I like retro-vintage style things.
I adore garage sales, antiques stores, vintage clothing shops, old cars, old books, old appliances, trailers…
I have a friend who calls me a “granny” and I have to say that lately he’s not half wrong. I tallied up all the things I’ve started making into hobbies since I left work to stay at home with the kids - crochet, quilting, gardening, dehydrating cooking and baking etc. - and I’m definitely not making a very posh mommy.
So I guess it’s no shocker if I also admit that I can. With mason jars and tedious instructions and boiling water baths. Mock me all you like (Derek) I love it.
The few canning books I own.....
It makes me feel ike I’m reviving some long lost art form in my kitchen. Amid all the mess (I’m notorious for overdoing things in the kitchen) there’s something to be said about baking your own bread, or making pickles. It’s oddly satisfying. Which is kind of the point – I’m not out in the working world anymore (other than my solitary paper route) so it’s nice to have something I can tangibly point to as a day’s accomplishment other than my house not looking like a war zone and everyone living in still being happy and alive at the end of each day (although of course those other things are very important – the being alive and not living in squalor stuff).
Damn good jam!
I’m giddy with the idea of shelves upon shelves of colorful, yummy canned things. It’s like summer in a jar – and I really mean that – we have long, frigid depressing winters in Calgary. It’s enough to make you want to pack up and move to British Columbia. Spoon some Apple Butter onto your oatmeal during one of those horrible freezing morning though and it’s not so bad.
Anyways, I’ve gotten to the middle of August and realized, that I have yet to put up any preserves, pickles or well, anything. I haven’t even frozen my regular batch of soups (although that laziness I can blame on having had a baby only 4 months ago).
I found this awesome new canning book just after Christmas last year. It’s filled with amazing delicious looking photos (or food porn) and a quick flip through the recipes had me sold. This is a book that goes far beyond the usual tired recipes for dill pickles, strawberry jam and pickled beets. This is the book you buy when you fall into a canning rut. Homemade Kimchi anyone? Or perhaps some Lavender Strawberry Jam or Lemon and Rose Petal Marmalade? I enlisted the help of my 2 year old yesterday (with his 4 month old sister bouncing happily in the jumperoo) and we went to work on some Spiced Apple Butter. 9 hours in the slow cooker (instead of babysitting it over the stove) and it was ready to be canned this morning. Did I mention my house smelled like apple pie for the entire day?
Great on oatmeal!
Oh yes…. prepare for an onslaught of deliciousness.
