!
Life is so good. Every moment, both good and bad. It's all part of being alive.
Which should always be cherished and celebrated.
x