8-22-09 Think I was kidding about grasshoppers?

• Grasshopper infestation forces livestock sales

8-16-09 Canning Bean Soup Pics

Jessica lifting some canned jars out of the pressure cooker. I have all these pics of canning soup in the wrong order but haven't figured out yet how to move them. :)

Bean soup is ready to eat. All finished and canned.

Here's the bean soup simmering in the pot.

Annette adding the lids and rings.

Ready to can as soon as lids and rings are on.

Some cut-up onions, celery and bell peppers for the soup.

The market had some great looking smoked ham shanks for the soup.

Here are the beans (about 5 or 6 lbs.) soaking in a huge bowl.

Getting the carrots sliced up for the soup. Folks, I wish you could all be in my kitchen to smell this soup cooking tonight, but I barely fit in my kitchen. :) The smell is incredible!! Be sure to follow your canners instructions. I canned at 10 lb.s for 90 min.

8-16-09 Canning Bean Soup

I'm canning bean soup, folks.. I should have some pics up either tonight or tomorrow. We're using shelled Great White Northern beans, smoked ham shanks, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, bell peppers, tomatoes, and bay leaf. I can't imagine who wouldn't LOVE this hearty soup. Better figure on tomorrow for the pics as I will probably be canning all night.. :) This is some really good stuff!!

8-13-09 Attack of the Grasshoppers!

Dear Folks... please pray for the garden. There are thousands of grasshoppers!! I had planned on sharing the garden, but NOT with bugs!

8-13-09 Poor Folks Recipes

Hi Folks.. I just opened a new forum called Poor Folks Recipes. If any of you would like to contribute some recipes, please do. Here's the link. http://lit4ever.org/poorfolksrecipes/index.php

8-03-09 Melons & More

This is Kate's Garden. It's named after the person who made it possible.

My name is Suzanne. This will be a record of the garden to feed and bless many. We hope to take you through the entire process of planting, canning, and drying fruit and veggies.

~God Bless This Garden~

Jessica took a few pics today of melons, etc. These cantaloupes are looking good.

Here's a blue hubbard squash.. Known to be the worlds ugliest squash but ohhh they taste good.

This balck diamond watermelon is the size of a basketball.

The raspberries are really growing. Next year we will have bunches of them.

8-02-09 Canning Veggies

This is Kate's Garden. It's named after the person who made it possible.
My name is Suzanne. This will be a record of the garden to feed and bless many. We hope to take you through the entire process of planting, canning, and drying fruit and veggies.
~God Bless This Garden~

Using the Victorio food strainer for the tomatoes. We ended up canning in my tiny kitchen again as the canners won't fit on Annette's stove.. :)

Pushing the tomatoes down with the plunger.

Just core the tomatoes and then quarter them and dump them into the hopper of strainer and then turn the crank handle. It shoots the juice and pulp out one place and shoots the skins and seeds out another. Sooo easy!!

Pouring the tomato juice and pulp into canning jars.

More juice and pulp..

Adding green beans to the jars.

Today's bean snappers.. :) We set up a small white folding table in my livingroom to use for some of the veggie preparations since there is NO room in my kitchen for it.. :)

Annette peeling potatoes.

Adding green beans, zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers to the jars.

Adding potatoes until jars are full. I added 1 tbs. of worcestershire sauce to each jar along with 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. onion powder. Add enough water to fill jars to proper level. Wipe off the rims of the jars and place lids and rings on the jars.. Do not over tighten the rings.

My canner calls for 2 1/2 quarts water in it so Annette is adding that here.

Place the jars of veggies in the canner. Process the jars according to the directions that came with your canner.

Voila.. the finished product...

Another pic of the finished jars of veggies.