Of Canines and Canning…
I had a lovely e-mail on Friday asking me if I’d share some of my canning experience in exchange for some of the goodies this weekend. Amanda had gotten a great deal on a 20 lb crate western slope peaches through her work, but they arrived earlier than planned such that she couldn’t split the crate with her parents as intended. So, Saturday afternoon we canned. We did two batches of ~6 pints each. I hadn’t done jam before (just fruit butters and curds) so the first batch is not as good looking as the second.
The first batch we didn’t break the peaches down as much, thinking they would break down during the cooking. Instead, they stayed pretty much the same. The chunks floated to the top of the jars and also didn’t set as well, but that consistency would be yummy on pancakes or French toast. On the second batch we got out the immersion blender thanks to Dave’s suggestion and that batch looks much better and set firmer. Thankfully we saved the little 4 oz jars for the second batch so Amanda will have prettier looking jam to give as gifts come holiday time.
We also tried something new to both of us - pickled peaches! I first ran across it when mom practically ordered me to buy the July issue of Better Homes and Gardens for a sweet hot pickled peach recipe in there that she got to try. We didn’t make that recipe, but we made one Amanda found on the Food Network web site. We haven’t tried it yet as it only made a quart, but I think it will get sampled soon to see if some of the unripe peaches from the crate need to be turned into more once they ripen. If I find ready peaches at Wednesday’s market I may try a half batch of the BH&G recipe later this week.
Brandon continues to settle in more and more as Emma also accepts his presence more and more. In fact, this morning I feel like I need to be pinched because everything is going so well (no doubt now that I typed that something dramatic will occur). Brandon is lying in his kennel in the kitchen of his own accord for extended periods of time, popping out only when I show signs of going somewhere. If I’m working in the kitchen he goes back into the kennel - yay! Emma is lying IN HER BED in the bedroom which is her normal morning routine and has me thrilled beyond belief since for several nights she was sleeping in the basement or the living room rather than in the bedroom. I expect/hope in an hour or two she’ll come asking to be let outside to soak up the sun for a bit.
The only real struggle now that we are dealing with is Brandon’s major bond to me and lack of much bonding to Drew. But, I think he is coming around. He is not scared of Drew (unless he’s getting reprimanded) and is going to him to get pet if my hands are occupied with knitting. So I suspect he’ll come around. The question is how long will that take? In time I imagine I’ll be okay to be gone for 2 weeks. But not in the immediate future. This morning was the first morning he ate breakfast from Drew without my needing to be in the room so there is even progress in that regard. Really, it is quite remarkable given that he hasn’t been with us a full two weeks yet.
