Aroma

The aroma of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano, and bay leaves roasting in the oven is penetrating the whole house.  Everything is from our garden except the bay leaves.

Have a great weekend!

~Cheryl~

August Garden

The garden has that Fall look to it.  Some of the vegetables are done with and others are coming to the end.  Planted some lettuce plants the other day that I started from seed, hoping to get some  lettuce from it this fall.

This is the time of year when the weeds start to creep in, with harvesting and canning not much weeding gets done.  Also this year with my husband being laid up we didn't get the mulch in between the rows like other years and that has made a difference in the weeds.  

The tomatoes have late blight again this year, but still doing pretty good. The last half of the row doesn't have blight as bad.  Although there is one tomato plant that has been very nice this summer, big lots of blossoms but not one single tomato on it.  That is a first for me and am not sure what is going on with it. If any one has had that happen would love to hear from you.

The cucumbers haven't been doing the greatest this year, thankful that I was able to can extras last year so we don't need as many.  We have been eating them along with canning some dill, sweet dill, gallon sweet pickles and some sweet cucumber relish.  Will keep canning them up as they come just smaller batches at a time.

The Red and Yukon Gold potatoes have died back, we have been eating on them, the Russets vines are still partially green so still growing.  We should have enough potatoes for the winter.  The green beans are starting to blossom again so will have a few more fresh ones.  Still plenty of things to finish canning and freezing for a while yet!

Today's harvest.  Potatoes, beans, and carrots for supper.

Will be canning tomatoes in a couple of days. 

Getting some much needed rain this afternoon, it is feeling like fall today with temps in the low 60's , a big change from our 90's this weekend.

Enjoying!

Canning Break Today

The weather here today is hot and humid, good day to take a break from the canning and freezing.  This week I have been canning Dill Pickles, Sweet Dills, Open Jar Sweet Pickles, and freezing sweet corn and zucchini.  

So today I am taking a break and doing some sewing.  I have been needing to get a couple of towels made for a gift that I need for tomorrow.  A couple of months ago I had purchase a fat quarter bundle of  " Oh Clementine"  material that I just love.  So today decided to use a couple of pieces for the kitchen towels that need to get done. I think my new niece to be will like them.

The idea came for the towels came from Cluck, Cluck, Sew this is her material line.

Now just need to get a couple more towels and make some for me!!

We also enjoyed having our grandsons (and a girlfriend) over this week for dinner...menu was chicken and dumplings and chocolate cake.  They seem to think that is the required menu for them :)  That's ok grandma enjoys making it for them!!!

Had to rescue a toad from trying to get in by the chickens.  

Enjoyed these two boys when they were little and am enjoying watching them grow into young men, what a blessing.   

Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool.

~Cheryl~

Boiling Eggs

We get our eggs from a local farmer and they have always been so hard to peel when making hard boiled eggs.  Until I found out that they can be made in the pressure cooker, loving it!

I place the required amount of water for my cooker in the bottom of the pressure cooker and then put  my vegetable steamer into the cooker with the eggs

Follow the directions for your pressure cooker and bring it up to the lowest pressure.  On mine I stay right by it and adjust the flame to keep it at a very gentle rocking motion.  Once it reaches pressure cook for 6 minutes.  When time is up turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.  After the 5 minutes follow directions for the cooker to release the steam and put the eggs into ice water for 30 minutes.

The eggs peel so nicely, no more loosing most of the egg white with the egg shell.  If you have a pressure cooker and haven't tried making hard boiled eggs in it give it a try and see what you think.  

~ Cheryl~