- Jul 12, 2012
- 31
- 9
- 69
When canning apples, I indulge myself a bit and keep Tree Top Apple Cider on hand. It can add just a bit of flavor in case of bland or otherwise uninteresting apples. I've added it to both my applesauce and to my apple butter. And, in the past I've added a bit to my apple jelly mixture.
With four mature apple trees here, I'm up to my ears in canning. I can't do as much at a time as I used to, so am working on devising a new (to me) system. I pick a batch of apples, then rest for a day or two. Then process into pulp and juice and refrigerate. Rest again for a day or two. Then gather my strength, heat and season the pulp, and put up in jars. Not what I've been used to in the past, but I guess at 70 I've earned a rest.
And, the windfall apples are gathered up and fed to our two feeder pigs, a treat for the horses, and fed to chickens, turkeys and guineas. Our trees are producing heavily this year, and we've found the apple crop that is fed to the livestock has cut our feed bill this year by about 75%.
The garden was a little neglected this year, but has produced a bumper crop of nice carrots. It's raining out today, and predicted for the next few days. I'm going to dig those carrots, saute them in butter/olive oil, add a pinch of salt, thyme & parsley, and add a little homemade chicken stock and a tiny bit of demi glace. Frozen, they are delicious. Normally, I grow a large batch of pole beans, but didn't get to it early enough this year.
With four mature apple trees here, I'm up to my ears in canning. I can't do as much at a time as I used to, so am working on devising a new (to me) system. I pick a batch of apples, then rest for a day or two. Then process into pulp and juice and refrigerate. Rest again for a day or two. Then gather my strength, heat and season the pulp, and put up in jars. Not what I've been used to in the past, but I guess at 70 I've earned a rest.
And, the windfall apples are gathered up and fed to our two feeder pigs, a treat for the horses, and fed to chickens, turkeys and guineas. Our trees are producing heavily this year, and we've found the apple crop that is fed to the livestock has cut our feed bill this year by about 75%.
The garden was a little neglected this year, but has produced a bumper crop of nice carrots. It's raining out today, and predicted for the next few days. I'm going to dig those carrots, saute them in butter/olive oil, add a pinch of salt, thyme & parsley, and add a little homemade chicken stock and a tiny bit of demi glace. Frozen, they are delicious. Normally, I grow a large batch of pole beans, but didn't get to it early enough this year.