We got a chance to buy some peaches in bulk this week. I love to get fruit that is tree ripened. You just can't get that in the store. So I made some peach jam today and I experimented and made a peach/raspberry/blackberry combo also.
Then for dinner I made a recipe called Peach Brown Betty, a cobblerish kind of thing. I think I've got enough fruit left to can a few pints of sliced peaches tonight. I'm forcing myself to say I'm going to do it tonight because I kind of want to wait and finish it tomorrow cuz I'm kind of tired. But the counters are sticky, the floor has been dripped on, the stove is a mess, every utensil in the kitchen is dirty, the canning pot is out of it's storage spot . . . . so I guess I need to just get it done and get the kitchen cleaned up. I am not entirely sure why this has to be such a messy procedure. For any other competent person it probably isn't.
Then for dinner I made a recipe called Peach Brown Betty, a cobblerish kind of thing. I think I've got enough fruit left to can a few pints of sliced peaches tonight. I'm forcing myself to say I'm going to do it tonight because I kind of want to wait and finish it tomorrow cuz I'm kind of tired. But the counters are sticky, the floor has been dripped on, the stove is a mess, every utensil in the kitchen is dirty, the canning pot is out of it's storage spot . . . . so I guess I need to just get it done and get the kitchen cleaned up. I am not entirely sure why this has to be such a messy procedure. For any other competent person it probably isn't. Years ago when we were driving through Utah on our way back from our honeymoon, we picked up some cases of fruit in Brigham City. Dave and I did some canning together those first couple of weeks. It was fun. My mom had done some canning when we were growing up, although I don't remember being involved. Anyway, Dave was shocked that I didn't know how to can fruits and vegetables. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. There's a recipe. You just follow it. He has grand memories of his childhood on the farm spending hours each morning picking the fresh produce in the garden and spending days (weeks? months?) canning to fill the shelves for the winter. But here we were, two young kids living in an apartment in the inner city, both full time working and college . . . and he thought I was going to be canning regularly? I finally had to take him by the shoulders, look him straight in the eye and tell him, "They sell peas at Safeway. ALREADY IN A CAN! All we need is a can opener!"
That was the first of many many times he has been disappointed that he married me.
7 comments:
I share your opinion on canning. Good story.
By the time you purchase jars (or at least new lids), sugar, not to mention the price of a box a fruit, it seems much cheaper to go to the grocery store and pick up a few cans. But I still think there's something satisfying about canning your own fruit. Unfortunately, I've NEVER done it. The only thing I know how to do is make jam.
Yum! I'm hooked on canning. It is very satisfying to look at the shelves of food I have put up. Will you share your peach/raspberry/blackberry combo jam recipe - I'd love to try it.
4 cups of chopped fruit (about 2/3 of it was peaches, then filled the rest with raspberries and blackberries) 2 Tbls lemon juice, 5 cups sugar, 1 package pectin. Then I followed the cooking and processing instructions in the pectin box. It's yummy!
Those peaches look so delicious! I've never canned anything, don't have the equipment and never have the stuff, or enough of the fruits vegetables whatever, maybe some day! But I seriously doubt Dave has ever been sorry he married you!
I have memories of doing LOTS of canning, but I never thought it was particularly fun! I'm sure when you have a garden it makes economic sense to can all that food you have left in the fall - but for us, here in the city, without gardens, I think it's got to be more expensive to can than to buy it already canned.
I've done jam a few times and I tried peaches one year. But honestly I'd rather just have fresh fruit - when you think about all the sugar you have to put in a jar of canned peaches (which we ate almost every night at my house growing up) WOW! That is a lot of sugar. We never had fresh fruit. My mom still looks at me weird when she comes to our house and I have sliced apple or something as part of our dinner. Ditto fresh vegetables. If they aren't canned and cooked within an inch of their life or pickled, they are not suppose to be on your dinner plate. I did sauteed green beans and she said "where'd you get the idea to do this?" and raised her eyebrow at me, like it was "weird". :)
You go girl! It's very satisfying to see all those jars and know you did it! (Speakes someone who has only been canning for one year!)
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