AUGUST 17, 2009 GARDEN PICTURES

So here it is ladies and gentlemen. The last of the flower pictures for 2009. We have some new veggies growing like Soybeans, Broccoli Raab, Bok Choy (Pak Choi), Head Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Cauliflower, Turnips, Rutabaga, Kohlrabi, and some other cool season veggies. Also, I took some pictures of some veggies (Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts) that I've been waiting on since the beginning of March.

MAMMOTH SUNFLOWER

AUTUMN BEAUTY SUNFLOWER
from PERFORMING PLANT SURGERY BLOG

NON-MUTANT SPAGHETTI SQUASH

SWEET POTATO MINI-PATCH

CARROTS & SPINACH

BROCCOLI RAAB

EDAMAME (SOY BEANS)

CABBAGE
Ready to harvest. I've been waiting on these since the beginning of March!

BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Almost ready to harvest. I've been waiting on this suckers since the beginning of March!

I was thinking of blanching them for the winter.

I think that's it ladies and gentlemen. I don't have anymore flowers for this year. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and we shall "see" more next year.

NEXT GARDENING OBSESSION: What Can Josephine Succesfully Grow In The Greenhouse?

JAMMING OBSESSION CONCLUSION

We're coming close to the end of this year's Jamming Obsession. I really out did myself but I'm more confident with canning with a water bath now.

RHUBARB STRAWBERRY JAM

HOT PEPPER JELLY (GREEN)

HOT PEPPER JELLY (RED)

CANDY APPLE JELLY

GRAPE JELLY

JAMMING OBSESSION REVEALED


Yes I know. I went overboard with the jamming the past few days. I have 36 (8oz) jelly jars and 2 tupperware containers full of JELLY!

Not sure who will receive them but I'm sure my MIL/FIL, BIL/SIL, my 2 sisters and their family, my grandma, my mom & brother, husband's friend (who gave us canned peppers last year), kidlet's piano teacher, kidlet's 2 dance teachers, kidlet's school teacher, and teacher's 2 teacher's aides will receive some. Thinking 2 jars for each family will get rid of 26 jars and would leave us with 10. My husband is in love with the Pepper Jelly so I'm sure those will go fast.

Hopefully this will be the end of the Jamming Obsession until next year. I'm not going to make any promises but I need to regain some strength for the tomatoes in my garden.

NEXT FEAR TO CONQUER: Canning with a Pressure Canner
NEXT OBSESSION: Pasta Sauce, Salsa, Tomatillos for Salsa Verde, and Canned Jalapenos

CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINE JELLY

No more pictorials for me people. After the first jamming blog incident, I'll just put pretty pictures of the jamming process.

MY JELLY MAKER HARD AT WORK

(JOSCELINE aka SPITFIRE FOODIE)

I JUST HAD TO TAKE THIS PICTURE BECAUSE IT LOOKED SO GROOVY

MY JELLY MAKER BEING PROUD OF HER ACCOMPLISMENTS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINE JELLY

WHITE ZINFANDEL WINE JELLY vs CABERNET SAUVIGNON

WHITE ZINFANDEL JELLY WINE

I think jamming (or is it jellying?) has become my new obsession. No more pretty new flowers to take pictures of so I have moved on to preserving this year's crops. Before I can do that, I started with Pepper Jelly yesterday and today's new venture is WINE JELLY from Allrecipes.

FIRST, GATHER EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED. MAKE SURE TO HAVE YOUR HANDY JELLY MAKER READY (in this case my daughter Josceline),

YOUR JELLY JARS STERILIZED, AND...

STERILE LIDS

ADD THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS IN A LARGE POT AND BRING TO A BOIL:

3 1/2 CUPS WINE (I used White Zinfandel)

1/2 FRESH LEMON JUICE (I used bottled lemon juice because the USDA told me so)

1 (2 OZ) DRY PECTIN (I used 3.5 oz dry pectin because other reviewers said the jelly was runny)

ADD 4 1/2 CUPS SUGAR AND STIR UNTIL DISSOLVED

Everyone say, "AWWW! Look at Spitfire's Jelly Maker."

ROLLING BOIL FOR 1 MINUTE

SKIM FOAM OFF TOP IF NECESSARY

POUR JELLY IN JARS AND COVER WITH LID AND RING

MY JELLY MAKER POSING WITH HER CREATION

WHITE ZINFANDEL JELLY WINE

WHITE ZINFANDEL WINE JELLY vs CABERNET SAVIGNON WINE JELLY

I MADE MY FIRST JELL-Y!

WE BE JAMMING!

But before we start jamming, let's get prepare and organize.

PRETTY PURPLE GLOVES TO PREVENT BURNING HANDS

STERILE JELLY CANS

STERILE LIDS SOAKED IN ALREADY BOILED WATER

Jar Bands can be reused and do not need to be sterile.

Jar Lids must be sterile and can only be used once.

1 CUP CHOPPED RED BELL PEPPER

1/2 CUP CHOPPED JALAPENO PEPPER

5 CUPS WHITE SUGAR

1 1/2 CUPS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

1 (6 FLUID OUNCE) LIQUID PECTIN

DICE SOME JALAPENO PEPPERS AND RED BELL PEPPERS FOR OPTIONAL PEPPER FLOATIES IN THE JELLY

AS FOR THE REST OF THE PEPPERS, USE A FOOD PROCESSOR TO MAKE...

PEPPER MEDLEY BABY FOOD

POUR PEPPER MEDLEY BABY FOOD AND DICED PEPPERS IN A LARGE POT

I made the mistake of using my second largest pot and the jelly overflowed.

ADD SUGAR

ADD VINEGAR

BRING TO A ROLLING BOIL

BOIL FOR 3 MINUTES

REMOVE FROM HEAT AND LET COOL FOR 5 MINUTES

STIRRING CONSTANTLY, ADD PECTIN AND COOL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 2 MINUTES

OPTIONAL STERILIZED TOOLS FOR EASY POURING AND TO MAKE JELLY WITHOUT FLOATIES

YOU MAY EITHER DO

A. POUR JELLY INTO SIFTER/FUNNEL TO MAKE CLEAR JELLY.

OR

B. POUR JELLY STRAIGHT INTO JARS TO INCLUDE FLOATIES.

PUT LIDS AND BANDS ON JARS

CLEAR JELLY

JELLY WITH FLOATIES

THEN YOU ARE DONE!

AFTER COOLING, MAKE SURE LIDS ARE SEALED BY VERIFYING IF THEY POP.

IF THEY DON'T POP, THE LID IS SEALED.

IF THEY DO POP, THE LID ISN'T SEALED.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

TASTE TEST!!!

DOESN'T IT LOOK SO NUMMY?