Monday, August 25, 2014

Yes, I Can


I've told this story before but I love it so much, by golly, here I go again.

Almost forty years ago, after we had made our move to the farm and become caught up in the farm way of life, back in Tampa, one of my mother's (and now one of my) friends was at a fancy cocktail party, chatting with my mother.  The friend asked how I was doing in this new environment.

"Oh," said my mother, probably rolling her eyes and pursing her lips, "She leads a very different sort of life." There was a dramatic pause (at least, as I imagine it) and my mother lowered her voice. "She cans."

And I still do . . . Having used up a lot of freezer space with corn and with tomato herb sauce, I started canning tomatoes -- just a start, And I picked a basket of apples to make applesauce but used way too much water and it's more like apple soup. Hmm, maybe it'll be nice to braise pork in. Any suggestions? 


14 comments:

Victoria said...

Vicki, I had that happen a couple of times while making applesauce. I added a little more sugar to the 'soup,' boiled it down a bit to make it thicker, and used it on waffles and pancakes.

I don't think there is much that is more satisfying than putting up produce that you've grown yourself for the coming winter. Your jars look beautiful!

Ms. A said...

I don't can, or garden, but I so admire those that do!

Miss_Yves said...

Bravo!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I don't can and don't know much about it, but it looks like you have the bible of canning books. It must be very satisfying to see all of the pretty jars adorning your shelves in the winter.
Sam

Barbara Rogers said...

Congrats to the canner. What most people don't realize is the hours of sweaty work in a hot hot hot kitchen it means in summer's already hot weather. So when the cold comes blowing through and you open one of those jars, you might be immediately thrust back into that heat.

Vicki Lane said...

Good idea, Victora -- I'll give it a shot!

NCmountainwoman said...

I gave away my jars and canners a decade ago. But they got plenty of use over the years.

Darla said...

So many of your posts bring back memories for me of my grandparents' farm. Thankfully, the only thing I was expected to help with was gathering eggs or picking vegetables out of the garden. Guess that's a benefit of being visiting grandchildren. We could be more often found roaming the fields & woods & playing with the various critters. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your "soupy" apples sound like they would make the perfect medium for apple dumplings. My mom makes them with watered down cooked apples -she brings it to a good boil and drops spoonfuls of dough (like chicken and dumplings) into the hot apples sprinkles cinnamon on top good by themselves better still over vanilla ice cream

Vicki Lane said...

Apple dumplings! Sounds terrific! Thanks, whoever you are!

Folkways Note Book said...

What an art to can -- so I believe. our jars seem like a painted canvas. -- barbara

Carol Crump Bryner said...

Oh - this made me laugh. The things mothers expect from their daughters. And to be accused of "canning!" That takes the cake. My mother once told a woman behind the cash register in a store (while I was there listening) that painting was my "little hobby." I'd been what I thought of as a career artist for many years. It was humbling.
Your jars of produce look gorgeous.

Thérèse said...

Yes, with ice cream.
Would a little bit recooking with Agar help?

Juliet said...

I used to do this, and it's so satisfying. Here we call it 'bottling' if we are preserving in jars. I love the look of your colourful jars, so tantalising.