Big update coming, till then a video!

I found this fantastic video about a family that has an urban homestead in Southern California! I think this is something we should all try to do, even if you start small!  I had a lovely herb garden going this summer and used the basil regularly in our food! Enjoy!

I am going to revamp the blog to include a few other topics other then just canning, but I will still can! I'll be canning quite a bit over the next couple weeks to have some yummy homemade preserves for friends and family:-)

#12 Apple Butter of my Eye

I'll tell you what, it has been on heck-oh-a Summer! I finally got my big ole mofo canning pot out to welcome in the Fall, and what better way to welcome in the fall then a big old crock a apple butter? Last year (before pint of mine) I made my first canning recipe after venturing out to the apple orchards of Rhode Island. We came home with two HUGE bags of apples!  So I had absolutely no canning experience before I made apple butter.  An let me tell you, it was gone in 2 maybe 3 months (all of it).  We ate it with ham, we ate it once with Chai ice cream, we ate it with pork chops and on biscuits. So here you go!!! The best friggin apple butter recipe you could want! Make it!  It is not hard AND the Holidays are coming up.  How sweet would it be to give someone a trio of homemade fruit butters? Apple Butter, Pear Butter, and Banana Butter, anyone?

Also, I WILL answer all of your sweet little questions! Just leave it below and I will answer it ASAP!  All right lets get to it!   YOU NEED:  4 lbs of apples, peeled, cored, and diced. 1 cup of white sugar 1 cup of brown sugar Juice from 1 lemon 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg 1/2 pint jars (I like this size cause they are good for gift giving) First core, peel, and chop apples into bite-sized pieces.  Watch a tv show when you do this.

Now all the apples, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon into a heavy pot.  Turn the heat up and make those apples sweat!  Make sure you continuously stir so the apples don't burn on the bottom.  The apple juices will start to appear at the bottom of the pot. Turn the heat down to low and let sit for 1 1/2 hour. Stir every now and then. Make sure you sanitize the jars if you are water bath canning.  Place jars into pot and boil.  Reserve some water in another bowl for the lids.  Don't boil the lids or the wax will melt and will not make a good seal on the jar later on.

Pour the mushy sweaty apples into a blender and pulse until it meets your satisfaction.  Pour the apple butter back into the same pot and cook until it is nice and thick (10-20 minutes).  Now doesn't that picture look tasty? No? You are right.

Use tongs to remove jars, ladle hot apple butter into jars, place lids and rings and process for at least 15 minutes.  Remove from water bath and hear those beautiful pings!  I can't say these are my most favorite jam photos I have taken but I need to find the good spots in our new home.  Like a nice ledge to place a jar....hmmm.

Well, the next step is another butter.  I would really like to try my hand at pear butter.  Till next time, jam on!!!

Havesting herbs! Heck yes!

Before we relocated to Cali I was prepping for a garden.  I had built 2 raised wood beds and started seeds by the time we got the news.  Needless to say you can't ship lumber and plants across the country. Boo!

To make up for the lost garden this summer I bought some herbs to put on our patio.  Right now we have Rosemary (I use this one a lot), Basil, Mint, and Lemon Balm (I haven't used this yet).  I had cilantro and used it a few times before it bolted and started producing flowers.

I've been researching how to care for these plants and have the following tips for growing Basil:

1. Let the soil dry completely before watering again.  The water should be able to drain quickly.  My basil is planted in terracotta pots which I think wick moisture out of the soil.

2. Keep in a sunny area.  My basil gets 8 hours of direct sunlight a day and it seems to like it.

3.  When you start to see the tiny leaves and flowers (like the above picture) appear cut them off.

4. To get basil to grow bushier you can cut from the first 3-5 sets of leaves and up off.  Don't worry the basil won't die. I promise.

I love putting basil on sandwiches, it gives everything a nice subtle spicy, peppery taste.  I have also been know to slice some up and throw it onto scrambles eggs for a "gourmet" touch!

California Hiking

So in an attempt to keep my blog current and up to date on my endeavors I give to you a post about hiking in California. 

My husband and I have been making it a point to hike on the weekends.  We live near Laguna Beach and typically hike in the Nature preserve near our home. I gives us time to be together, no screens.  We talk, observe our surroundings, make jokes, and get sunburned.  I have dreams of one day hiking all day and then camping at night and hiking back.  It's the wanderlust of not knowing whats behind the next bend or whet kind of view you are gonna get once you reach the top of the mountain, it's that wanderlust, that keeps you walking. Yeeehaaaw!

Jamming at the Fair

Howdy Jamsters,

I have been thinking a lot about what to can next...and whilst pondering my next great creation I stumbled upon the jam entries at my local fair.  Needless to say I was quite excited and began snapping pictures of the jams that sounded interesting.

The best of show was a very interesting combination of Orange Marmalade and Jack Daniels.  Woooweee, that would be a great way to get you day started!  That would put a zip...or sway in my step! 

It was so neat seeing all of these jamsters and inspired me to enter next year.  As of now I would probably enter the carrot cake or monkey butter jams.  The carrot cake it my favorite jam!  As far as my next jamming expedition, it's soon! Everything is unpacked and the kitchen it put together, now...to find a new recipe...

So much can change in 1 month

Hi all,

I just wanted to let everyone know I haven't abandoned this blog but I am in a bit of a limbo right now.  A little over a month ago my husband was laid off (he worked for 38 Studios, a huge game company in RI). 

Since then there have been so many highs and lows but to get to the point I am sitting in a hotel room in Laguna Hills California.  Within the past month I completed my first masters class, cleaned and reorganized the ceramics room I was teaching at and packed up our whole house to be shipped across the country. Whew.  And this week I have been hiking the Laguna Hills Ridge and tanning, talk about going from 100 mph to 0!

So, all my canning stuff, including my 40+ jars of canned jams/jellies/pickles are traveling across the country as we speak.  I don't think the packer was thrilled with boxing up so many...breakables. Anyways I am looking forward to getting settled in our new place and getting my mofo pot out! Till then, jam on!

Bloggy love letter

Dear Bloggy,

I miss you so much and I really need to spend some time with you but I have been extra busy lately.  Please forgive me as I have just started my Masters AND teaching high school ceramics. What about the weekends, you ask? Well, those have been fairly busy too.

Look, I am hankering for some apple butter, how about you? Yes? Okay so let's meet next week to make some smooth and sensual apple butter.

Miss and Love you lots!
K