Random

[dancerjodi]

I put the vellux blanket on the bed yesterday. We'll hang the blankets that go behind our den curtains for more insulation tonight. One of the two insulation companies that I e-mailed over the weekend got back to me yesterday and is coming out for a quote on Friday - I can't wait. This is one of those home repairs that I've always wanted to do, but is such an unexciting thing to be spending money on.

Mom and Dad were throwing out their old avocado green (Sears) pressure cooker. I don't even remember this getting use in our house - I was so young when they had the big garden in Wellesley which was apparently why they bought it back then. I just might get some canning done after all, but we shall see. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to the farmer's market again with my ballet classes starting up again amongst other plans but we had room for the thing on a shelf in the basement and we have a small selection of jars to use, so if the opportunity presents itself I'll be ready (minus some pectin or something). I may start small and try and make some pickles, but that would be a bit unfair to Brian since he really hates the things. Can you suggest a good book/cookbook for canning? I did have one, but after flipping through last night it only provides a minimal 'how to' section and then a bunch of recipes for exotic things I'd never eat (I put it into the "stuff to donate" box).

Mom and Dad are bringing their cats over to hang out on our porch tonight while the house is shown again. Isn't it convenient that we've created a 'cataquarium' for them just 5 blocks away?

I'm amazed at the amount of drama that can come from a Star Wars costuming group sometimes. Life is far too short.

Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now" is very much a repeat of A New Earth, only not as well written/flushed out it seems (it makes sense, because 'Now' preceded 'Earth'). I'm guessing it will be returned to the library within the week and I'll get back to my Dresden Files reading.

Comments

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

There's the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and the Ball's Blue Book on Preserving. I don't have experience with the latter, but see it carried in lots of places and have heard other people recommend it. I'm not big on jams, and the pickles I like are the kind that have to be refrigerated, so my canning hasn't been very broad. There are SO MANY recipes for stuff, and a lot of it just isn't appealing. I think it's because I've been spoiled by being able to get fresh stuff all year, that I don't have a taste for the more old fashioned relishes or pickled foods that were probably a diet staple to people 150 years ago. But a pressure canner will make your experimenting less time consuming :) The one you've got now sounds just like the one my mom still uses!

[avon.livejournal.com]

Pressure canners are great for low acid foods - but high acid foods like jams, pickles and tomatoes are better boiling water canned because they survive better. Don't pressure can pickles - they get mushy.

Several of my general cookbooks have canning sections. That is where I started. However, we also now have the Ball Blue Book and that has lots of basic and not so basic things. I also find that just googling for what I want to make produces tons of good looking recipes - especially for boiling water canning.

If you want to make jams, there are lots of non-pectin recipes. Most fruits have enough pectin in their skins to gel.

Good easy starting points: Going forward apple butter and apple sauce are good. Tomatoes are still in the farmers market and they can be pureed for later use, sauced, made into relishes, etc.

Good luck on the insulation. It can make a huge difference!

raspberries

[avon.livejournal.com]

L reminded me last night that raspberries are fresh now. If you go pick your own it is divine. :) This recipe makes fantastic raspberry jam.

http://www.recipezaar.com/35192

[tiamatlady]

I may start small and try and make some pickles, but that would be a bit unfair to Brian since he really hates the things.

but it would be VERY fair to me since I ADORE pickles *grins* If you wanted to try some I'd be more than happy to come by and taste test. There's nothing like homemade pickles, the store ones are nice but not totally the same.

Plus it might give you some ideas for giftings, a basket of hommade fridge staples is a pretty neat idea, especially with Xmas coming up.

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed at the amount of drama that can come from a Star Wars costuming group sometimes. Life is far too short.

*raises eyebrow*

[christmasjedi.livejournal.com]

I was kinda curious about that too.

[jadesfiremj.livejournal.com]

Wasn't gonna say that I was but I definitely am... lol