daily yarns 'n more

canning weekend

It 'twas a busy weekend.  Friday afternoon I canned 6 quarts of stewed tomatoes.  I was able to add onions and peppers from our garden.  The only thing I did add that we didn't grow was celery.  We still have some green tomatoes that I'm hoping will ripen, but I'm not counting on that happening.  The nights are starting to get into the 50's and next week we'll be seeing some 40's. 

We found a way to use our apples.  We sprayed our trees and thinned as much as we could and still our apples were not the greatest.  But, we found something that we could use to help, and that is a Mehu-Liisa Steamer Juicer and Food Steamer.  It came Friday afternoon so we decided to try it out that night.  So, in the pouring down rain, Jim went out and gathered all the wind-fallen apples.  One of the recipes says it's okay to use wind-fall apples

We cut the apples up and filled the steamer basket up to the brim.  Then we sprinkled about 1/4 cup sugar over the top.

We put the lid on and waited for the juice to come.

And it did.

The apples really sunk down as the juice was steamed out of them.

Here it is, the finished product. 

Then on Saturday morning we were up pretty early (5:00 a.m.) so Jim and I made 2 1/2 quarts more of apple juice and then I canned another 7 quarts of stewed tomatoes.

Our neighbor brought over some beans so Jim and I canned 18 pints and froze 3 quarts.  We used the Mehu-Liisa on the ones we froze because we ran out of lids for the jars.  We have lots of canning jars because Jim used to can most of the salmon he caught.  In fact when I cleaned out the pantry I threw out some canned salmon from 2003.  I was very surprised that it didn't smell as I was emptying the jars after all this time.

So in all, we canned 30 1/2 quarts. It sure feels good to see these jars sitting on my counter waiting to be put in the pantry to be enjoyed during the winter months.

This was my weekend so far, how is yours?

garden fresh stewed tomatoes and salsa

I got 4 quarts of stewed tomatoes out of the tomatoes I picked from our first official harvest.  I am so excited and I can't wait to do more.  Everything in the stewed tomatoes is from our garden.

Then I made some salsa.  Thimbleanna mentioned to me that Randi at i have to say had posted a salsa recipe, so I used hers.  It is very very good.  As you can see this is all that is left of it.

 

We planted 21 tomato plants and next year I really want to double that.  I can tell that I'm not going to get the amount of canned tomatoes that I had hoped for.  But, what I am getting I'm going to enjoy.

The chicks are doing great.  We separated the hens from the roosters.  At first they weren't sure what was going on and when I went to check on them this is what I found...One of the Buff Orpingtons fast asleep on the jar that I put in the corner.  The jars are to keep the chicks from smothering each other in the corners.  I couldn't find anything else to put there and these seem to work pretty good.

School started yesterday for our youngest.  I still can't believe that she's a Junior in High School and is driving now.  No more going through drivers ed for us.  I never ever thought that this day would ever come...but it has.

our first harvest

Yesterday for dinner I thought a nice juicy tomato would be good sliced up with the dish that I made.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how many ripe tomatoes there were.  So later in the evening I took a bushel basket and picked all the ripe ones. 

I'm searching for a good recipe and this site looks pretty good.  I can't wait to get started canning. 

I have to say that a tomato has never tasted so good.  There's just something about growing your own food.

oh yum! blackberries

Finally, we are getting blackberries.  There won't be enough to make anything with them as we only have 2 plants.  But, picking them to eat will be pure pleasure.

the garden is coming along nicely

I can't wait until I can do some canning.  I hope to get enough tomatoes to not only make tomato sauce but salsa also.

The peppers are getting nice and big.  Not only that, these ones are pretty HOT too.  The perfect kind to add to the tomatoes to make salsa.  Yum!!!!

We had a fierce wind the other night and I found these babies on the ground.  I thought the house was going to blow over.  I think I was up most of the time listening to it blow and I finally fell asleep when the wind died down.

We started our garden later then most around here and had a dilly of a time with our cukes.  The new plants pushing through the ground were dinner for someone faster than they could pop up.  At first we thought that the birds were that someone...not so.  The someone was a chipmunk.  The chippy unfortunately sadly perished in the windstorm.  I can't say that I'm too sad about that, and I know another one will probably take it's place.

mary, mary, quite contrary

How does your garden grow?  Last night took us around the yard looking at how our garden and plants are growing.

The grapes are looking great.  We have them tied up so that they will start to grow up instead of on the ground.  There is still much to learn about growing grapes.  Phil came over on the 4th to help Jim put up the fencing for the grapes.

Now we just sit back and watch them grow.  With some maintenance on our part now and again.

The asparagus is looking good and I can't wait to be able to cut it next year.  It's too early yet on the blueberry bushes that we planted.  But, so far they are looking good too.

The melon plant is starting to spread some and is very healthy looking.

I finally found the spot where my tomato plants do great at.  I will be having a lot of tomatoes when they ripen.  I can't wait to do some canning.

My lilies are looking pretty vibrant this year.  My coneflowers are not in bloom yet and I can't wait until they are.

Now we're just waiting for everything to ripen.  We have been having onions a lot.  Jim will usually go and pick some for lunch and I will use them in recipes.  Nothing like eating food that you planted yourself.

Not much else going on at the homestead. 

You all have a wonderful day today.

i have lots to share today

My blog here is ready for the 4th of July.  I posted here that there might be some changes this year on my blog.  I'm going to every month change my blog look to fit the month, season or holiday...give or take a few days.  I also mentioned that I might do a give away.  Notice I said might?  I'm still working on that.  But, the blog look is in effect starting with the July 4th celebration.

The asparagus that we planted is already starting to really shoot up, even with the drowning it took.  We have counted at least 17 shoots coming out of the ground so far.  If we can get at least half of what we planted to grow we will be very happy.

A few people have wanted Jim's bread recipe.  I don't mind sharing it but it's a bit tricky to make.  You see, we grind our own wheat and roll our own oats to make bread, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal etc.  This is the post that I had done way back in 2007 of Jim's Basic Bread.

JIM'S BASIC BREAD

makes four one pound loaves

10-12 cups hard wheat berries
one cup rolled oats (optional)
one cup flaked wheat (optional)
4 cups very warm water
one-half cup olive oil
one half cup honey
one half cup applesauce
one Tbsp dough enhancer
one Tbsp wheat gluten (no gluten is o.k., but bread is a bit 'heavy')
two Tbsp SAF yeast
two Tbsp coarse salt

Grind wheat berries, roll the oats, flake some wheat.

Combine water, oil, honey, about half the flour, enhancer, gluten, and yeast. mix in Bosch machine on speed one for a minute. Let rise in Bosch machine about 16 minutes.

Add applesauce, a couple cups flour, oatmeal, flaked wheat, and salt. Mix at speed one, add flour
until sides of bowl are completely clean. If using flaked wheat and rolled oats, they will soak up lots of water while kneading, adjust as needed. Knead on speed one for 8 minutes.

Set dough in warm bowl to rise for 16 minutes. Cover with towel. punch down and let rise again for 16 minutes.

Divide into four loaves, put in pans and cover. Rise for 35 minutes.

Bake in top rack @ 350 for 27 minutes.

Remove from pans, set on rack and cover.

I was also asked by Sharyn once how does one find wheat berries and how do you grind them?

My answer is this:

He gets the wheat and oats from either a farmer or a health food store in Minnesota. Then he grinds them with a grinder called a "Whisper Mill". Here is a web site. www.nutritionlifestyles.com.  It's not really easy to find wheat around here. He does use the grinder and roller a lot. He makes oatmeal with oats for breakfast, pancakes and waffles with the wheat flour.

The reason he started to do this was because of health reasons. Eating processed white flour started to react badly for him. Since his dad and a grandfather are and were diabetic he decided to check into wheat and found that fresh ground wheat was far the best for not turning into sugar in your body. Hoping that he will prevent getting diabetes later in life.

I'm sure if you eliminate the dough enhancer and the gluten and use store bought wheat flour it should work just fine.  Let me know if you make it and if it works or not.

This is a crazy busy week.  We are leaving on Friday morning for Dan's wedding in Michigan.  I've been trying to wrap things up for this weekend.  Carri and her family are stopping by Thursday night instead of trying to drive all the way from Minnesota.  The same with Becky and Erin...but they will be riding with us there.  Sadie will be going to the kennel on Thursday afternoon.  I hate doing that, but any one who could watch her will be at the wedding.  So, I saved a nice bone for her and will give it to her when we get her back home.

I better get hopping...I have lots to do today.

The temps are starting to rise, so you all try to stay cool and have a great day.

sewing and gardening...all in one day

I have wanted to make some cloth napkins and I was too pumped when I looked in my stash and found this red checked fabric.  I don't remember why I bought this fabric...It probably was for an apron I'm guessing.

I made 12 napkins and 6 of them I put a fancy stitch on the edge and the other 6 I added just a straight stitch edge.  I want to quit buying paper napkins, so this is a start.

The asparagus we ordered came today, and it had to get watered the minute we opened up the package.

I have never seen an asparagus plant before...it's quite interesting.

Jim dug part of the yard up for the plants, which didn't take as long as we thought.  Since we have done all our garden digging by using hand tools.

Adding bagged manure to the soil and mixing it in good.

We got on our hands and knees to plant the asparagus.  It was easier with two of us working at it.  Especially when we had to plant 50 plants.

All planted and ready to add more soil once the plants start popping up through the soil.  Planting asparagus is not like planting any other plant.

Sadie always has to be right there with us...Panting away like she's dieing from the warm weather.

the calendar says june

But it sure doesn't feel like it.  The garden is slowly growing.  The weather has been pretty cool and wet.  We did plant some strawberry plants over the weekend.  We found some even tho it was pretty late in the season for them.  The plants we bought had 2 plants in each pot so we separated them and got double the plants.

 

We discovered that birds were eating our newly planted plants and the new tender plants that were popping up...Not the cute little bunnies.  These pie pans on the string seem to be doing the trick, so we have them strung up in all the gardens.

The apple tree has a bounty of fruit this year.  It seems like every other year it's like this.

I've been really enjoying my clematis.  I haven't ever had this many blooms on it before.  It's still small yet but it's growing.  It's been a struggle but I think I've got it established.

My wild rose bush is doing great, lots of rose buds on it.  I did transplant some shoots this spring and they are taking off.  In the fall I'm going to transplant some more.  This bush spreads and it's getting a bit too big.

I am finally recovered from the weekend.  I did some sewing this week and I have a few more things that need to get done.  I also finally found a dress for our son Dan's wedding, which is June 27th.  I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute.

You all have a super day today!

some color in the garden

My petunia basket is doing great and the chives are blooming.  I just love my chives.  They are the only herbs that I have at the moment.  I especially love them added to cottage cheese.

I talked to my neighbor yesterday and they are getting chickens...12 of them actually.  I will be able to help take care of them as they live about a half hour away from here, and I can have eggs.  I'm so excited.  We have been busy around the homestead here this weekend but I will post about that later.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day.