My Art

K

Kattie E

Guest
I can barely draw a stick figure and painting is a no go too but I consider my canning and preserving my art. I remember walking into my Grandmother's & Mother's pantry and there would be row after row and shelves of beautiful fruit and vegetables displayed in glass jars that we would eventually consume. It fascinated me so just to go in there and look at it.

I made 68 of these half pints of strawberry jam on saturday.

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Honey, you are SO RIGHT!!! That is indeed art!!! Those look great. Have you ever made fig preserves that taste like strawberry preserves? AWESOME!!!
 
Kattie E said:
I can barely draw a stick figure and painting is a no go too but I consider my canning and preserving my art. I remember walking into my Grandmother's & Mother's pantry and there would be row after row and shelves of beautiful fruit and vegetables displayed in glass jars that we would eventually consume. It fascinated me so just to go in there and look at it.

I made 68 of these half pints of strawberry jam on saturday.
Click to expand...

That is an art! Not everyone can do that, myself included. I still wish I lived closer! LOL
 
mei lan said:
Honey, you are SO RIGHT!!! That is indeed art!!! Those look great. Have you ever made fig preserves that taste like strawberry preserves? AWESOME!!!
Click to expand...

No, I have never heard of that, sounds interesting
 
Kattie E said:
I can barely draw a stick figure and painting is a no go too but I consider my canning and preserving my art. I remember walking into my Grandmother's & Mother's pantry and there would be row after row and shelves of beautiful fruit and vegetables displayed in glass jars that we would eventually consume. It fascinated me so just to go in there and look at it.

I made 68 of these half pints of strawberry jam on saturday.
Click to expand...


Oh Wow! That is beautiful art.

My grandma used to make huge vats of strawberry preserves for herself, her children and eight siblings and their families. One time (ca. 1969) I was staying at her house and got to help her. The sink was piled high with strawberries being washed; the countertops were piled high. There were cutting boards and big bags of sugar.

I got to eat fresh, warm preserves over ice cream. What a great memory! I wish I could do that, but wouldn't even know where to begin. So...enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!! :love :love
 
Thanks everyone for your nice words. btw, this is not hard to do, just follow directions on sure jell box :)
 
:eek: I have watched on those PBS channels and it looks way too difficult. I just need to find someone close that does it, because now I want some. :D
 
Katie that is gorgeous!! And no, it's not that easy. I put up bunches of veggies but I cannot get my fruits to gel properly. I've used the thermometer, spoon test, cold water test but I can't get it right. It's either syrup or the spoon stands up in it. So yes, indeed it is an art!!
 
Kattie E said:
Thanks everyone for your nice words. btw, this is not hard to do, just follow directions on sure jell box :)
Click to expand...

What's a sure jell box?

Did I mention nobody ever taught me anything about keeping house or cooking? I kind of had to figure it out all by myself. Sooooo, I know I'm not as good a cook as most but I sure know how to clean a house! :)
 
Girl, you've got talent - they look delicious!! I'm missing the happy homemaker gene - I did get a double dose of the shopping gene though... ;D
 
LisaC said:
Girl, you've got talent - they look delicious!! I'm missing the happy homemaker gene - I did get a double dose of the shopping gene though... ;D
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Lisa we obviously have to get together. ;)
 
Sure jell is a brand name for fruit pectin. This aids in the "setting up" of jam & jellies.
I use the freezer method. It best retains the fresh fruit taste. It really is simple, here are the basic instructions (follow box instructions):

Hull berries
Mash berries, being careful to retain integrity of fruit (I use potato masher over food processor b/c I feel I have better control of it not getting too small)
Combine sugar & pkg of sure jel
Add water
Bring to boil and boil & stir for 1 min
Add fruit & stir for 1 min
Pour into plastic containers or glass jars (I prefer jelly jars)
Put on lids & rings
Let sit at room temp for 24 hrs
Place in freezer

To get 68 half pints I used 16 qts of berries and had about a quart of mashed berries left over for eating & freezing.

It only takes 4 cups of mashed berries to make one batch and that gave me 8 half pints. So you can try this just doing one batch. :)

Sure jel box:
sure-jell-pectin1.jpg
 
naturegirl said:
Katie that is gorgeous!! And no, it's not that easy. I put up bunches of veggies but I cannot get my fruits to gel properly. I've used the thermometer, spoon test, cold water test but I can't get it right. It's either syrup or the spoon stands up in it. So yes, indeed it is an art!!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Naturegirl! The sure jel instructions include info that says that ripe fruit does not set up as well as underripe fruit. I have used the most beautiful red all the way thru berries and they do not set up as well as ones with some white in them. :(
 
Kattie E said:
Sure jell is a brand name for fruit pectin. This aids in the "setting up" of jam & jellies.
I use the freezer method. It best retains the fresh fruit taste. It really is simple, here are the basic instructions (follow box instructions):

Hull berries
Mash berries, being careful to retain integrity of fruit (I use potato masher over food processor b/c I feel I have better control of it not getting too small)
Combine sugar & pkg of sure jel
Add water
Bring to boil and boil & stir for 1 min
Add fruit & stir for 1 min
Pour into plastic containers or glass jars (I prefer jelly jars)
Put on lids & rings
Let sit at room temp for 24 hrs
Place in freezer

To get 68 half pints I used 16 qts of berries and had about a quart of mashed berries left over for eating & freezing.

It only takes 4 cups of mashed berries to make one batch and that gave me 8 half pints. So you can try this just doing one batch. :)

Sure jel box:
sure-jell-pectin1.jpg
Click to expand...

Is putting up green beans and such similar to making preserves?
 
deewee said:
Kattie E said:
Sure jell is a brand name for fruit pectin. This aids in the "setting up" of jam & jellies.
I use the freezer method. It best retains the fresh fruit taste. It really is simple, here are the basic instructions (follow box instructions):

Hull berries
Mash berries, being careful to retain integrity of fruit (I use potato masher over food processor b/c I feel I have better control of it not getting too small)
Combine sugar & pkg of sure jel
Add water
Bring to boil and boil & stir for 1 min
Add fruit & stir for 1 min
Pour into plastic containers or glass jars (I prefer jelly jars)
Put on lids & rings
Let sit at room temp for 24 hrs
Place in freezer

To get 68 half pints I used 16 qts of berries and had about a quart of mashed berries left over for eating & freezing.

It only takes 4 cups of mashed berries to make one batch and that gave me 8 half pints. So you can try this just doing one batch. :)

Sure jel box:
sure-jell-pectin1.jpg
Click to expand...

Is putting up green beans and such similar to making preserves?
Click to expand...

Canning gr beans is simpler. You need to follow canning instructions for gr beans but this is how I basically do them:
Take the stem end off. Break into whatever size you desire.
Wash beans and place them in jars.
Add water (may be boiling, don't remember for sure)
Add a measurement of canning salt (be sure to use canning and not table salt. table salt can cause cloudiness)
Place sterilized lids and rings on jars.
Place in pressure canner (this is my preferred method)
Bring up to determined pressure for determined time.
After cooled they are ready for the pantry and delicious winter enjoyment.

I think they are very easy to do dee wee.
 
OK. When mom and granny get their loads of fresh veggies in, I'm gonna go down and help them can and make preserves. I've snapped a lot of beans in my time but always managed to get left out of the rest of the process.

Funny story...every year my granny asks me what I want for Christmas. My answer, "Jars of green beans, apple butter and canned tomatoes". All she has to do is pull some stuff off her pantry shelf and I'm a happy little girl! :love
 
deewee said:
OK. When mom and granny get their loads of fresh veggies in, I'm gonna go down and help them can and make preserves. I've snapped a lot of beans in my time but always managed to get left out of the rest of the process.

Funny story...every year my granny asks me what I want for Christmas. My answer, "Jars of green beans, apple butter and canned tomatoes". All she has to do is pull some stuff off her pantry shelf and I'm a happy little girl! :love
Click to expand...

Awwww deewee, you have a marvelous granny! I bet they will appreciate your help and more importantly, love spending the time and sharing things with you.
 
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