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Farm Kitchen:  I looked around my kitchen and wondered...  |
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countrymamma
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Rural Manitoba
Canada
78 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 08:31:41 AM
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What does everyone else's kitchen look like at this time of the year.
I have canning jars everywhere, crabapples sitting in a pail, a pile of carrots from the garden than are ready to cut up and freeze, along with a huge batch of Swiss chard. Along with these, there are plastic containers waiting to be filled, different sizes of plastic bags on my counter, strainer, bowls and my food processor.
I have qts. of applesauce sitting on my kitchen cupboard along with pts. of pickled beets ready to be stored for the winter.
Nothing much seems in order right now, however it sure feels good to know that my pantry is filling up along with my freezer. Soon, the kitchen will once again look like its suppose to, however right now it looks exactly like my great grannies and grandmothers did at this time of the year. As farming girls way back when, they'd be so proud of me, I just know it.
How does your kitchen look right now?
~Carol |
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WisGal35
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Cathy
Kenosha County
WI
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 08:41:08 AM
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My kitchen is in similar shape.
Containers and bags at the ready, tomatoes everywhere (waiting for enough to do something with, but I keep eating them), hot peppers strung out across the window drying, a pile of zucchini on the table, and golden peppers next to the tomatoes in a strainer. Oh yes, and a big container of green beans, and a few lonely onions.
Vegetable jubilee is on the menu for dinner (I slice a bunch of garden stuff up, lightly sautee in olive oil, and pour over spag noodles...YUM). |
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Tatiana
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Tania
Boise
ID
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 10:58:19 AM
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I warned my family that it was just going to look like this for the next two months. They are resigned because they want the benefits. I just finished blackberry jam and have a bit of a lull until peaches and apples are on. The varieties I like are a bit later. Until last week, I had appricots, strawberries,cherries and tomatos on my counters. I now am working on blackberries and can't seem to get totally on top of the cukes. Might have to make some pickles. Wow, I just remembered: I need to get another 25# of sugar.
Tania in Boise |
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CelticCoyote
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
Heather
Illinois
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 5:17:22 PM
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Sadly, my kitchen is just a mess, and not because of canning. I don't have a garden, and we're in the midst of a nasty drought, so it's kinda tough to come by really good, fresh produce that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  In a couple weeks, though, I reaaaallly hope to put up some peach butter! Ooooooh, but that's goooood eating. While I'm at it, I'd like to can a few jars of pumpkin butter, and then when the apples really kick in, I'm making some apple butter too. Um, can you tell I like fruit butters?  I really do enjoy canning. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much apple butter I'll be able to do, because my favorite orchard was hit with a horrible frost this past April, and it really screwed their crop.  They're only doing the u-pick on two out of nearly 20 varieties this year! Of course, as long as they have the cider donuts, we'll be okay... |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 5:40:48 PM
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In another week if the weather cooperates my kitchen will be full of wine grapes for making jellies. My Catawbas are almost ready to pick and before selling some to a winery I pick a bushel or two and make the tastiest PINK grape jelly on the planet! Would any of you like some for mail art? My sisters can be my "test market" for Home farmed Catawba jelly. It is delicous on sourdough breads and muffins! Oh and I always put up some dill/ bread and butter mix this time of year.
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
Edited by - MeadowLark on Aug 16 2005 5:42:38 PM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 6:01:18 PM
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Hey Medowlark!
Sign me up for the test market! That jelly sounds divine!
My kitchen is messy due to my soap making buisness. I found a wonderful spot for picking wild berries not too far from Moscow, but I think I missed the peak of the season. Next year I need to head out in Mid July to get the best I think. I need to learn how to can before then...
Ciao
Alee |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 6:02:49 PM
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As soon as I get them done a jar will be on its way to you Alee!
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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CelticCoyote
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
Heather
Illinois
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 7:02:11 PM
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Oh, HECK yeah, Meadowlark!!! (I need a drooling smiley...) I'd LOVE to test your jelly! Mmmm, edible mail art...  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 10:11:01 PM
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Meadowlark-
If you would like to- I could send you a sample of my soaps as a trade?
Ciao
Alee |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 11:42:13 PM
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wow! What a neat mail art THAT would be Jenny!!!
My kitchen is a canning mess right now too...clean but cluttered with clean jars upside down on a towell on the counter, canner empty on the stove for tomorrow, jars of pickled peppers on the other side of the counter..ready to be taken down to the cellar for storage (all but the best looking one..which will be entered in the county fair on Monday afternoon) and stacks of boxes of pectin, and jar lids. I plan to do some jelly tomorrow and am hoping to start getting ripe tomatoes soon..only cherry size so far...but boy are they tasty..sweet 100's and yellow pear. I am making zuchinni relish tomorrow too if I can find my recipe. A "friend" dropped off some HUGE zuchinni (I like them small and tender) that are only good for relish or grating for zuchinni bread..there are enough for both! So I need to get them processed tomorrow too. It will be nice to be home and doing "kitchen stuff" tomorrow..since I was gone most of today. We have company coming on Friday afternoon..to visit for a few days so I will let myself have my fun tomorrow and clean up on Thursday.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
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BlueEggBabe
True Blue Farmgirl
417 Posts
Susan
PA
417 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 03:58:13 AM
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Jenny,
I would also love to taste your pink catawba jelly.........
I will send you one of my best selling "Stiff Neck Salve" in exchange!
OOh I can't wait.
I make concord jelly (dh's favorite) and we are just finishing our last jar from last years harvest.
Thanks so much for the offer.
Sue
"If more of us valued good food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world place."
J.J.R.Tolkien |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 04:44:17 AM
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It was gray and drizzling here yesterday and we had a big wind storm Sunday night so it was time to salvage a few things. It was a salsa making extravaganza yesterday as we maded 16 quarts of various and assorted flavors. The triple pepper version was enough to singe your nose hair, I kept going outside to the side porch to catch my breath!
Also made some batches of gazpacho(thank you very much Blue Egg Babe Susan!)Today it's on to relish (pepper and pickililli) and then on to peaches( brandied, spiced ,plain and jam). I love this time of year, I can just see us all in winter pulling out our bounty and feeling a surge of pride as we know we provided our families with good wholesome food not just in the seasons we grew it, but also for several more to come. In my area it is rare to find anyone who cans and people are just amazed that I "still" do it when the market is a mile away. But nobody has any complaints when they sit down to eat it!
with a happy heart |
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lonestargal
True Blue Farmgirl
607 Posts
Kristi
Texas
607 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 07:25:25 AM
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Celtic Coyote---I would love to have your recipe for apple and peach butter!!! I LOVE apple butter and the peach one sounds soooo yummy. I made apple butter a while back but didn't turn out well at all!!! Need a new recipe.
Sorry for hijacking the thread  |
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prairiemaid
True Blue Farmgirl
200 Posts
Margret
Canada
200 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 07:38:10 AM
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countrymamma, my kitchen is the same. I try to organize it but there is no point in putting it all away just to haul it out again in a day or two. Right now I'm doing up chokecherry jelly and syrup and the broccoli. My crabapples aren't ready yet.
Call me old fashioned. |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 12:07:53 AM
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WOW , Im glad there are others that have messy kitchens, I have canning stuff all over, plus soapmaking stuff all over. But thats not all, my dinning room table is covered up with dyed handspun yarn, that I have been dying for the last 2 days, getting ready to put labels on it for the 17 day Puyallup fair, and knitting needles ive been making to go with the yarn in scarf kits. and beads on the other half of the table that ive been making beaded bracelets for Christmas presents. We kinda just eat here and there in between STUFF ROFL Im also knitting things for I do the Olympia farmers market, and sell my soap and handspun things. whew I got tired just rereading what I just wrote.
But is a good life I live
Shirley |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 01:46:23 AM
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| Hey Shirley...where will you be at the Fair? I want to meet another Farm Girl! I LOVE the Puyallup Fair, can't wait. |
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showmemom
True Blue Farmgirl
166 Posts
karen
carthage
mo
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 05:07:46 AM
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i must admit i'm quite envious of you all who are busy with your gardens. this year i'm in school full time and working part time so the garden was one of the things that i had to put down for a season. we shop at the farmer's market and that's wonderful but somehow not quite the same. we will make apple butter this fall-we're giving small pints of it as favors at my oldest daughter's wedding-but that will be all I do this year.
how blessed your families are to have you!
talk to you soon.
karen
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
Victor Hugo |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 06:35:40 AM
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Meadowlark,
Can I come by and pick up a jar of jelly???????
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 08:42:58 AM
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Well, my kitchen currently has drywall dust all over the floor, the cabinets are in the living room waiting to be painted and the pantry is devoid of everything, including shelves! No fridge, no stove, no table, nothing.
:)
Just had to throw in some humor.
Can I visit somebody's cheefully full kitchen? I'll help can!! |
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junebug
True Blue Farmgirl
2421 Posts
Sue
West Plains,
Mo.
USA
2421 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 11:52:26 AM
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Meadowlark, add me the list of jelly testers if you have any left? I'd like to compare it to my grape jelly, not sure what kind of grapes I have but sure are good! I can send you a jar of my salsa or zucchini relish in exchange? Edible mail art, now that's a concept! LOL
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art
I'm not 40 something, I'm 39.95 plus shipping and handling! |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 12:03:59 PM
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Hey Diane or Holly,
I will be under the grandstand in the Artists in Action part, they tore down our old buildings ,so we will be there somewhere near where the taffy is(if its till there) but I will only be there 8 days doing my shifts, so just ask for me and if im there that day, they should know.
It would be nice to see you!
shirley |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 12:08:20 PM
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My kitchen had all the counters full of soapmaking supplies this AM. The counters were covered in newspaper, then there were jars of oils, bottles of essential oils, and all the other items we needed. But 2 hours later it's back to normal and the soap is curing away under towels and a blanket.
"If you are lucky enough to have a garden, you are lucky enough!" |
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connio
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
connie
springtown
texas
USA
535 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 1:41:45 PM
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Hey Farm Girls!
Hi Meadowlark
I am not a cook, but I would love to be a taste tester. I could easily go to our local farmers market and pick up something to send. We also have a local shop that sells lots of Amish foods. Just keep me posted on what I can send in exhange.
Can't wait.
Connie
cozycottage |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 1:55:56 PM
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You gals are the best! I don't need anything in exchange, Your friendship is the exchange...Just need honest feedback about it... Gotta get busy on this! It is in the 100's here and very humid and the grapes are ripening very fast... I am in the process of designing a label right now...but next week will be up to my apron strings in sticky grapes! On the side I am making a little fresh Catawba wine...unfortunately can't send that to you all, if I did you'd all have to write me at my local "crowbar motel" aka county jail
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
Edited by - MeadowLark on Aug 18 2005 1:59:12 PM |
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showmemom
True Blue Farmgirl
166 Posts
karen
carthage
mo
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 3:07:57 PM
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hi meadowlark-
i bet it smells so gooood in your kitchen!
if you still need a taste tester, count me in! can send some apple butter in about a month-making a test batch next weekend.
talk to you soon.
karen
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
Victor Hugo |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 3:15:32 PM
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I just thought edible mailart will be fun...and I want to share with my farmgirl friends the bounty of my vineyard, no strings attached. I have 2 acres of grapes, roughly 700 plants! That is alot of grape jelly!
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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Farm Kitchen: I looked around my kitchen and wondered... |
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I looked around my kitchen and wondered...
