When people ask what I did this summer, for some reason, I always answer "nothing".
Not so.
I filled my cold room shelves. I would like to list all that I have done, simply so I can look back at it next year, but, frankly, I'm exhausted. I LOVE canning. I really do. And smoking, freezing and otherwise storing up for winter. Ask my friends, they'll tell ya. But I am thoroughly tired of it at this point, and I still have pears to can. Sigh...
Right now I am trying out a dehydrator. Drying some of my Italian plums (prunes!) that bless our tree every year with abundance, and also some fruit leather. I am very excited, but also a little too tired to get too yipped up about it. Yesterday I canned tomatoes all day with my sister-in-law Kyla. It goes sooooo much smoother with two people. Friends, beware, I'll be hitting you up next year. I should mention that I had Sarah making pickles with me some time very close to her due date with baby number three. Nothing like putting a very pregnant woman to work in the kitchen! Child labour's got nothing on that.
In the morning we are off to Parksville to see our dear friends get married, and spend a weekend recharging in one of our favourite places. On Monday morning, I will deal with pears. Hopefully I will restrain myself from picking up a case of local whatever from the Island and adding to my workload, but somehow I doubt it. The time for rest is October. Until then, it's harvest time.
Um - have I mentioned that I'm craving your smoked tomato salsa? Boy, that was good! This was my first year of canning/freezing/dehydrating and I share you tiredness... although this weekend I am juicing grapes from my next-door-neighbour's abundant supply. So excited to have a freezer of juice to add to smoothies and such!
ReplyDelete