Produce Waits For No Man (or Woman)...

Needle dancing had to be put on hold this weekend. Tomatoes I purchased from a local grower needed to be canned. Pears all came in, too. So...

I'd purchased 40# of tomatoes that I picked up on Thursday last. I canned the first 20# box on Saturday, and finished the second 20# box yesterday. The result of the second box is in this photograph. There were four jars of stewed tomatoes and three jars of tomato sauce. I pressure canned all of this, which only took 20 minutes, compared to a 45 minute water bath. What a time saver!

This is the left side of our pantry cupboard where I store my canning. Top Shelf - Applesauce, salsa, and ketchup. Middle Shelf - Zucchini Pepper Relish (legal tender around these parts!) and Bruschetta topping. Bottom Shelf - Preserved Chicken, Space for Preserved Beef and/or Turkey, and Hickory Syrup.

The top shelf is now full. I added the results of Monday's efforts to the tomatoes already shown in the photo. Second Shelf - pears from Andy and Shelly's tree. Andy eats pears. Shelly doesn't. They were generous enough to let me harvest this year's crop. I'll be sharing the canned jars with them. (There are a lot more to pick yet, too!). Next to the pears are my jelly and preserves: black raspberry jam in the little jars, strawberry jam, lavender jelly and lemon balm jelly. I also have smoky tomato jam there, which I use as a barbeque sauce. Bottom Shelf - canned sweet corn, and pickled beets, and I still have room for canned potatoes and squash.

Can you tell I'm loving my pressure canner? I'm getting more and more confident with it. I'll be doing broths this fall, too. I'm trying to return to the pioneer way of stocking shelves...No grocery stores full of over-processed foods back then. This way, I know exactly what's in our food. Seeing our shelves stocked is the most satisfying feeling. This winter, I'll have lots to choose from without leaving home. Now, if I could just figure out how to grow toilet paper! (Not really!) lol

I have a commission to create today, so that's what I'll be working on. The cardinals will have to wait at least another day. 

Thanks to everyone who was concerned for us after Tag's post yesterday. Handsome is fine. He landed in soft grass, even though he scraped his elbow. My shoulder and upper arm are still sore today, but Tylenol is my best friend right now. I'll be better tomorrow. Thanks again.

Happy Hump Day, everyone!