I have to admit I thought there would be a lot more of it when I was done (10 quarts)- but that’s the norm for canning. At any rate- it’s gorgeous- and one of the jars didn’t seal so we’re getting to try a little bit of it early and…
It’s divine 
Monthly Archives: November 2009
How does it not work?
The snow starts to pile up… the weather report says to expect 6 inches in the next 2 hours…
and I hope I can count on you.
I book a flight leaving early in the morning…
and I hope you’re willing to take me.
Christmas is looming… and I have gifts, bills & Santa on the horizon…
and I hope you understand that I’m a mom that goes overboard.
But mostly.
You don’t.
Which is why it doesn’t work-
and why I’m moving on.
And it’s why you’re mad.
Because, honestly?
It was on sale… not that I need anything else to do…
Asparagus is on sale at Safeway…and I’m down to one jar of pickled asparagus in the pantry… so I bought 25 or so pounds and have jumped in a little deeper to the canning chaos.
I have so many tomatoes left it’s insane. How much salsa should one family have in the cupboard anyway? At some point its going to look like we’re one of those strange doomsday families that stockpile 50 lb bags of flour, etc.
Next up? Tomato Jam, V8, & more marinara I think? It’s my favorite- and I think I have about 40 jars of salsa at this point?
Here’s a recipe, this makes the best pickled asparagus I’ve ever had- and if you like it a little spicy (or a lot) you can add more peppers to the jars before canning.
Pickled Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 4 lbs fresh asparagus
- 1 jalapeno pepper, halved
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5 cups white wine vinegar
- 2 cups water (distilled)
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons pickling spices
- 2 teaspoons pickling salt or kosher salt
Directions
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Place several slices of onion in the bottom of two 1-quart jars.
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Trim the asparagus to fit in the jars; pack them in with the cut-end facing down.
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Place the pepper & garlic clove in between asparagus.
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Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan, and boil over moderate heat for 10 minutes.
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Pour into the jars, leaving 1/2-inch head space.
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Seal the jars according to the manufacturer’s directions; process for 20 minutes in boiling water bath.
Catfish & Peapod
So the poor cat’s name is Gizmo… but his webbed front paws look like big fins, so we affectionately have renamed him Catfish.
He’s adorable- but somewhat of a thorn in Peapod’s paw. She really doesn’t care for him, and growls at him if he tries to come near her when she’s asleep. Definitely a low tolerance level of poor little pain-in-the-ass Catfish.
However… Isabelle threw her coat off when she got home from school- and the two have finally agreed to get along long enough to enjoy it mutually.
She’s gone (gasp) a little bit country…
but what self respecting tire-changing girl can’t be considered a bit country?
Thanks Kenny, I needed that.
It’s nice to think men like my grandfather still exist, but with modern conveniences, etc, the work ethic in subsequent generations has certainly changed. The only conversation he ever had with me about love went something like this:
Me (@ 9 yrs old) “Grandpa where do you go to work?”and my Grandpa laughed and said “Babydoll my job is to make Grandma happy- if I do that, everything works.”
My Grandmother was the happiest person I’ve ever met, and my Grandfather is the happiest man I’ve ever known. Nobody can really answer why, or how, they struggled like anyone, had their babies close together and money was tight. They’ve lived through the same heartache and disappointment we all can relate to. They were my best example of what marriage should be. Life wasn’t perfect- but because they were both in it together and sharing the weight of everything as a team, it was as close to perfect as you could hope for.
- and that, IMO… is the good stuff.
