No Canning Today...

 

My sister, Diana surprised us with a visit yesterday. She arrived right after Handsome helped me unload nearly two bushels of pears from the tractor to carry them into the farmhouse. I had already started setting up my canning supplies, and washed the pears for peeling and cutting.

After watching me hand peel the pears for about three pounds-worth, Di asked why I wasn't using my Pampered Chef tool called the "apple peeler, corer, slicer". Handsome calls it my potato lathe. When I explained that I didn't want to use it to core the pears because of their sometimes irregular shape, she informed me that that feature can be disengaged. (She's my Pampered Chef consultant, too.) Knowing that I, too, store seldom used appliances and tools in the basement - just as she does - she said, "Go downstairs and bring it back up. I'll show you how to do it." 

Well, I fairly pranced downstairs to get it, and after turning one screw, and turning the corer out of the way, I loaded up my first pear, peeled it and was perfectly giddy. This was going to save me a lot of time and sore thumbs. So, I got to cranking the pears. Di peeled off anything that was left from the "lathe", and Handsome cut up the pears and tossed them into a bowl with citric acid and water to keep the pears from turning brown. We got our system going and before we knew it, we'd prepared twenty pounds for canning.

Di had to leave shortly after we got all those pears peeled, but I kept going by making the light syrup and adding pears in small loads. Once they were cooked in the syrup for five minutes, I filled the jars and then put them into my electric water bath canner. I could only get eight or nine jars in at a time, but they only needed to process for twenty five minutes, so I just ran two loads in the canner.

The result is this beautiful array of finished pears for the pantry...and I still have 3/4 of a bushel yet to do. As it's supposed to get into the high 90s today, canning will not be on my agenda. As Tag told you, he and I will be attending Handsome's last concert this evening. Di is going to join us, along with some of my nieces and nephews. We're all looking forward to it. You'll read all about it next week when you get to see it from his ground level point of view. (hee hee, Tag. I saw your 'old people' joke yesterday!)

Time to check the garden, take care of the kitties, and then figure out how to keep cool if it's really going to be that hot today. I may need to spend some of that time in the studio, enjoying a little craft therapy. What are you doing today?

 

A Productive Weekend...

Not only did I put up another batch of Black Rasperry Preserves, I also did a little weekend baking. I made these scrumptious Strawberry Rhubarb Hand Pies for Sunday dinner's dessert. 

It all began when I looked at the scruffy rhubarb patch at the west end of the Compass Barn. Rhubarb's sister plant, the burdock had taken up residence next to the patch and was getting ready to start going to seed. I didn't want that! Even though there are medicinal qualities to the burdock, I didn't want them sprouting up all around the rhubarb, so outside I went to take the interloper out of the rhubarb bed.

Next thing you know, I'm pulling out wilted rhubarb leaves that were rotting on the grass, and then I took off all the seed heads that were growing out of the rhubarb. (I'm going to try growing new plants from seed to put into next years new and improved garden space.) I also pulled beautiful stalks that would become these hand pies, another small pie, and a few near future treats. I'm going to make rhubarb simple syrup that can be added to sparkling water, or perhaps a summery adult beverage. I'm also contemplating another of Marisa McClellan's recipes for a Rhubarb Rosemary jelly.

The recipe for the hand pies is simple. I cut up 2 cups of cleaned rhubarb into 1/2" chunks; added about 1 cup of cut up fresh strawberries, and about 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle one cup of sugar over the mix. Let sit while you make the pie crust.

The pie crust recipe was from my ancient Betty Crocker cookbook. 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 t. salt, 3/4 c. Crisco shortening, and 2 tsp. water. Cut the Crisco into the flour until it's incorporated. Add the water and mix into a dough. Roll it out and use a hand pie maker (mine is from Pampered Chef) to cut out the dough, form and then seal the pies. I put an egg wash and granulated sugar on top before I popped them in the oven. I baked these in my air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 400º. Drizzled a mixture of confectioner's sugar and half & half over the top when they were still hot. (If you use a conventional oven, bake at 475º for 10-12 minutes.) It's that simple.

Full disclosure: My sister, Diana is a Pampered Chef consultant, so I get all my kitchen wares through her now. I just hosted my annual online party, and the Hand Pie Maker was one of my free perks. Not only are they perfect for making sweet treats, but you can also make savory pies, too! I just prepare a meat and vegetable like you would for a pot pie, and then seal them into the crust with this handy gadget. If you'd like to get one for yourself, you can click HERE to check it out. There's even a little video that shows you how they're used! Di is happy to answer any questions, and if you want to get yours free, the online parties couldn't be easier. She does all the work. All you do is invite friends who you think would be interested in some new recipes and seeing what Pampered Chef has in their product lines. Anyway, enough of the little commercial. I'll just say the Hand Pie Maker is an awesome tool and it made making these extremely simple.

Once all my dessert-ing was finished, I prepared a nice meal for Handsome and me. After dinner, we went outside and watered all our new plantings, and then settled in to enjoy a little rhubarb treat. It was a lovely end to a lovely weekend.

I'm heading up to Primitive Gatherings this morning for a day with the Sewcial Sisters. Kathy D. is having a procedure today, so she can't be with us. If you're inclined, please say a little prayer for my friend that all goes well, so she can join us for the August gathering. 

Tag will be here tomorrow, and I'll be back on Wednesday. I hope you have an awesome week, and make time for something creative. I'd better be on my way. I sure don't want to be late for all the fun!