Lift The Rock, Bring Up The Crock!

 We were busy last week, so the kraut worked for 52 days this time, and it is delicious. Susan canned 19 pints, and we have fresh sauerkraut in the fridge.

The Kraut Rock Is In Play!

Susan picked eight heads of cabbage today, and this evening they went into the kraut crock. Our genuine Rio Grande kraut rock will hold down the juicy mix while the magic occurs.

 

Electric Cider Press!

 No hand cranking for this bunch. The folks who run Greenfield Grocery have a modern cider press with a hydraulic ram that gets every bit of juice from the apples.

Back To The Old Grind!

Kent Rollins Makes Corn Dodgers!

 Baking powder is a good idea. If you want it sweetened a bit, my favorite is adding a little sorghum molasses. 

Busy Wife...

...and Busy Kitchen! The canner is going every day.

 

New Year's Morning

 Yup, she went down the stairs to the basement! Went back up, too. The knee is still swollen, but much better than it was. We are still icing it regularly.

Muddy Pond Sorghum

 

Back To The Old Grind!

How Come You Ask Me If I Want Mo' Lasses When I Ain't Had No Lasses?

 We had a great time hanging around the sorghum evaporator pan at Boonville, and came home with some freshly cooked molasses. It's great on crackers, toast, and ice cream. The show goes on one more day.

Pick Your Sumac Berries Now!

                                                     Bringing Home The Berries!

King Arthur Flour

 

Back To The Old Grind!

Picking Up The Slack

 Susan has been supervising me as I fill jars and operate the canner. Yesterday I did green beans, and today I finished 15 pints of kraut. One lid blew or it would have been 16. I think we have 6 or 8 more pints of kraut to put up tomorrow morning, and then I must pick beans!

Pizza Night...

...when the wife is laid up. (Not Really, but I could get by.)

 

Susan Is Still Canning!

Susan got a good deal on Top Round Roast and has been canning for two days. Now she will be looking for deals on pork and ham.

Always The Ant!

 

A friend called about a mushroom. From the description it sounded like a giant puffball, and it was. She wanted nothing to do with a mushroom new-to-her, and gave it to Susan. It's the biggest one we have seen. Susan went to work right away and cooked each slice lightly on both sides, separated them with parchment paper, and put them in the freezer.

Winter is coming, don't be like the grasshopper. Back To The Old Grind!

Elderberry Potion Time

 Elderberries are loaded with flavanoids, which are good immune system builders, so Susan has been processing berries into juice and preserving it to use over the next year. We don't have an elderberry thresher. Susan freezes the berries in a paper grocery bag, then shakes it up real good to separate the berries from the stems. We will be planting Sambucus cuttings next spring and may have to improve our processing in a few years.  Back To The Old Grind!

Making Sweet Sorghum Syrup

 If you want to know how to make sorghum molasses, all you have to do is search for it on YouTube. There are a bunch of videos that will teach you the basics. I'm hoping we can get over to Boonville for the fall show and pick up a couple quarts. 

Back To The Old Grind!

Pickled Okra, An Easy Food Preservation Project!

Susan's Homemade Vanilla Extract! An Easy, Fun Project!

Remember to shake your bottle every day for the first month, and occasionally after that. Buy good ingredients.

What Lies Beneath The Rock In The Crock?

 Today we carried the kraut crock out of the basement and opened it up. Great Fun!

Got Peppers?

 Susan has been making jalapeno jelly, and now she is going to do a batch of this!

   

Back To The Old Grind!