What did you do in the garden today?

[akroberts1085]

Sure. I tweaked it from the recipe I found online. This is a tangy jam. The sugar is about 40% less than the original recipe.

RHUBARB JAM

12 cups rhubarb, cut into small pieces
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/8 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Put the rhubarb and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Cover and let rest in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight. The sugar will draw liquid out of the rhubarb.

Pour the rhubarb/sugar mix into a large stainless steel or enamel pan. Add the lemon juice and cinnamon. (Don't use an aluminum pan, as it will react with the lemon juice.)

Bring to a boil, lower heat, and boil 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn heat down to low, and continue cooking until thickened. Stir often to keep mixture from scorching.

When it's a jam-like consistency, pour into clean, sterile, half-pint jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes. If you want to do pint jars, process for 15 minutes.

I think this made about 3 pints...?

I want to try putting some cloves in it next year. Just a bit, as a little clove goes a long way. I'd try 1/4 teaspoon in this recipe.

Thank you. I don't like things that are overly sweet. The cloves would be a good idea too.

 

[Sally PB]

Banana Peel: Chop the peel and put in a bowl fill with water and let it soak for 1 hour. I'm a dope bc I didn't write down what it's for.

I have a banana every morning (well, M-F), so I would love to know what else I could do with them besides just put them in the compost!
If you find out what they're good for, please let me know...

 

[Sally PB]

Thank you. I don't like things that are overly sweet. The cloves would be a good idea too.

I asked hubby if he liked rhubarb, and he said, "No, it's too sweet." I told him it isn't sweet at all, and he said the only time he had it when he was a kid, it was terribly sweet. Pie, he thought.

So I made that jam, and he said it was delicious. "And not too sweet!"

 

[pennyJo1960]

I did get my salad garden seeds fresh today in the mail.
Plant them soon.

 

[akroberts1085]

I have a banana every morning (well, M-F), so I would love to know what else I could do with them besides just put them in the compost!
If you find out what they're good for, please let me know...

Banana bread, pudding, pie. I want to try making a banana smoothie with some blueberries.

 

[Sally PB]

Banana bread, pudding, pie. I want to try making a banana smoothie with some blueberries.

Oh, I meant the peel. I always have lots of banana peels for the compost.

 

[akroberts1085]

I cannot get my husband to try anything new. His jelly is grape only. His vegetables are corn, green beans, peas, lettuce, tomato sauce, ketchup and potatoes. He doesn't eat fruit at all.

 

[akroberts1085]

@Sally PB , I read that you can chop them up then dehydrate and mix with egg shells and add straight to the garden.

 

[Smokerbill]

Thank you. I don't like things that are overly sweet. The cloves would be a good idea too.

I bet fresh ginger would go well with rhubarb too.

 

[Smokerbill]

Banana Peel: Chop the peel and put in a bowl fill with water and let it soak for 1 hour. I'm a dope bc I didn't write down what it's for. Coffee Grounds: Put used coffee grounds in a bowl add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 c club soda. Add to soil every 2 weeks. Hard Boiled Egg Water: Allow to cool completely then add to plants. It's good for calcium. Tea Bag: Cut the tea bag open and add 1 TBSP oats. Put in a cup and fill with boiling water. Steep for 1 hour. Strain. This is good for nitrogen loving plants.

Maybe that chopped banana peel "recipe" is for adding potassium to the soil.