The Apples Have Landed...

Brynwood Needleworks - A Big Pot of Goodness

 

Handsome has been raking up windfall apples for over a week, so I mentioned that it might be a good idea to make applesauce with them. I think he was sick of raking, because his reply was that he was close to cutting down the tree, (I know he'd never do that!) and those apples were going out to the habitat. 

Then, a couple days later, he came back to me and said he thought making them into applesauce would be a good idea - and he'd even help. Done!

We collected fifteen gallons of apples in three big buckets, and spent two days turning them into applesauce.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Processed Applesauce

There are a dozen quarts in this photo, but by the time we were finished, there were eighteen jars. We used two Nesco roasters on Monday, and one on Tuesday. After they were nice and mushy, we milled all the applesauce through my mother-in-law's chinois to take out all the seeds and skins.

 

Once we had the "good stuff", it went into my Kilner pot, and I added cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg, and heated it back up. From there, it was into quart jars for a water bath. All the jars have "popped", meaning they all sealed properly, and I've got them all labeled. They'll go into the pantry this morning.

Between the zucchini relish and applesauce, I'm pretty tuckered out. I'm so glad Handsome offered to help in this process. I really couldn't have done it without him doing the heavy lifting for me.

I have a needlework order to fulfill today, so I think the timing is perfect. I can sit and stitch. Coffee first? Yes, please.

Almost Always Busy...

Windfall Applesauce and Cowboy Candy

I've had so much else to share with you this week, that I didn't get to show you my two most recent canning projects.

Our old apple tree drops more fruit than it retains, but I just can't let it go to waste, so I pick up the windfalls and can the acceptable morsels. I pull out the stems, cut off the bruised parts and quarter the rest into the slow cooker. A few hours later, I put everything through the chinoise, add cinnamon and sugar, reheat and jar. Fifteen more minutes in the water bath canner and voila! 5 3/4 pints of Windfall Applesauce.

After the class reunion, the committee (of which I was one) split up the leftover condiments from the buffet meal. I opted to bring home the green peppers (which I froze), and the jalapenos. I had a plan.

I learned about Cowboy Candy in a Facebook canning group, and had to make some. It's actually candied jalapenos, after adding vinegar, sugar and a few spices. The usual task of cutting up the peppers was already taken care of. I ended up with four half pints of spicy, sweet heat. This will be served over cream cheese, with crackers. (There may be beer or margaritas involved, too, but I couldn't possibly comment on that!)

Male Monarch Butterfly

 

Handsome and I have had various appointments this week, and on one return trip we encountered this beautiful male monarch butterfly. We were almost home, and driving slowly up our road, when he flew into the path of the truck. 

 

When we got home, I went around to the front of the truck and there he was. Still alive, but a bit stunned. I held him in my hand to let him get his bearings, and then, as I walked him over to the milkweeds in our field, he lifted up off my hand and flew away. None the worse for wear, and making me grateful in the process. I was honored to hold a miracle in the palm of my hand...another gift from the farm.