Summer is getting closer....

[Ashley Housing]

Do you know what you'll be doing with all of your fresh grown produce and berries this year? Do you have a favorite canning recipe that you make every year? We'd love to hear all about it :o)

I know that I enjoyed canning blackberries with my mom a couple of years back and I have some cute pictures of my daughter picking blackberries and eating them

If you have any recipes, pictures,tips and tricks or traditions you'd like to share, we're all ears!! :o)

[Ashley Housing]

I have a steam canner instead of a water bath canner and for a lot of things the steam canner works great, plus it's light weight enough to use on a smooth top stove :o)

Kris has a zucchini relish recipe that I can't wait for her to share on here.... OH KRIIIIISSSSSS......... ;o)

[Kris]

I will get the recipe to put on here! It's not hard at all.

[Ashley Housing]

YEAH!! Maybe I'll plant two zucchini plants this year :o)

[Paige]

Yes I need all the tips and tricks I can get. We have planted 120 tomato plants. I love tomatoes but I am not sure I love them THAT much. I think we are also planning on selling them to an organic market also as we used cotton seed this year for fertilizer. Much better for you and cheaper to.

[Ashley Housing]

Wow, that's A LOT of tomatoes!! Selling to an organic market is a great idea! I didn't know about cotton seed for fertilizer, great tip Paige. You could always can some of the tomatoes, do you know how to blanch them and slip the skins off? You could can them whole or make tomato juice and can that. Or spaghetti sauce - YUM! Have you canned before?

[Kris]

Salsa, Paige! Homemade is soooo good!

[Kris]

That's a bunch of tomatoes. I haven't had a garden since 2006, but am hoping to get one going next year. We have enough farm stands around here to purchase veggies, etc., so I can always get stuff to can, etc. I read somewhere that you should plant one row of your garden to donate to a food pantry or whatever. Thought that was a pretty neat idea.

[Ashley Housing]

I LOVE that idea Kris!! It's always good to give to others in need when we are able! :o) Such a great idea- Thanks!

[Kris]

Here is the zucchine relish recipe. A friend gave it to me in 1981 and I've been making it ever since!

Zucchini Relish

Enough zucchini to make 10 cups, chopped or shredded
4 cups onions
1 red sweet pepper

Mix 3 tablespoons salt with zucchini, onions and pepper. Let stand at least 3 hours or overnight. Rinse with cold water. In large pot, cook mixture with 4 ½ cups white sugar, 2 ¼ cups cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon tumeric, 1 teaspoon celery seed, and 3 tablespoons cornstarch. Boil two minutes.
Ladle into hot, sterilized jars to within one inch of top. Wipe rims and follow directions on box for lids and rings.
Place in boiling water bath and process for five minutes. Complete seals as directed on box.

[Ashley Housing]

YEAH!! Thank You Kris! :o) I can't wait to make it this Summer, I LOVE zucchini relish!