All posts tagged: preserves

small batch strawberry jam

Published by

I have no business writing a blog post right now. I’m up to my eyeballs in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, Rachel Carson, and a solid debate on whether or not an abandoned orchard can be labeled as organic, thanks to the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.  Top that off with house prep (do thoughts about house prep count?), a full-time job with a lousy commute, a social schedule chock full of birthdays and weddings, and trying to fit being a mom and a wife in there (one that makes dinner and showers). This sounds like a whinge, but it is not. These are all happy things (aside from the commute, which is temporary), but a bit crazy overwhelming.

orange peach jam

Published by

So, what’s new? Hmmm. 1. My son is potty trained.  Yeah, just kidding.  We’ve determined that he just isn’t quite ready yet.  He can, however, sing the ABC’s with adorable perfection.  This blows my freaking mind. That whole “it goes so fast” thing really is true. 2. I’m a city commuter now.  My car sits in the driveway and I now hop on a bus, then a train, and then I walk the remaining mile and a half.  I even get a ride home from Awesome Husband and we go pick Anderson up together.  After years of a two hour commute home on the hellish Mass Pike, there are just no words.  It is wonderful. 3. I ran my first 10K last weekend in picturesque Concord.  All money raised went to support the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House.

small batch refrigerator pickles

Published by

Cucumber season is coming to an end but I’m still getting one every few days.  I used my last batch a few weeks ago to make  jars of refrigerator pickles.  Refrigerator pickles are regular pickles, only they aren’t processed in a water bath.  The difference is that the shelf life is 3 months instead of 12 months. I really wanted to create pickles like my favorite brand – Woodstock.  They are garlicky and zippy.  My recipe isn’t exactly like Woodstock farms, but they had a nice bite to them! Refrigerator pickles 3 pint mason jars 6 minced garlic cloves 5-7 pickling cucumbers 2 1/2  tablespoons of pickling salt* 1/2 cup white vinegar 1 tsp peppercorns 6 dill heads 3 tsp dill seed 3 1/2 cups of filtered or bottled water **I couldn’t find “pickling salt” so I found really fine sea salt without anti-caking ingredients. Divide the minced garlic, sliced cucumbers, dill seed, and peppercorns up evenly and place in each clean mason jar. Boil the water, salt, and vinegar until all of the salt …