Costco already has Christmas stuff on out display, can you believe it? I can't, and I refuse to think about Christmas, especially when we're having nice sunny weather.
I enjoy summers because of all the fresh fruits and veggies in season. I haven't done any canning in a few years, so this year I decided I would pick up some fruit and make some jam again.
I met a woman at work who has 5 acres and grows fruit in the organic manner. In other words, she is not certified, but she doesn't use sprays or pesticides. She had some lovely berries, so after I unloaded a good chunk of my wallet at her house, we came home with raspberries, blueberries and white currants.
Jam making is a lot like soap making. It takes patience, a sense of timing and one should always start with the lightest colour and work towards the darkest colour if one doesn't want to wash out the pot every time. :)
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| White currant jelly |
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| White currant and raspberry jelly |
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| White currant jelly on bottom, white currant and raspberry on top. Waste not, want not, right? |
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White currant juice with Perrier
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| Mango blueberry jam |
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| Last but not least some basil from her garden |
Do you grow your own fruits and vegetables? Do you do any canning during the summer?
Beautiful! and it looks so yummy :). I tried growing tomatoes, but sadly I don't have a green thumb :(
ReplyDeleteThanks Roxana. Anything sweet that has enough sugar in it is bound to be tasty right? ;) You wouldn't believe how many years I tried growing tomatoes before I realized we don't get enough sunshine (and hence heat) in our backyard for tomatoes to succeed. Maybe try something that takes less effort, like kale?
DeleteLucky you, Monica,to get these organic fruits! I don't have a garden, but I dream of having my own fruits and vegetables( but again: some extra work etc, maybe one day...)
ReplyDeleteYour jams look delicious, Monica, you made me curious about your mango blueberry jam( never heard of this combination before but it sounds so yummy)!
I was extremely lucky to meet this woman who grows fruit Nat. You & I share the same dream, I hope to one day be less reliant on others for my fruits & veggies too.
DeleteI did a google search for the mango and blueberry jam. Mango and raspberry is much more common it seems but I managed to find a blueberry/mango jam recipe.
Oh my, those look amazing and yummy! Sadly, I am not a gardener, but I wish I was!
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a gardener either Cee, but I hope one day to be. This is why I go visit my sister because they have a lovely garden and I get to reap the benefits without having to do the work. ;)
DeleteThose jams look yummy! And that basil is so big and beautiful. I thought the white currant juice and Perrier was beer, lol! I would love to have a little vegetable or herb garden. I don't have a yard, though. I could get a window box herb garden, I guess, but I'd probably just end up killing it. I am terrible with plants. I mean, like, the worst ever. Not one but two catcus plants met an untimely demise under my care. Really.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. I started to put down the caption that it wasn't beer but I thought I was the only one who'd think that. LOL!
DeleteOh you made me smile with your comment because I'm the same way. I would love to have a green thumb but I end up only having plants that can survive from my lack of gardening skills. I think the nice thing about growing things outdoors though, is that with any luck Mother Nature will help you water your garden.
YUM!!! Hey, can you call it jelly if it has seeds in it?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenny; the stuff with perrier looks like beer. ;)
You're right Teresa, it's probably not technically jelly. But the whole thing isn't pure jelly because I smooshed the currants to get the juice out rather than waiting for it to drip naturally.
DeleteThe white currant/Perrier was much tastier than beer tho. =)
Your pictures bring me back so much memories from the time I was a kid. My grandparents had every single fruit it could be grown in our climate zone. Then,my granny would make all yummy delicatessen one can imagine! Now I see how blessed we were eating all natural,toxins-free products! I'm not as skilful as my granny was and the time has changed a lot since then, that I appreciate everyone's endeavor even more! Bon appetite, dear Monica!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your story Maja! It must've been wonderful watching your grandmother in the kitchen and then being able to partake in all the delicious things she made. Isn't it funny how we take so much for granted as children, and only when we reach adulthood and don't have those things anymore, that we realize how good we had it at the time.
DeleteI'm sure you are probably a wonderful cook and would do granny proud. And anytime you want to head over to my neck of the woods, you're always welcome here.
You have certainly been busy!
ReplyDeleteYou've made me want to try currants. I keep seeing them advertised at the farm we visit and have yet to try.
Mango blueberry jam = heaven. Is this your first time making it? I'll have to give that one a try.
You know how it is with me Michelle, it's feast or famine. Currants on their own are very tart, but we grew up having RIbena, the blackcurrant drink as a special treat, so currants hold a special place in my heart.
DeleteThis is my first time making mango blueberry jam, but I don't think it'll be the last. :)
Those look great! I can a bunch of stuff every year and love it - appeals to my dork/science side (which also likes soap making...)
ReplyDeleteThose jellies look fabulous. I love looking at the jeweled glasses all lined up in my pantry. And come Christmas time (screw Costco - August is TOO EARLY!) I bundle all of them up into baskets with fresh bread, homemade cheese and handmade chocolate.
Nothing says loving like a basket full of diabetes inducing sugars and carbs.
I love all the homesteading stuff you do Lindsey! And anyone who can eviscerate an animal is totally cool in my books. Is canning a science because normally science, math and I do not go together, we're like oil and water.
ReplyDeleteYou give out goodies like that for Christmas? Can I be your new best friend? After all, we are pretty much a stone's throw away from each other and I would love to get a sugar induced coma during the holiday season. :)