No, it hasn't gotten hot yet. (knock on wood!)
No, it hasn't passed the solstice yet.
The pools haven't even opened yet!
However, it has begun:
canning! First batch of strawberry jam fresh off the assembly line! (I should have taken a picture BEFORE I cleaned the counter. Miriam was an excellent -- albeit messy -- helper!)The strawberries came from the local farmer's market and taste like heaven. The jam is beyond yummy (with 7 cups of sugar to 5 cups of fruit, it had better be!!!). Next week I'll try a lower sugar recipe -- I haven't had much success with this in the past, but having the first ingredient in my jam be "sugar" makes me balk every year, and resolve to find a better way! These berries are so good anyway, they shouldn't need so much extra sugar.
My goal is to make a batch of jam from farmer's market fruit almost every weekend while the market lasts (until October). Obviously we'll miss a couple weeks while we're in CA, but that still leaves plenty of other weekends to stock my jam pantry! :)
Wish me luck!
Ooh, I want to learn how to do that.
ReplyDeleteIt's really not nearly as hard as I had first expected! I just followed the directions on the back of the box of pectin. It does take time to clean, prepare, cook, and process everything -- something mothers have in short supply. I can only do it on weekends when Mr. Pickles is home. I also had to purchase a stock pot large enough to hold all the jars for processing (basically boiling them for 10 mins. to get a good seal, I think). There's special equipment you can get, but I'm cheap. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe one of these days I'll photograph everything and do a tutorial? It is lots of fun (especially all the tasting!). :)
Do take pictures and give lessons. I will take notes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we can make orange marmalade when you are out here? Might be a fun chance to spend time together!
ReplyDelete(We can leave the kids in the care of the dads. Moms need time to play too. =p )
~ The Resident Murloc
I so want to do this sometime. I heard you can prep the jars in the dishwasher. Have you heard that?\
ReplyDeleteA tutorial sounds amazing.