Moved to the Country…Took up Canning

My Grandma was the State Champion canner for a number of years. I remember as a young kid looking at all the jars of canned fruit and vegetables in her root cellar. Each peach was carefully and perfectly placed in the old Ball jars and sealed,

Have a small garden this year which has been prolific – so I have lots more tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and other produce than I can consume alone. The solution? Can that for winter use. I am feeling a bit connected with the old folks who lived in the country and did this to survive.

First canned tomatoes –

Have a boatload of Goliath and Large Tomatoes. Love just slicing them thin with a little salt. pepper, and sugar, a drop of two of Balsamic vinegar, and topping them off with Mozzrella and a leaf of basil. Or even skipping the mozzarella and basil. Hey ! Summer doesn’t get much better than this!

Next – Salsa! Now my Salsa isn’t red because the base is made of Yellow Pear Tomatoes and Red Cherry Tomatoes. It is a killer sauce. Going for round 2 this weekend adding a few more fresh spices I’ve gotten my hands on.

 

Next – Sweet Pickle Relish! I have 2 Cucumber plants making 2-3 Cucumbers a day. So first the sweet, and then the Dill.

Next – Pattypan (White) Squash, Pickled with Jalapeno pepper…First try at this, so the veggies are a bit loose. Harvested 10 more of the squash yesterday, next go is to layer them more neatly.

My Garden is in two parts – Here is part of the Deck Garden –

 

Here is the one in the “Back 40” about 5 weeks ago – And yes, I built the Trellis from scrap wood I had laying around.

Anybody else like to garden and cook?