September always seems to be a monthe of canning. This year was no different except I seem to have done a little more that usual...or I guess I tried a few different things that I don't normally do. Of course I did the usual peaches. I use only apple juice and add a little cinnamon and if you notice the funny chunk at the bottom of the jars, I added a chunck of candied ginger. I did about 17 jars. I had more peaches to do and I still had peach jam from last year, so I tried peach butter. It is so yummy! Not as thick as I would like, but it will make great pancake topping. I could have cooked it down for another hour, but I kind of ran out of time.
I also did pears. Actually I forgot that I had ordered a box. Pears take so long to peel and I wasn't in the mood for all the time it takes. My mother let me borrow her peeler. It's a Kuhn Rikon peeler. It worked really well. All peelers are not made the same! i've got to get me one of these! I did 15 bottles.
Then with the pears that were getting too soft I made Pear-Raspberry Jam. This was a first. It turned out perfect. I used the liquid Certo. I really like using this. I know it's a little more pricey, but this always sets up. Isn't it pretty?! (And it is so tasty!)
The powdered pectin is not as reliable...case and point: We took the kids to Canyon Lake about a month ago and on the way we noticed that the Prickly Pear Cactus fruit
was ripe. I had always wanted to try making Prickly Pear Jam. Bob had gloves with him, so we stopped on the way home and picked as many as we could...until Bob couldn't stand it anymore...the thorns went right through his leather gloves. I had to pick quite a few out of his hand when we got home. We will use pliers next time! I found a couple of recipes on the internet and tried a batch with the powdered Sure-Jel...the small jar on the left...It never really set up. It tastes great and will make great pancake syrup. I found another recipe that called for the liquid Certo and did another batch. Than was the trick. It set right up and I noticed that it had much better color...the one on the right. I do have to say this was quite a learning experience. the easiest way to get all the prickles off was to hold each one over my gass burner and burn the prickles off. Cali came over and helped me with that part of it. It was almost too time consuming. But it sure makes great jelly!
Then I had to do something with all the tomatoes and bell peppers that I had in my garden. I used my mom's recipe for sweer tomato/pepper relish. It's so good on meat loaf or cheese crisps. I think it's great on chicken too. Then I just bottled about 15 jars of diced tomatoes.
Then, my all time favorite thing to can...Chicken! It ain't pretty, but it is by far the easiest, quickest thing to can. Of course you have to access to a pressure canner, but all you have to do is put the chicken in the jars...dice it in chunks, whole breasts or thighs, with or with out bones... add a little water and process. You can add seasonings if you want, but you don't have to. It is soooo much cheaper than to buy canned chicken from the store! It really is a no-brainer. I have also done the same with beef chunks. It's great!
Bob took Tanner, Summer, and Brett (Summer's boyfriend) dove hunting a few weeks ago.
This was Summer's first experience at this. We all thought She was going to absolutely hurl when she actually had to pluck the feathers off the doves.
Ok, I've heard alot about this series of books. McKenzi can't get enought of these books. Cali bought all of them and read them all in less than a week. I figured I better read them and find out what they are all about. McKenzi insisted that I read them before the movie comes out next month. I have to say...these are a bit addicting. I found myself reading 'til 2 a.m. a couple of nights. I have gotten through 3 of them in 2 weeks. #4 will be next week. I can understand why everyone likes them. I am looking forward to the movie..even though it wont be as good as the books. McKenzi had me add the top 4 songs on the playlist...they are from the movie, of course.
What a special time it was to have a first grandchild blessed. It was good to have lots of family there to support them. It was nice that Jeremiah's parent's were able to come up for it.
It was also great that Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Schneider could make it down from Snowflake.
Summer was so excited to be going to Homecoming this year because she was actually going with a great guy that she likes and he treats her really well. (She kind of had some bad experiences going to the dances last year with a couple of real Dorks!). They had a blast! They went with a group of about 15 couples. They actually went to his Homecoming . Don't they make a cute couple! Yes, Brett, we think you are all right!
was ripe. I had always wanted to try making Prickly Pear Jam. Bob had gloves with him, so we stopped on the way home and picked as many as we could...until Bob couldn't stand it anymore...the thorns went right through his leather gloves. I had to pick quite a few out of his hand when we got home. We will use pliers next time! I found a couple of recipes on the internet and tried a batch with the powdered Sure-Jel...the small jar on the left...It never really set up. It tastes great and will make great pancake syrup. I found another recipe that called for the liquid Certo and did another batch. Than was the trick. It set right up and I noticed that it had much better color...the one on the right. I do have to say this was quite a learning experience. the easiest way to get all the prickles off was to hold each one over my gass burner and burn the prickles off. Cali came over and helped me with that part of it. It was almost too time consuming. But it sure makes great jelly! 
