Busy hands are happy hands.

[Binky]

Over the last several weeks I've taken up canning as a hobby, so to speak. But it can be an expensive endeavor. However, once the supplies are bought and the action in the kitchen takes place, my mind and hands are in a much better mood. They move in positive directions, fulfulling the goal of filling the jars. The family, as picky as they can be, are in love with the lucious foods I am canning. I've not only managed to can a stewed tomato mix of celery, onions and garlic, but moved into the realm of exstacy when I see the gorgeous colors and experience the scents of various foods. Pickled watermelon rines, bread and butter pickles, a broccoli/caulif mix, caulifl and onions, wax and green bean mix, gr. beans alone, asparagus, kiwi jam, strawberry jam, strawberry/rhubarb jam, plum jam, pickled beets, salsa, and more. I have a bit more to can and then moving into another scent, that of which is baking fresh bread. The thought of that reminds me of when my mom used to bake it and the neighbor kids would come and want some. The scent of it emmanating from the oven floating around the house, is one way of experiencing Heaven. Amd then there's the homemade chilli I make that I'm wanting to can as well.

A happy mind, busy hands and movin' bones are things that make for a busy, funfilled day. Better to use them, than to let them sit growing stale, stagnant and stiff.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Over the last several weeks I've taken up canning as a hobby, so to speak. But it can be an expensive endeavor. However, once the supplies are bought and the action in the kitchen takes place, my mind and hands are in a much better mood. They move in positive directions, fulfulling the goal of filling the jars. The family, as picky as they can be, are in love with the lucious foods I am canning. I've not only managed to can a stewed tomato mix of celery, onions and garlic, but moved into the realm of exstacy when I see the gorgeous colors and experience the scents of various foods. Pickled watermelon rines, bread and butter pickles, a broccoli/caulif mix, caulifl and onions, wax and green bean mix, gr. beans alone, asparagus, kiwi jam, strawberry jam, strawberry/rhubarb jam, plum jam, pickled beets, salsa, and more. I have a bit more to can and then moving into another scent, that of which is baking fresh bread. The thought of that reminds me of when my mom used to bake it and the neighbor kids would come and want some. The scent of it emmanating from the oven floating around the house, is one way of experiencing Heaven. Amd then there's the homemade chilli I make that I'm wanting to can as well.

A happy mind, busy hands and movin' bones are things that make for a busy, funfilled day. Better to use them, than to let them sit growing stale, stagnant and stiff.

That brings back MEMORIES TO ME OF ALL THE CANNING MY GRANDMOTHER DID . I remember going to her house and enjoying the many things she had canned. All were great except the beets, I hated them.
Her canned fruits were to die for. My mother could never match my grandmother at canning or at cooking and my mom was a truly great cook herself. She had to be , she cooked for 13 people, 11 kids , she and my dad! -Tyr

[SassyLady]

We were just talking this evening about pressure cookers and how our moms and grandmothers used them everyday. It seems like my grandmother never left the kitchen .... I don't remember her being anywhere but in the kitchen or church.

[gabosaurus]

Guess it depends on how your hands are kept busy.

[Binky]

Guess it depends on how your hands are kept busy.

I suppose. But when thinking about it, I would venture a guess that the hands of a serial killer are busy and keeping him happy as well. So it all depends on what makes ya happy. LOLOLOLOL! I prefer canning.

[Kathianne]

I suppose. But when thinking about it, I would venture a guess that the hands of a serial killer are busy and keeping him happy as well. So it all depends on what makes ya happy. LOLOLOLOL! I prefer canning.

I'm thinking Dexter...

[Binky]

We were just talking this evening about pressure cookers and how our moms and grandmothers used them everyday. It seems like my grandmother never left the kitchen .... I don't remember her being anywhere but in the kitchen or church.

My mom had one of those as well. I hated using it. When I bought my canning supplies, I opted out on getting a pressure cooker and decided on a very huge canning pot with a jar rack inside instead. I like the idea of it not blowing up in my face as opposed to taking the chance a pressure cooker could. Nope, never liked 'em. Never will. What worked for some, could be looked at as a health hazzard by others. I'm one of the others.

[Binky]

That brings back MEMORIES TO ME OF ALL THE CANNING MY GRANDMOTHER DID . I remember going to her house and enjoying the many things she had canned. All were great except the beets, I hated them.
Her canned fruits were to die for. My mother could never match my grandmother at canning or at cooking and my mom was a truly great cook herself. She had to be , she cooked for 13 people, 11 kids , she and my dad! -Tyr

First of all, let me say I love your avatar and the phrase, "Execute all the traitors," that you have. We could begin with Jane Fonda, but then, that's another thread. LOLOLOLOL!

My mom didn't do a lot of canning, but some. She liked to baked or was always busy cleaning when she wasn't playing the organ or piano. Anyway, I'm not into beets either, and only canned them as my hubby wanted some, and I have another two smalls bags waiting to be canned as well. I figure the least I can do is can him some damn beets. LOLOLOL! Surprising, it wasn't bad or difficult to do. Once I'd cooked them for awhile, I blanched them in cold water to cool 'em down and then slid my thumbs around them to remove the peel and root. Simple enough. Not too messy and an easy cleanup, providing the red color didn't splatter onto my clothes or whatever as they'd stain. I learned quickly, when rinsing the cooked beets, to keep 'em low and the water pressure down so they didn't splatter here and yon.

[glockmail]

My grandmother canned but Mom didn't; she bought cans of food.

Back BK (before kids) and I had a huge garden with 40 tomatoes plants we canned, stored and froze all our own vegetables to make it through the winter. When we moved WK (with kids) I sold all the old Ball jars at garage sales. I still have the canner though, and plan to take up the hobby again if I can ever get my garden here growing to the point where we have more than we can eat during the growing months.

[Binky]

My grandmother canned but Mom didn't; she bought cans of food.

Back BK (before kids) and I had a huge garden with 40 tomatoes plants we canned, stored and froze all our own vegetables to make it through the winter. When we moved WK (with kids) I sold all the old Ball jars at garage sales. I still have the canner though, and plan to take up the hobby again if I can ever get my garden here growing to the point where we have more than we can eat during the growing months.

I wish I could grow a garden, but alas, I seem to kill everything as it all dies off. So I get all of our veggies and fruits at our local farmers market. Everything, that is, except the tomatoes. Those come from a friend of ours who works with a guy that has 200-300 tomato plants and which have grown a huge amount of them. They're given to us by the boxfulls. I went thru three big boxes and decided to donate the other three boxes to people around town. So those we get for free for as many as I want. Next spring we'll be heading to another town about an hour from here to check out their farmers market. I'm hooked and we just want to see what we can find that is reasonably priced. There's been several people in our area that also sell their produce or whatever at one of our local businesses. I only stopped once when they were having a bake sale. Didn't bother with the veggies as we'd already had a load bought from the farmers market.

[fj1200]

^Roasted tomato basil soup, yum.

[Binky]

^Roasted tomato basil soup, yum.

well, I have a load of my tomato mix just waitin' to be used in something. Yummmm.

[fj1200]

well, I have a load of my tomato mix just waitin' to be used in something. Yummmm.

It is good and I don't like raw tomatoes at all. I was going to link to the recipe but I can't find it. I thought it was an Alton Brown recipe but... Here it is, Tyler Florence on the Food Channel.

• 2 1/2 pounds fresh tomatoes (mix of fresh heirlooms, cherry, vine and plum tomatoes)
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 small yellow onions, sliced
• Vine cherry tomatoes for garnish, optional
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, optional
• 3/4 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Wash, core and cut the tomatoes into halves. Spread the tomatoes, garlic cloves and onions onto a baking tray. If using vine cherry tomatoes for garnish, add them as well, leaving them whole and on the vine. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, or until caramelized.
Remove roasted tomatoes, garlic and onion from the oven and transfer to a large stock pot (set aside the roasted vine tomatoes for later). Add 3/4 of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid has reduced by a third.

Wash and dry basil leaves, if using, and add to the pot. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Return soup to low heat, add cream and adjust consistency with remaining chicken stock, if necessary. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish in bowl with 3 or 4 roasted vine cherry tomatoes and a splash of heavy cream.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/...MATTER,00.html

[glockmail]

I wish I could grow a garden, but alas, I seem to kill everything as it all dies off. So I get all of our veggies and fruits at our local farmers market. Everything, that is, except the tomatoes. Those come from a friend of ours who works with a guy that has 200-300 tomato plants and which have grown a huge amount of them. They're given to us by the boxfulls. I went thru three big boxes and decided to donate the other three boxes to people around town. So those we get for free for as many as I want. Next spring we'll be heading to another town about an hour from here to check out their farmers market. I'm hooked and we just want to see what we can find that is reasonably priced. There's been several people in our area that also sell their produce or whatever at one of our local businesses. I only stopped once when they were having a bake sale. Didn't bother with the veggies as we'd already had a load bought from the farmers market.

I grew up gardening in the northeast under my grandfather's direction. I could grow anything there. Here is a lot tougher, in spite of the longer growing period. It gets too hot in the summer and the soil is a lot different, too much clay content.

[logroller]

My grandmother canned but Mom didn't; she bought cans of food.

Back BK (before kids) and I had a huge garden with 40 tomatoes plants we canned, stored and froze all our own vegetables to make it through the winter. When we moved WK (with kids) I sold all the old Ball jars at garage sales. I still have the canner though, and plan to take up the hobby again if I can ever get my garden here growing to the point where we have more than we can eat during the growing months.

I grew up gardening in the northeast under my grandfather's direction. I could grow anything there. Here is a lot tougher, in spite of the longer growing period. It gets too hot in the summer and the soil is a lot different, too much clay content.

Even before your second post I was thinking of what I'm about to say-- now is the time to start your garden. I too have heavy, alkaline soil. Adding organics now is the key to a healthy garden. It takes time for soil to become rich. In fact, top soil is replenished naturally at one inch per century. When you find your garden performing poorly, it will require intervention. If I'm not mistaken, you're in California. California has a Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers/ wet winters. In those areas where there is natural deposition of organics, alluvial fans and such, this is done naturally during storms. In those areas where we find suburban developments, this is not occurring. Therefor, to correct this it becomes necessary to amend the soil. Soils are alive though, and just like you wouldn't eat a huge meal before exercising, neither should you feed your soil right as you plant it out. By adding compost now, mixing it in and allowing it to 'rest' over winter, your plants will thrive come next season. It does this by feeding the microbes which break down otherwise unusable elements and minerals; and likewise gives the good microbes a head start over whatever detrimental bacteria invariably make their way into your garden. Happy planting.