This weekend I canned 13 quarts of diced tomatoes (it takes a LOT of tomatoes to fill a jar with diced ones), 5 quarts of whole tomatoes and 28 half-pint jars of jam : Peach, Raspberry, Pluot, and Triple Berry (Strawberry, Blueberry, and Raspberry). I had help with tomatoes today -- a friend who is completely blind helped peel, core, and dice tomatoes. I am regularly impressed by her expertise with tasks you might think impossible without sight.
And if you read that first paragraph and thought, "What is a pluot?" It is a fruit that is a plum-apricot hybrid. The jam is a beautiful purple-red color, and I suspect it will be a little on the tart side. My only complaint about pluots is that they don't like to be separated from the pit. I wonder if another variety might be more apricot-like in that respect, because apricots are quite willing to let go of the pit.
Perhaps another day when it is not past 11PM, I will line up a sample of the jams and take a photo to post here. Don't hold your breath though. It's a busy week.
If you have any extra jam/jelly jars you don't want, I'd be happy to take them off your hands... I tend to give away jam and the jars don't seem to come back, so I'm always trying to replenish my jar inventory. I like the 8-oz ones best, but would be happy for some 4- or 12-oz as well. Heck, if you have any canning jars you don't want, I'd take 'em! :-)
Next on the canning agenda: red pears. They are delicious raw, and I suspect will make wonderful pear sauce.
Why I have a blog
- Holly
- Since I never seem to get around to sending out Christmas cards or letters, I decided to blog a bit to keep my fans updated. :-)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Adventures in canning
My friend BS and I added two new tools to our canning accessories this year -- a new food strainer and a pressure canner. The strainer made very quick work of the tomatoes and turned them into a lovely tomato puree that we cooked down with onions, garlic, and some herbs which produced a heavenly scent of tomato-y goodness. Later we added some diced tomatoes and a little sugar, and pronounced it worthy of preserving.
All was well until I retrieved the third quart from the canner. The contents were still boiling, and just before I set it down on a towel, it exploded -- all over me, the wall, the counter, the floor, the fridge...you get the idea. Luckily, none of the children were in the kitchen at the time, and neither BS nor I were scalded by the contents. Whew. Pretty exciting stuff. Next up? Hopefully peaches. And more tomatoes - but not in the same batch. :-)
I am looking forward to making applesauce with the new food strainer -- that should be a breeze!
All was well until I retrieved the third quart from the canner. The contents were still boiling, and just before I set it down on a towel, it exploded -- all over me, the wall, the counter, the floor, the fridge...you get the idea. Luckily, none of the children were in the kitchen at the time, and neither BS nor I were scalded by the contents. Whew. Pretty exciting stuff. Next up? Hopefully peaches. And more tomatoes - but not in the same batch. :-)
I am looking forward to making applesauce with the new food strainer -- that should be a breeze!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Julie and Julia
Some friends and I went to see "Julie & Julia" tonight -- the new movie about Julia Child (Meryl Streep) getting her start in French cooking, and a woman, Julie (Amy Adams) who sets out to make all 524 recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in 365 days -- and blogs about her experiences. Naturally, I felt compelled to update MY blog as soon as I got home. :-)
In short, I LOVED the movie! One way I can tell whether a movie is good is how long it takes me to check my watch. The previews tonight started at 7:05, and I did not look at my watch until 8:50. That's about 20 minutes later than normal, since I usually last maybe 90 minutes before I start to fidget and wonder how much time has passed.
I predict this will cause a surge in the sales of the cookbook. I already own her "The Way to Cook" volume, and I've actually used it. For now, that will do for me, but perhaps I will put the 2 volumes of "Mastering" on my Amazon wish list. :-)
For those who are bothered by strong language, be forewarned that there is one use of a word that is normally only heard in R-rated movies. There is at least one other phrase that I found to be quite funny that some might find off-putting. However, if that doesn't scare you off, it is a delightful movie. Meryl Streep was amazing in her ability to channel Julia Child. Stanley Tucci was wonderful as Julia Child's husband. Amy Adams (Giselle in "Enchanted") was fun to watch too -- I especially loved watching her cook lobster for the first time.
And don't go see it hungry...movie treats won't satisfy.
Bon Appetit!
In short, I LOVED the movie! One way I can tell whether a movie is good is how long it takes me to check my watch. The previews tonight started at 7:05, and I did not look at my watch until 8:50. That's about 20 minutes later than normal, since I usually last maybe 90 minutes before I start to fidget and wonder how much time has passed.
I predict this will cause a surge in the sales of the cookbook. I already own her "The Way to Cook" volume, and I've actually used it. For now, that will do for me, but perhaps I will put the 2 volumes of "Mastering" on my Amazon wish list. :-)
For those who are bothered by strong language, be forewarned that there is one use of a word that is normally only heard in R-rated movies. There is at least one other phrase that I found to be quite funny that some might find off-putting. However, if that doesn't scare you off, it is a delightful movie. Meryl Streep was amazing in her ability to channel Julia Child. Stanley Tucci was wonderful as Julia Child's husband. Amy Adams (Giselle in "Enchanted") was fun to watch too -- I especially loved watching her cook lobster for the first time.
And don't go see it hungry...movie treats won't satisfy.
Bon Appetit!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Giveaway!
My friend, Mrs Mordecai, has a giveaway worth entering -- you see it on her blog, Be It Ever So Humble. Leave a comment on HER blog for a chance to win any product under $100 from CSN Lighting!
Friday, June 19, 2009
A great play!
Last night I traveled up to Midvale to see the Pinnacle Acting Company perform "Charley's Aunt". I loved it! It is a very funny play, and the acting was terrific. So, if you need some entertainment in the very near future you can see it tonight or tomorrow, or next week on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Shows are nightly at 7:30 PM, with Saturday Matinees at 2 PM. Tip: Thursday is 2-for-1 admission.
To get there from Utah County, take I-15 up to 90th South, and turn left from the exit ramp. Turn right at the 2nd light (700 West) and take that to Midvale. At 7720 South, you will find a small 2-story building on the SE corner. That's the Midvale Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $10.00 in advance (click here to purchase online) or $12.00 at the door. If purchasing tickets online for Thursday night, only buy half as many as you need for the 2-for-1 deal.
It's good, clean fun and you won't be sorry!
Oh -- seating tip...the stage is quite high, so I recommend sitting in the elevated area at the back of the theater on the padded folding chairs rather down in the regular theater seats. Much less neck-craning. When you get there, it will be quite cold - they cool it down before the performance and then turn off the A/C so that you can hear the actors (who are NOT wearing microphones. Hooray!) (I may not have mentioned that before, but I dislike it when actors and singers wear microphones. That's why I am not a big Tuacahn fan)
Pinnacle Acting Company
Midvale Performing Arts Center
695 W. Center Street. (7720 S.) Midvale, UT
To get there from Utah County, take I-15 up to 90th South, and turn left from the exit ramp. Turn right at the 2nd light (700 West) and take that to Midvale. At 7720 South, you will find a small 2-story building on the SE corner. That's the Midvale Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $10.00 in advance (click here to purchase online) or $12.00 at the door. If purchasing tickets online for Thursday night, only buy half as many as you need for the 2-for-1 deal.
It's good, clean fun and you won't be sorry!
Oh -- seating tip...the stage is quite high, so I recommend sitting in the elevated area at the back of the theater on the padded folding chairs rather down in the regular theater seats. Much less neck-craning. When you get there, it will be quite cold - they cool it down before the performance and then turn off the A/C so that you can hear the actors (who are NOT wearing microphones. Hooray!) (I may not have mentioned that before, but I dislike it when actors and singers wear microphones. That's why I am not a big Tuacahn fan)
Pinnacle Acting Company
Midvale Performing Arts Center
695 W. Center Street. (7720 S.) Midvale, UT
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Stumpy Burger (Review)
On Friday some friends and I tried "Stumpy Burger" a new hamburger joint on Center Street in Provo (South side of the street between 200 and 300 West). The list of items on the menu is not long, but the food was quite tasty. I tried the "Bandit Burger" with grilled onions, and quite liked it. We tried their fries and onions rings, and I liked both. I'm not a big fan of most fries, be these were the heartier steak fries, and I do like those. No goofy seasonings on them either. Definitely try their fry sauce, which has a nice horseradish kick to it!
They also have coconut cream pie and a pie de jour. Because I am a sucker for coconut cream pie, I got a piece "to go". I didn't even ask what the other kind of pie was! Upon reflection, I should have shared it around the table, because it was a very generous piece...But instead, I had half on Saturday and half on Sunday.
If you are looking for a good hamburger in Provo, give them a try...or skip the protein and go straight to pie!
They also have coconut cream pie and a pie de jour. Because I am a sucker for coconut cream pie, I got a piece "to go". I didn't even ask what the other kind of pie was! Upon reflection, I should have shared it around the table, because it was a very generous piece...But instead, I had half on Saturday and half on Sunday.
If you are looking for a good hamburger in Provo, give them a try...or skip the protein and go straight to pie!
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