Fall is finally here, and with Thanksgiving only a week away, most people are brushing off their baking skills in preparation of the big day. From stuffing to turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, and rolls, our tables will soon be full of delicious fall foods. But, of course, it simply wouldn't be fall without some freshly baked pies! And, while you can easily purchase pie filling, everyone knows that homemade tastes a million times better. But, did you know that you can actually use your canned ... [ Read More ]
Freezer Pickles Recipe
I admit I'm not all that much of a canner. I have done some canning in the past (mostly strawberries) but it's not exactly a passion of mine and I currently lack the space to actually can anything. However, one of my coworkers gave me this fantastic recipe for simple freezer pickles and brought me a sample. I don't have any photos, sadly, but let me tell you; they were delicious! Freezer pickles are crisp and yummy and, best of all, require absolutely zero special equipment: all you need is a ... [ Read More ]
End of the Summer Squash Relish
That moment when we think we cannot eat another bite of summer zucchini. This relish is much like a cucumber relish, except that it is very mild. This makes it perfect for using not only as a condiment for hot dogs and burgers, but also as a side for just about any meal. This is a great way to use a up a bit more of an abundance of zucchini, the ingredients are very simple, and it is quick and easy to make. End of the Summer Squash Relish Ingredients: 8 cups of green zucchini, finely ... [ Read More ]
Spicy Sweet Raspberry Pepper Jam
Most people would not think of putting peppers and raspberries in the same sentence, but for me, that spicy sweet flavor is amazing. Good all by itself, or as a relish or sauce for chicken, added to crackers and even spread on a piece of toast, the strong flavor and sweetness of the raspberries is perfectly offset by the spiciness of the Jalapenos. I tried it once and could not get enough, so now this recipe is a keeper in our home. This jam is not overly spicy, it has ... [ Read More ]
Demystifying Water Bath Canning
You would not believe the number of people I encounter over a year that still do not understand the difference between water bath canning and pressure canning. There is an equal number of people who still do not know what is safe to can in a water bath canner and what is not. Here are a few facts about water bath canning that should hopefully clear up the confusion. What IS the Difference Between Water Bath Canning and Pressure Canning? To put it simply a water bath canner cans at ... [ Read More ]
Easy Sun Dried Tomatoes
Last time I went to the store for sun dried Tomatoes the cheapest I could find them for was $5 for a tiny little package. Since I needed two packages for what I was making, I decided to pass them up and not make what I originally had planned on. $10 for a single ingredient just seemed like way too much money just to add them to a meal. While I am sure I could have found them for less if I shopped around, we do not have a lot of grocery stores in our area and by the time I ... [ Read More ]
The Very Easy and Never Ending Jar of Pickles
I used to think my father in law was a bit out there when he would use the old pickle juice to add onions and cucumbers to, pickling has to be more complicated than that was the rational I had. But after some experience in making refrigerator pickles I realized that reusing the liquid from your pickles over and over not only is an easy way to keep a never ending jar of pickles in your refrigerator but it is an excellent use of resources. It has been impossible to keep pickles in our house for ... [ Read More ]
English Style Pickled Onions
Pickled onions were a staple in my husband's home when he was growing up. He spent his middle school and high school years in England and pickled onions where a part of many meals in their home. It did not take long before I heard stories from my English mother-in-law about how quickly the pickled onions would magically disappear out of their pantry with hungry teenage boys of course being the culprits. I knew I had to try my hand at making these and in the beginning my in-laws would bring ... [ Read More ]
Sweet and Spicy Pickled Beets
I have been working madly to keep up with all of our harvest lately, with the worst yet to come, I am still doing a pretty good job of getting everything done. A lot of our harvest has been going into the freezer, due to cost issues, and not having enough canning jars for this big of a harvest, but I decided to make some sweet and spicy pickled beets for my daughter and mother in law these are one of their favorites and they look forward to them every year. These beets offer a ... [ Read More ]