Oh how I love this time of year and the wonderful abundance of fruits and vegetables from the orchards and gardens in the Okanagan Valley.
Like so many of you this time of year, my kitchen becomes a busy space in my home as I prepare goods for the pantry (to enjoy this upcoming winter and to share with friends & family). I adore the different fragrances of spices and sugars wafting through my home as I pickle and jam. Preserving is a household chore I've loved to do for the past 40 + years and learned well from a great teacher....my dear mother who is 86 and still loves to save food in jars :)
Although I no longer have a need for big quantities of the preserves, I cannot imagine a year without certain items being set on the pantry shelves. There is something so wholesome and good about preserving our own food and as long as there is food to preserve....I promise to continue.
Yesterday, I completed some tasty Red Rhubarb Jam (so sweet & so pretty) ... very tasty on toast, fresh bread or home made biscuits w/ cheddar. I love the tart and the sweet flavors.
Last week, I processed a few pints of Beet Pickles (my absolute favorite pickle). I love to serve these pickles with roast beef dinner, they compliment each other so well and somehow there's never a pickle left to put back in the jar. Proud to say my recipe is decades old (in my family) and has been a Grand Prize ribbon winner at many a country fair in generation after generation of our family.
I will visit farmers market again soon and plan to make a few more pints of the beets. My next session will be Antipasto which is another long time favorite with my family & friends (it's my long time tradition to share all these tasty goods).
Will post more later ~
Good canning to you all !
