Canning

Holy Moses!  I have been canning my life away!  I started with a batch of salsa.  I had tons of tomatoes from my garden, and they made a splendid salsa.  We are eating it like candy!  I just up a few recipes online and picked one--it was a winner!  I added a few of my own personal touches, but it really was a good pick if I do so say myself.  In total I think I made about 25 jars of salsa in 2 batches.  I do, however, have more tomatoes from the garden.  Should I make another batch?  Oh sheesh!

Next we picked the apples from our apple trees.  Makayla had a lot of fun helping me.  I picked the apples, dropped them to the ground, and she ran around collecting them.  We got four boxes of apples! We have never had that many before.  Let's just say I had a few adventures in apple saucing.  It was a lot of work, but we ended up with 45 jars (and I STILL have more apples).  I also did a few jars of apple pie filling.  Yum!

 Such a good helper!

 These kids were such fruit monsters!  They couldn't stop eating (at least it was just fruit, right?)

 I had some friends and neighbors give me some peaches.  I just love some canned peaches.  This process is much easier and quicker than applesauce.  I did about 30 jars of peaches.

I had another friend offer me some pears from her tree.  I canned those bad boys into 15 jars.  So grateful for friends and neighbors and their willingness to share with me.  It is so appreciated!  I look forward to a huge stockpile of fruit in our food storage.  

Needless to say, my children are quite fond of fruit.

 I am thrilled to be done canning for the season (at least I thiiiink I am).  It was hard work, but I really enjoyed it.  I am glad to see our food storage grow by over 100 jars of good, healthy food.  Who would have thought that I would turn out to be so domestic?