Saving Summer

Meet my current best friend…

We’re spending a lot of time together.  You always know when my friend is here because when we are visiting together I always put the flag up!

We share some books…

And we seem to work well together.  At least we create some tasty things!

This last week I was busy processing tomatoes, peppers, and tomato sauce.  When I can tomatoes I am usually left with a pot of juice from those tomatoes.  There are usually a handful of tomatoes too…whatever wouldn’t fill a quart jar.  What a treasure!  I put it on to boil and let it cook down by half.

Then I let it cool and use a measuring cup to ladle it into my wonderful food mill!  I LOVE this machine!

Tomatoes go in the top with skins and seeds, turn the handle and the wonderful tomato sauce comes out the bottom while the yucky stuff goes off to the side for the chickens.  Josiah came up with this set up using a workbench from his shop and a piece of wood.  Tools all Moms needs!

Time to can the tomato sauce!  Back in the pot to get hot…

While it’s heating up I call on a few other friends..

A little of each in every pint jar and then the sauce goes in…

Top with rings and seals and into the canner.  When done they go on a towel to cool…

Notice the white discoloration on the jars…

This is because I forgot to put a dollop of vinegar in the canner.  Once the jars are cool, I remove the rings, wash the jars and rings and then put them in the pantry.  The white comes off during the washing process but I like to use the vinegar.  My oldest son saw these and thought they had come from the freezer!  I caught him just in time…he almost touched them and would have been burned!

When I finished with the tomatoes…I began on these!

I had several bowls full of these lovely jalapenos.  My boys and I like to eat spicy food so we use quite a few of these each month.  It didn’t take long to turn all of those bowls into several bowls full of this…

Pack the jars, make a brine, pour over the peppers and pop them into my canner…

Before you know it you have added to your winter stores.

Why are some red? Because a red jalapeno is truly a ripe jalapeno – when they are green they are actually being picked early.  The flavor of a red jalapeno is completely different that the taste of a green jalapeno – and the red ones are a lot more spicy.  I like them better but they are a bit too hot for some of my boys. So..I can them green but throw in a few red ones for me!

You might notice the whole jalapenos on the left.  Those are for a special nephew of mine who loves them whole but can’t find them that way in the store.  I’m so glad that we don’t need them whole – takes twice the time to pack those little peppers in tight….I wouldn’t do that for anyone else!

Now that I have the messes all cleaned up, it is time to do it again!

I’m so thankful to my Father for this bounty.  As the jars in my pantry continue to grow, I know that this winter we will still be enjoying the fruits of our labors. Truly if we are willing to work, He is faithful to provide.  I am also thankful for the seasons and the change of pace.  If I had to can year round, I think I’d fall in a faint.  It is a busy season right now, and one that I praise Him for…but I must admit I am looking forward to packing my friend up for the year and lowering the flag!

So….what parts of summer are you saving?