Fresh Pumkin

I bought some pie pumpkins at the pumpkin patch last week.  I love fresh pumpkin and it is a pretty easy process.  I paid a $1.50 per pie pumpkin so it is also cheaper than buying can pumpkin.  I would not recommend doing this with a regular carving pumpkin.  I think the pumpkin turns out to stringy but not so with pie pumpkins. 

                                       These are the pumpkins I bought minus one. 

                                                            First you break the stem off.

                                                      Cut the pumpkin in 1/2.

Scoop out the pulp and seeds.

     Wrap the pumpkin in saran wrap and cut a little slit in it.  Place the pumpkin in the microwave for approxitmaly15 minutes.  Your time may vary I don't have a very good microwave.  Cook until the inside of the pumpkin is soft. 

It is so hot when you take it out so be careful.  Let cool a bit.  This is what it looked like when I took it out of the microwave.

                                         This is what it looked like when I started scooping it out. 

This is it when I was done.

This is what it looks like out of the pumpkin.  I did mash it a bit with a potato masher.  Or you can run it   through a blender or food processor.  I did not think it really needed it.

I measured out 2 cups and placed in a baggie to freeze.  I did 2 cup portions since that is what most canned pumpkin you buy at the store comes in.

                            The 4 pumpkins gave me 7 bags of pumpkins filled with 2 cups each. 
It is so worth it.  I think it taste so much better than the canned pumpkin.  Let me know if you have ever done this before. 

Blessings

Crystal

Canned Jello Apples

Have you ever had canned jello apples?  Oh they are so yummy.  I made a few batches from the apples I received from my father in law.   Here is the recipe.

4 Quart Apples

2 Cups boiling water

2 (3 oz.) boxes cherry jello

1 1/2 Cups sugar

Peel and slice apples.  Put in water with a little lemon juice or fruit fresh to keep from turning brown.  Mix cherry jello with boiling water and sugar in pan.  Add apples.  Cook apples in mixture for about 10 minutes or until slightly tender.  Pack in jars and water bath for 20 minutes. 

You will like them if you just try them.  Here is a picture of mine.  They are such a pretty color. 

Canned Jello Apples

Blessings

Crystal

Apples, Apples, Apples

My father in law gave me a bunch of apples.

They don't look great but they are wonderful for what I am using them for.  I was so excited to receive them. 

I have a Pampered Chef apple peeler and corer. It makes the job so much easier.  My hubby did the peeler while I did everything else.  That helped so much and saved me some time. Bless his heart.

Now for what I did with those apples.

7 bags diced apples to make apple cinnamon muffins.

3 bags chunky frozen apple sauce.  We like it when it is still a little frozen.

5 bags apple pie/cobbler filling

4 bags chunky red hot apple sauce. 

3 jars of apple butter.  Oh I love this stuff.

I saved a few apples to try to make apple turnovers and I made the most delicious apple cake.  I need a few more to make some candied apples so I have asked my father in law for just a few more.  I am always causing work for my self.  So worth it though in the winter time.

My house smelled like fall.  It was wonderful.

Blessings

Crystal

More Canning

This is what my In-laws brought me when they came to pick up my youngest.  She was staying a week with Grandpa.

With all they gave me and things from my garden this is what I ended up with.

Canned jalopenos, salsa, diced tomatos, peaches in jars and in the freezer and peach jam.  We still have a few peaches to eat fresh.  I have a few more jalopens and tomatos to can but the garden is starting to winde down with this terrible hot weather we are having. 

We are so blessed to have all this food for winter.  I love it.

Blessings

Crystal

Freezer Pickles

Have you ever heard of freezer pickles?  My Father-In-Law gave me a bunch of cucumbers so I decided to try one of my husbands wonderful aunts recipe.  They are so good.  I will make them again.  And yes you put them in the freezer.  Believe it or not when you thaw them they are still crunchy.  I just love canning and freezing fresh garden food.

Mix 7 cups cucumber sliced thin and 1 cup sliced and pulled apart onions 2Tbsp salt. Let set 2 hours.

Mix 2 C. Sugar, 2Tbsp Celery seed, 1 C. vinegar, 1Tbsp mustard seed.  Bring to a boil.  Drain cucumbers.  Pour sugar mixture over cucumbers and stir.  Weigh down with plate over night in refrigerator.

                    Then put in the freezer. If you like put in a little alum.  They really do stay crisp!
                                                    Something to do with all those cucumbers.

Blessings

Crystal