Recent content by prism

Welcome Grumpy Pumpkin! I stumbled in here about a month ago. There is so much incredible information shared here! If you are new to gardening, you might also want to check out the sister site - http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/index.php A lot of great information is shared there too...

The more I think about it, the more I realize that it's the prep that feels so time consuming for me. I did a little bit of canning quite a few years ago and then nothing for years. Got back into it this year with chokecherries and crabapples for jelly and butter. While I did get several...

Yesterday - 5 quarts + 1 pint green tomato relish Many of you get soooo much canning done! HOW? Do you can in your sleep?

I could take or leave regular apple butter but discovered I LOVE crabapple butter. :drool I will have to make more next year. It's disappearing a lot quicker than expected. :(

I did a quick picture search out of curiosity. I don't think I've ever seen them in my region and wondered why they wouldn't fit in the canners right. Interestingly, the results took me to a site that sells them for candlemaking. Hmmmm. Seems like that would be a good way to use them up...

It is a very useful tree if it is healthy and producing good crabapples. I have had a crabapple tree for many years and never did anything with the apples until this year. Now I kick myself and wonder why I waited so long. I've always known a crabapple to be just the little teeny apples have...

Interesting you should mention this. Years ago, I bought a special dark jar for doing sprouts. It's dark brown like the good root beer is bottled in but is like a quart canning jar. The top is a canning ring with a fine stiff window screen for good air circulation and easily rinsing the...

Glad you like it PunkinPeep! I didn't even think about using the lid as backing but that is a great idea! Imagine an entire Christmas tree themed with ring framed tree ornaments. I bet it would look really pretty. I seem to remember a window ornament using rings as the outer frame. It...

I love all these great re-purposing ideas! For the rings, I was thinking a little spray paint to refresh them would make nice little frames for smaller needlepoint projects? Actually, I think they would work for photo frames too. I can't think of anything for the lids at the moment but I have...

Cool! What are you going to make with them? I wish I had more because the crabapple butter and jelly I made are already being eaten up too quick!

Was it this one? http://www.americansworking.com/ I just looked at a couple categories so far but it is interesting to see all the Hawaiian coffee.

A while back, I decided I wanted to be more conscientious about buying USA products. I was noticing labels after purchasing the product and discovered I was buying a heck of a lot of foreign products. I started making an effort check labels before buying and make wiser choices. I was floored...

I finally got to my crabapples. The deer had cleaned all the lower branches but I still had enough for a batch of butter and jelly. I also used the leftover pulp from the jelly to double my batch of butter, making 6 pints instead of 3. The jelly uses additional pectin and recipe is...

Oh no!! So sad!! :( I know your frustration. I grew up in New England with unpredictable weather and moved to another unpredictable weather state (MT) about 20 years ago. I've seen a foot of snow mid-June ruin everyone's garden, hail storms in August (severe enough to demolish house roofs...

I'm mostly a soup and then compost user upper. If it won't work in soup and is still edible but know I can't use it before it goes bad, I try to share it with someone that might be able to use it. :hugs Can also extend the expiration by cooking a fresh, canned or frozen ingredient that is...