Peach Salsa

Yup...it's that time of year...when the tomatoes and the peaches sync up with each other. I wait all year for peach salsa season.
For the last several years our wonderful local farmer has made fresh peach salsa every Friday and sold it at his farm stand. It is such a treat. We have arrived early on Friday mornings to make sure we get some of this legendary local salsa. I get giddy at the sight of the big ice chest with the little handwritten sign that says "fresh peach salsa".
I was away at the farm mob on the Friday it first showed up. When I made it home late on Sunday night I noticed a little container on the shelf in the fridge. It wasn't a full container. It wasn't a half-full container. There was actually just sort of a bit of peach salsa residue floating on the bottom of the container. It was clear I would have to wait until the next Fridays delivery for my first helping of the year.
I headed up bright and early on the following Friday, hopped out of my car and headed under the farm stand tent. The nice kid that works there greeted me with a smile...(I'm a regular you know!) I looked around for the giant blue cooler...I didn't see it. I thought maybe they were a bit behind on the delivery. I snooped around at some of the other goodies and picked up my CSA bag. Still no cooler...I was getting a bit worried...I asked the friendly farm hand when the peach salsa would be making its debut.
He motioned me over to the corner of the tent and said there would be no peach salsa today. What??? Noooo! Why not? In a discreet voice he told me that the "salsa cops" (my terminology) had busted them that morning. Seriously??? You have no idea how upsetting this was! I'm still ranting about it 3 weeks later. Please! This is a local farm stand. I am choosing to shop here. I am willing to take my chances on the farmers salsa! I don't care about where or how he makes it! I am willing to "risk" eating his homemade salsa! This happened on the day after I read this article in the newspaper...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/15/texas-swat-team-conducts-_n_3764951.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

After the big salsa bust of 2013 the farmer loaded the big cooler back on his truck and left! I seriously felt like crying...I still kind of do :(

I want his salsa...I want to drive to the farm stand tent early on Friday mornings and open the lid on the cooler and get my container of peach salsa. I feel it is my right to do this! Please Salsa Cop...don't protect me from myself! I'm having such a hard time understanding why I can walk down the street from the farm stand and enter the 7-11 and buy a rancid and very nasty hot dog but I can't buy my beloved peach salsa...I don't want to hear about any dopey rules and regulations. I don't care...I want my salsa back!!!

Well...if or until my right to eat fresh and delicious homegrown and locally made salsa is re-instated this is what the farmer has decided to do...he has packaged up a little bag of the ingredients (with the same hands that made the salsa) and typed up the recipe and included it in the bag. We made it today. It's delicious but honestly it isn't as delicious as his...(maybe he left out a couple of his secret ingredients or maybe he is just a pro at it). Either way, I will support him and buy the little bag of salsa builders as often as he has them. ( sniff sniff...shedding a tear as I type this)

The contents of the "build your own salsa " bag...

I just had to show you this picture...Hubs and I decided it was time to invest in a new food processor! You know...not "processed food"! This is its maiden voyage!

Whoops...this is a random picture I posted in error...but, isn't it gorgeous? Goodies handed over the fence by my awesome neighbor Adam...fresh from his impressive garden!

Fresh peach salsa...amazing...just not quite as amazing as my farmer friend makes it...

Peach Salsa

Dice 3 or 4 medium sized tomatoes, 1 medium peach, 1 small red onion and either 1 green chili or 1 jalapeno. (green for mild, jalapeno for hot)
Crush 1 clove of garlic and chop a few sprigs of cilantro. Add 1 tsp. of local raw honey and 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar. Stir well. Chill for one hour. (can also use a food processor)...
Great over grilled chicken, seafood or with corn chips...Enjoy!

Slow Food...

Are you familiar with the term "Slow Food"? The following is from the "Slow Food USA" mission statement and overview...

Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

Slow Food is a non–profit, international, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 by Carlo Petrini to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

Isn't this an interesting concept? An antidote to fast food...an organization devoted to clean eating and local eating. There are "Slow Food" chapters all over the world. The "farm mob" I participated in was organized by our local group chapter.
There is a lot of information about this movement online and I encourage you to check it out!

I've mentioned this before, but I do not eat fast food anymore. I don't want to eat fast food. It doesn't appeal to me on any level. I would go so far as to say that I think eating it would make me feel sick and weird and uncomfortable. 
I used to eat fast food. I really thought it was okay. It's not! There was a time when a double cheese burger from McDonald's really hit the spot! Not anymore. I feel about fast food the way I feel about Diet Coke. You just shouldn't consume it!
This does mean some lifestyle changes for sure. What do you do when you are traveling? What do you do if you are stranded in an airport or on a road trip. Well...you have to plan ahead and you have to pack your own food! I feel that I need to say this...it's not hard to do people. It's just a small learning curve and a different way of life!
Recently Hubs and I went on a little road trip and I did food planning as well as trip planning. We were only going away for the weekend so it was no big deal. I packed some of my kinda famous tuna sandwiches. I made delicious "everything" cookies...we packed bottled water and raw pecans, fresh fruit and even the cold brewed coffee that I'm in love with! Really, it's no big deal and takes the worry out of finding "the right kind" of places to eat while on the road.
So...what are the right kind of places to eat? Well, for us, it's finding local places that make the majority of their own food, source locally and have a high standard for the ingredients they use. 
Also, when I refer to "fast food" that also includes chain restaurants. It's really all just processed food, sourced from huge food outlets and feed lots. No thanks...

Today I had the pleasure of having lunch with some of my favorite peeps. Luckily there are several 
restaurants in most locales that fit my criteria!

It's a safe bet that a place looking like this does NOT serve fast food.

Purple doors and potting benches are usually a sign that you won't be getting McNuggets.

We decided to have a loooooong, leisurely lunch under the grape arbor. I'm pretty sure this is what lunch is supposed to look like. 

To whet our appetites ( yeah, like they needed whetting...) we ordered a flat bread appetizer. It was covered in artichoke hearts, caramelized onions and gooey, melty Havarti cheese. I promise it was better than a "pretzel bacon cheeseburger". 

I had a lightly dressed organic field greens salad and the house made crepe filled with herbed creamy cheese. Oh...and see the iced tea! Passion fruit and hibiscus herbal tea. Unsweetened, tart and refreshing. 
How much you ask? Sans the tea it was $9.00. C'mon...that's what you'd pay at the Taco Bell drive-thru! 

Another leafy fresh salad and a layered sandwich of turkey, bacon and avocado on a ciabatta bun. 

The food at this little local gem is affordable, locally sourced and organic. All the menu items are prepared fresh and by hand each day. The choices are simple, tasty, healthy and appealing to look at.
Shoot! I wanted to get a picture of the home made ice cream! Sorry...it sure was good, though!

How about that cookie recipe? You know...for the road!

These cookies do have sugar in them...of course it is CANE sugar. I DO make home baked goodies and homemade ice cream from time to time. This journey is about healthy, clean food and a better way of living. A good life includes a good cookie from time to time ;)

Everything Cookies

1 cup butter or coconut oil (I love the benefits of coconut oil)

1 cup packed brown cane sugar

1 cup white cane sugar

2 eggs (hopefully local and free-range)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups of organic unbleached flour

1 tsp. of baking soda

1/2 tsp. of salt

3 cups organic rolled oats

1/2 cup of semisweet or dark chocolate chips

1 cup of raisins or dried cranberries

1/2 cup raw pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silpat.

In a large bowl cream together butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture. Add the oats, chocolate chips, raisins and pecans one ingredient at a time. Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. 

This makes a very thick, stiff dough. Enjoy!

Coop de Ville

I'm not really sure how it all happened. I originally agreed to having 3 chickens. Okay, I'm not really sure I ever agreed to having chickens so that may not be true. I just know that one day those 3 New Hampshire Reds showed up and became "our" chickens.
I'm not really sure when those original 3 chickens turned into 5 chickens and how those 5 chickens turned into 7 chickens. You get the idea...right? Now we have 9 chickens...it's all so confusing!
Anyway...the tenants of the little red chicken coop were outgrowing their home. We could either get rid of a few chickens or build a bigger coop. Guess what was decided...(not necessarily by me)...
Hubs decided that he should build a chicken coop that would fit the needs of the growing chicken population in our backyard.
At this point there were the original girls and now there were Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks and Black Sex Links.
Occasionally there are chicken casualties :(  It just happens no matter how vigilant you are as a chicken keeper. Random odd things can happen. In the grand scheme of things we have been lucky and haven't lost many. As I mentioned in another post our biggest "casualties" were hens actually becoming roosters! Even though chickens are super weird, you still feel bad if something happens to one of them.
So, in the interest of having a larger, safer, predator proof coop...Hubs got out his hammer.

Hmmm...should I have been worried? Does this seem like an exceptionally large chicken house?

Really...is this what it takes to house 9 chickens?

Its like when that hammer got in Hubs hands it just took on a life of its own...Doors and trap doors and latches and hinges and hooks and boxes and ramps...oh my!

And of course the laying boxes. 5 to be exact...just in case there were 5 hens all wanting to lay an egg at the same time? Have I mentioned how weird chickens are? Even though there are 5 large, comfy boxes they all lay their eggs in the same box! 5 perfectly good boxes and they line up and wait for their turn in the favored box. 4 unused boxes, collecting dust and feathers while the hens squawk and carry on waiting to get in the single highly sought after birthing room.

And then the embellishments began. A nice red trap door. Why? Who knows...it just looks cool. (In all fairness it has come in handy a few times...)

How about this giant heavy duty door? It does keep any cagey critters out. You can never trust a fox or a raccoon...Nothing has penetrated this fortress to date!

All chicken coops need to have snazzy red fixtures to match the snazzy red trap door and snazzy ramp tiles...don't they?

Hubs configured and added some pretty cool natural roosting branches. The chickens LOVE these branches. Sometimes there is a lot of arguing over who gets what branch.

The girls were thrilled with the new digs. They made themselves right at home. No introductory period necessary.

I could live in this thing! I actually thought about it for a minute or two before the chickens moved in. The laying box opens to the outside on the right of the picture. Because Hubs is kind of insane, he added hydraulic shocks to the lid of the laying box to make it easy to open. Really...it's a bit much...but he was just having so much fun. I think he was thinking that with this coop he could actually have an unlimited amount of chickens. Um...no. Notice the hanging hippie beads in the doorway? Those were put up as a deterrent to all the bratty sparrows in the neighborhood that fly in and eat all the chicken scratch! It worked great for the first few months. Now they just fly in at their leisure and mock us while eating bags full of chicken vittles. They bug me...

One of the Sprouts hanging out with Peace the bear and a hen. They all get along famously.
Seriously people...you need chickens. You need homegrown free-range, healthy beautiful eggs. It would change your life...Honest!

Square Foot Gardening

I LOVE the square foot gardening method. There isn't anything I don't like about it. I like how tidy it looks. I like the planting medium (dirt). I like having little to no weeds. I LOVE the crop yield. Yup, I <3 everything about it.

A few years ago Hubs and I took a "square foot gardening" class from a certified SFG teacher. That means the teacher went to an official training workshop from the master of the square foot gardening technique...Mel Bartholomew. I think Mel knows his stuff! It is an easy and efficient system and anyone can pull it off. I highly recommend reading his book "Square Foot Gardening". I truly believe it makes it possible for anyone to be a successful gardener.

Square foot gardening and container gardening are often confused or considered the same thing. Container gardens usually use a much deeper box or structure for the garden. This in turn requires a lot more dirt. Container gardens don't usually section the box into the one foot squares used in SFG as well.  I have seen some lovely and functional container gardens. I'm just happy to see any kind of garden being utilized and enjoyed. I say whatever works!

Every spring I see SFG classes cropping up around town. Often free introductory classes are offered at your local library or garden center. Hubs and I took a 4 week course through the local high school continuing education classes. It was well worth it. 

We have built several gardens since taking the classes. The SFG method is perfect for urban settings and can fit into most any size space.

Our preference is to build the garden boxes with untreated cedar. We feel this is the healthiest choice. We aren't convinced that PVC and vinyl boxes are safe for your food source. We are thinking of experimenting with boxes made out of flat stock steel this fall. I'll keep you posted!

This spring we had the pleasure of constructing an awesome square foot garden for a novice gardener. We wanted something sleek, streamline and unobtrusive to meet the needs of the homeowner. Once again this method is the perfect choice...

We went with 2' wide boxes so they didn't interfere with much lawn space. We "stepped" them from one end of the deck to the other to follow the slope of the yard. 

I LOVE this garden! It was just the right size for this family. It was totally doable with their busy schedules and completely low maintenance, yet they still had an impressive crop of organic yumminess.

Okay, it's not exactly "square feet" where it fits into the corner...but, this method is totally adaptable and this just looked really cool. It also gave them a sweet tomato patch.

See! Anyone can have an amazing successful garden!

HA! Look at the giant tomato plants this "novice" gardener pulled off! The whole garden was equally impressive and yielded a surprising amount of produce. (This tomato plant is growing in just 6" of planting medium)

They had dozens of cucumbers! Aren't these gorgeous???

They loved the beets so much they want to plant a lot more next year...

Just a sampling of some of their crop. Pretty little carrots...

The first early picking of a variety of tomatoes. You saw the plants! Obviously they will be eating tomatoes until the cows come home! That's a good thing!

I was excited to share this perfect little garden. The possibilities are endless...and really...there is no excuse for not having your own little piece of heaven!

Shrub

I've been so excited about this blog post! I can't wait to tell you about something really fun, healthy and delicious. It's a SHRUB!
I had not heard this word used in this context before. You know how sometimes you hear a new word or topic that interests you and then once you are aware of it you start hearing it more often? That's what happened to me when I heard about shrubs.
I have been reading the book "Cooked" by Michael Pollan and I jumped ahead to the chapter on fermentation. I am doing some research in hopes of making my Mothers "million dollar pickles". Once again I happened upon the term "shrub"!
For some reason I am totally being seduced by fermentation right now! Reading about it has been fascinating and intriguing. I'm not completely in the dark about the benefits of fermented food and probiotics. I know their value and have supplemented with probiotics for years. But, the more I read the more I'm convinced that we need some fermented foods in our diet.
I do like "Kombucha" tea although I have yet to brew my own. I have now added that to my short list.
Anyway...I read an article about shrubs and couldn't wait to give it a try. There are several reasons I'm excited about this...
We are not soda pop drinkers. I am proud to say I have been "Diet Coke" free for almost a decade. I am not going to sugar coat this. Soda pop is bad. I won't listen to any arguments about it. It's bad. I was utterly and completely addicted to Diet Coke. Yes, the first one in the morning was the most delicious. In fountain form from the convenience store it was superior to the can. I could not fill my car with gasoline without having an uncontrollable urge to fill myself with a large fountain pulled Diet Coke. I could not eat Mexican food without one. I poisoned myself for way too many years with Diet Coke and I have only bad things to say about it. Getting over my addiction was incredibly difficult. I "quit" Diet Coke many, many times over the years and then would fall off the wagon again. Finally, after an especially lousy flu bug over the Holidays I gave it up. It was hard. The cravings were uncomfortable and I had many triggers for wanting one. It wasn't easy but I knew I could NEVER taste it again. I had serious cravings for about 9 months. I finally had some acupuncture treatments for "addiction" and they helped immensely. I don't crave it anymore at all. At this point I have a complete aversion to it.
That being said...I do like sparkling water! My favorite drink is ice cold sparkling water with a squeeze of fresh lime....DELISH.
Okay...sorry, I got side-tracked with my Diet Coke rant...back to the shrub...
Here is a fun alternative to soda pop. I hear from many of my friends that their kids are exposed to soda pop almost constantly and it is very hard to monitor.  I am convinced that the best way to teach kids about real food is to involve them on many different levels. And so...the shrub.
It is ridiculously easy...

One part ripe fruit (berries and soft fleshed stone fruits work especially well)
One part sugar
One part apple cider vinegar

I did one cup of each and I happened to use luscious ripe local raspberries. I put the cup of raspberries into a wide mouth Mason jar.

I added one cup of cane sugar (when using sugar you know you need to use "cane" sugar. If not, chances are you are using GMO sugar...blech)

I mooshed these two ingredients up a bit to help dissolve the sugar.

I covered it and let it sit overnight to incorporate and break down the sugars and the fruit. It will do the same thing in 3 or 4 hours if you are in a hurry. (make sure it is just at room temperature)

In the morning I stirred and mashed it all together again to make sure all the sugar was dissolved. Then I added a cup of apple cider vinegar. I stirred it together once more before I strained the pretty pink liquid into a glass bottle. I used a fine mesh sieve and discarded the solids. (discarding at my house means the chickens got it!)

Remember...I only used a cup of each ingredient. Next time I will make more.

Now, the really cool part is that it will last for up to a year in your fridge! Of course I know we will finish it much sooner than that, but what a great way to use more of those fabulous ripe fruits we are enjoying.
To serve, just add 2 tablespoons of the shrub to a glass and add 8 ounces of sparkling water! Your kids will love it! Especially if they helped you make it!

I made a little bottle for Hubs and added a fresh raspberry. He LOVED it! He said...and I quote, "if anybody doesn't like that, they are crazy"! So, there you have it...if you don't like it you are crazy!
You really must try it...it really is yummy...there is just a bit of sugar per serving and the cider vinegar is so healthy for you...

I'm adding a link explaining some of the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar...

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/8-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/#slideshow=slide9

Oh...I wanted to mention that Hubs also thinks it would make a really fantastic cocktail or as an addition to sparkling wine! He's probably right!

(Two more to add to my list of unrecognized spellcheck words...probiotics and Kombucha)

I Can't Stop!

It would be an understatement to say, "I love this time of year"! The growing season is at its peak and I feel such an urgency to take advantage of all it has to offer. I almost feel overwhelmed. I'm not always sure where to start or what to do first.
I want to partake of all these delightful fruits and veggies and incorporate them into our daily meals. I want to find a way to preserve and save what I can and enjoy during the coming months when they will no longer be available.
For me, it's still kind of new and I'm trying to prioritize and get the most out of it.
Last week I received a most welcome message on Facebook. A dear and thoughtful friend asked if I'd like a box of fresh, ripe, local organic peaches. Are you kidding??? Do ducks quack? She is involved with an experimental farm operated by an agricultural university. She explained they have an organic section and the peaches were from that area of the farm. I was more than thrilled! I was honored and excited that she thought of me.

The next morning these beauties arrived on my front porch. I'm not lying when I say I really think they are the most gorgeous peaches I have ever seen. Not a bruise, not a blemish. Firm and ripe and juicy. I wanted to do something with them "worthy" of their greatness!
At the same time, I was dealing with my giant flat of blackberries. I had to assess the situation and make a plan. It has been my experience that berries are quite fragile and go "south" quickly. These aren't the kind of fruits you buy in the grocery store in the winter and they last for weeks in your fridge...these are the real thing...local, freshly picked at the moment of juicy ripeness. Use 'em or lose 'em! I decided the beautiful peaches could wait a day, but the berries needed to be dealt with quickly.
So, the day after my jam-a-thon, the peaches needed some loving attention.
I have to tell you...the three batches of blackberry jam pretty much exhausted me, but I was not willing to sacrifice a single fuzzy peach!
Hubs and I did enjoy a few with our dinner and breakfast. Not sure what they did up at the Ag Farm but we both agreed they were the best peaches we'd ever eaten.
I got busy bright and early the next morning and started by perusing some recipes and food preservation books. I decided to go simple. I had some newly purchased freezer containers and decided to go that route. I thought a batch of peach pie filling sounded like a great idea and would be very welcome in the early winter months. I haven't really done anything with freezing in the past and thought I'd give it a shot.

I was really happy with how the pie filling turned out. It smelled absolutely divine and actually made enough for 3 future pies! I'm excited about that and think it will soften winters harshness on at least 3 occasions!
I had enough peaches left to fill two more quart size freezer containers and ended up just slicing them up, sprinkling them with some fruit preserver and a bit of sugar. I know those will be a welcome addition to the winter as well.
As always...I feel such a huge sense of pride and accomplishment when I am done. Maybe that is part of the enticement for preserving food.

I need a new shelving system! This one is full and I couldn't fit my last 9 jars of blackberry jam on it! The 4 quarts of tomatoes are what is left of last years tomato harvest. ( I had 24 jars originally and we have had many delectable meals with our perfectly canned tomatoes). Everything else has been fashioned this summer.
I've enjoyed having a couple of recovery days for sure...but, now, the wheels are turning again and I'm wondering what I can come up with next! Maybe try a couple of bottles of tomatillos from my daughters prolific urban garden? Or, head down to the "u-pick" farm a few miles away and get a late crop of luscious raspberries? Oh wait...or how about both?!

hello? spellcheck? you seriously don't recognize tomatillos???

Can-A-Thon

Hubs and I LOVE hot pepper jam! We can't get enough of it! There is a great local hot pepper jam maker in our area and several of the grocery stores around here stock it. It ain't cheap! However, that has not been a deterrent for buying it! I may be slightly addicted to it! This local jam maker has several options. Blood orange and "cherry bomb" are two of my favorites.
I keep the cupboard stocked with golden round crackers. I can find these in several brands that are organic and really yummy. I keep the fridge stocked with this...

I liberally spread the "Snofrisk" on a plate and slather it with a pepper jam. Then, open up a box of the golden crackers and go to town! This is also good with cream cheese. I prefer the "Snofrisk" It is the perfect spreading consistency and has amazing flavor. It is not overpowering at all and just enhances the pepper jam and cools it down a bit!

Well...I figured I just ought to make my own pepper jam going forward! Right? I'm very pleased with the jams I have made so far this year. My raspberry jam has gotten some serious rave reviews, but for the moment I can't find anymore local raspberries.
Last week when I stopped by the local farm stand I spotted these beauties!

Just walking past these little darlings the air was filled with the intoxicating fresh, sweet scent of plump blackberries.
I figured that blackberry pepper jam would be as good as anything! Still being a novice in this whole canning business I purchased the whole flat. I didn't realize they were the full-size pints. When I got home and started unpacking them I saw that I had a whole lotta blackberries!
You know how you can find anything on the Internet? Well, that's what I thought, too. Until I started looking for a berry pepper jam recipe! I'm serious...I couldn't find anything! Yes, there are several recipes for jalapeno jelly. I don't want jalapeno jelly. I want berry pepper jam! I looked through the trusty "Ball Blue Book of Canning"...yup, a jalapeno jelly recipe! ( I must comment here...the jalapeno jelly recipes call for green food coloring...seriously???)
I have this giant flat of blackberries and I want to make the pepper jam! I pulled out the almost empty bottle of cherry bomb in my fridge and looked at the ingredients. Fruit, an assortment of peppers, sugar and vinegar. Easy enough...if only I had some measurements! I just couldn't wrap my brain around coming up with my own recipe. And, remember that whole pesky thing about not killing anyone with your canned goods? I'm not comfortable making something up without knowing the proper amounts of preservative ingredients.
Then...it came to me...last year we had some good friends over for dinner. They brought the appetizer. They brought homemade PEPPER JAM! One of their friends had made it last summer and gifted it to them over the holidays. It was just like the stuff I buy at the store! Maybe better! With great urgency I texted my friend and asked if she could get the recipe from her friend! I figured I could start washing and draining the berries and cross my fingers I would hear back soon.
Yeah...I heard back soon. My friend texted me back and said she asked her friend for the recipe and her friend declined! :(   Really?
Now I feel like I want to talk about this. Why wouldn't someone share a recipe? I'm not going into business or opening a restaurant. I don't imagine the "denying" friend is either. Okay, maybe I don't want to just talk about this...maybe I want to write a whole commentary! I want that recipe!!! I don't have ulterior motives. I would give her complete credit for the recipe. I just want to make a couple of lowly batches of jam for my family. I don't know "this friend" and assume we don't run in the same circles...she can have all the glory. I just want some darn jam!
I honestly and sincerely feel that we need to support each other in the quest for healthy and happy eating. I think the way to a better, kinder world starts with sharing your jam recipe! I have some recipes that are very near and dear to me. I promise going forward I will never hoard a recipe that someone wants to try for their family and friends. I learned something important over this...I learned to unconditionally share my recipes!

Well...those blackberries weren't going to wait for a recipe so I decided to plow on through. I decided to use my trusty "any kind of berry" jam recipe and just dice up an assortment of fresh, local peppers. My jam recipe is the basic one in the "Ball Blue Book of Canning". I figured nobody would croak if I followed that recipe and just added the peppers.

I mashed down the blackberries with the potato masher and added the sugar and peppers. I used green peppers, jalapeno peppers and a little bit of poblano pepper. That's it! It thickened up nicely and smelled fresh and delicious while it was cooking and turning to jam.
I canned it according to the best practices method and then licked the spoon. Is it the best jam ever???
Nope...it's not. I mean, it's okay. It is NOT like the pepper jam I buy at the store. It's not like the non-sharing jam makers. It's just okay...I really think I need a recipe that has vinegar in it. Maybe that is what I'm missing. It just doesn't taste like the other. It doesn't taste bad...it's just not what I was hoping for.
I went back to the Internet and hunted some more. I found a variation of what I had just made. It called for a lot more jalapenos than I had used, a bit more sugar and a few less berries. I had so many berries that I gave it a try as well! Meh...tastes about the same as the first batch but quite a bit hotter. Don't get me wrong, it's not gross or anything. We will eat it and I think the golden crackers and Snofrisk will help the final product. But, I can't lie. I'm disappointed.
I gave up on the pepper jam for now. I made a plain ole batch of blackberry jam next. BOOM...it's amazing. It's quite a bit different than the raspberry. It has a deeper, darker, more intense flavor. It's sweet and fruity and tart at the same time. I'm kind of in love with it.

And so....many hours later I have a substantial supply of blackberry jam. I ended up with about 15 jars. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after a canning marathon.
Please feel free to send me a berry pepper jam recipe anytime! I will be on the hunt until I find one...

p.s.  My Sis-in-law found my Moms recipe for "million dollar pickles". That's kind of a big deal. When we figure it all out you can be sure I will be sharing it!

Chili Sauce...

There is something about my canning craze that brings back the past. I'm not exactly sure why that is. Since I started sterilizing bottles and cutting up fruits and veggies and turning my kitchen into a food factory it has opened a gate of forgotten memories.
I wish I had a dollar for every time Hubs has said, "I wish I had my Mom's chili sauce recipe." Seriously, he says that every time I fire up the canner!
Now, I remember his Mom's chili sauce. When Hubs and I were first married she served it a few times when she cooked up a big ole plate of ribs or a roast at Sunday dinner. I remember it was really good. I don't remember it the way Hubs remembers it, though. He talks about it longingly and lovingly. He talks as if he can still taste it on his tongue and smell it's spicy and seductive fragrance. He talks about it reverently and passionately at the same time! I just remember it was pretty good.
I personally don't remember ever seeing his Mom make it. Honestly, if I had, I doubt I would have been all that interested. Canning was weird. I guess at some point early in our marriage or before she stopped making it. When I think of her I don't think of her as hanging out in the kitchen slicing and dicing. It maybe even surprised me a tad that she actually made stuff like that. In my memory she was much more at home swinging a golf club or flinging a bowling ball!
Last time Hubs was mourning the whole chili sauce thing I told him he should have written down her recipe or watched her make it. Yeah...like that was realistic. I can't really picture a young twenty something guy following his Mom around the kitchen and jotting down her chili sauce recipe. But, still!
A few weeks ago we were invited to my big Bros house for a little summer holiday get together. I had just finished bottling some pretty spectacular raspberry jam and decided that would be a nice little gift for the host and hostess!
Again...it started up the reminiscing. My big Bro is several years older than me and he started telling me stories of "his" childhood and our Mother canning in the kitchen. Really? I have no memory of that. He  told me our Mom was kind of a "legendary" canner in the old neighborhood and that she was pretty famous for her "million dollar pickles". He told me she created and canned the most delectable applesauce ever! When he and my 3 other big brothers were little guys it was their favorite thing. He said she would serve the applesauce on graham crackers and top it with fresh whipped cream. He talked about that applesauce in the way Hubs talks about his Mom's chili sauce!
It inspired me a bit and I thought maybe I should try and take on some "million dollar pickles" sometime. I have no idea what makes them "million dollar" worthy but it does intrigue me. My Sis-in-law jumped up and went in search of my Mother's old recipe box. She and my brother took possession of it 30 years ago when our Mother passed on. Her recipe box is kind of sacred in our family and even has a history of sorts with falling into the "wrong" hands. ;) That's a whole other story!
I was glad when it safely landed in their care and they have taken measures to archive and catalog many of the recipes. You know, this is one of those old school recipe boxes that probably contains about 300 hand-written recipes. It really is a piece of history and a walk down memory lane. I love that each recipe gives credit to the neighbor, friend or relative that was willing to share their prized techniques and ingredients.
While my Sis-in-law was flipping through the categories in search of the "million dollar pickles" I was joking about the chili sauce recipe and using my tired line about "wishing I had a dollar"! Hubs was humoring me. :) In my defense, I did tell Hubs I would Google up a search and snoop through the "Ball Blue Book of Canning"for a chili sauce recipe. Maybe we could find something close.
Sis-in-law stopped her frantic pickle search momentarily and pulled out a worn recipe card. Wow, here was a chili sauce recipe. No credit was given to the author but it was worth taking a look at. She handed it over for Hubs and I to take a look.
Goosebumps! It was in Hub's Mom's distinctive handwriting. It was HER recipe. No way! I have no idea how that little card ended up in my Mother's prized little box. Our Mother's only knew each other briefly. There were no shared dinners where chili sauce was served. Both were long past their interest in canning and my Mother passed away shortly after Hubs and I were married. But, the chili sauce instructions were there!

At this point we don't care how it got there. We are just excited that it did. We are going to give it a shot.  I'm a bit concerned because there are few measurements regarding the spices. Hubs thinks he won't have any trouble getting it right from memory. I believe him. Thanks Carol and Bev for facilitating this discovery one way or another. Love you two!

(The million dollar pickles were forgotten for the moment, but I will be revisiting that soon as well!)

The Mob...Day 2

After the long leisurely dinner, on our first night, we said our good-byes until the next morning. As we drove back to the farm and to our camping area I was struck by the vast darkness and quiet. No cars, no big city sounds, no sirens, no voices...really no sound except the truck we were driving.
I was excited to get into my single person tent. I was tired after the journey to the farm and the filling, satisfying meal.
I had to stop and stand outside my tent for several minutes. The sky was so clear and filled with stars. So bright and intense and only seen like this outside of the big city lights. This may sound lame...sorry, but it really was magical! :)

It was fun to get inside my tent and set it up for the night. First, I put an outdoor blanket on the bottom of the tent. Then, I opened up the "Thermarest" mattress I borrowed from my favorite son-in-law. (It doesn't matter that he is my only son-in-law...he would still be my favorite!) I thought I remembered him telling me it was self-inflating but I kind of had to blow it up. Next came my sleeping bag and then I laid out my clothes for the morning, fluffed up my pillow, took off my shoes and stretched out on my camping bed. It wasn't bad! My biggest complaint was I felt like my sleeping bag kept sliding off the air mattress. (Hubs tried to tell me it was because I set the tent up on an incline...whatever...) I was pleasantly tired but filled with anticipation for morning and knowing it was an early wake-up call. I went ahead and set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. and had a hard time falling asleep.

Okay...it was completely unnecessary to set an alarm. The farm has chickens and boy do they have a lot of chickens. Right around 150. I just assumed they were all hens. Like at my house. Nope, seems there are quite a few roosters hanging out with those hens. Maybe those roosters knew there were some city slickers in the 'hood. I can't really say as I'm not well versed in the behavior of roosters. Regardless, they got up very, very early and obviously wanted to make a statement. I didn't look at my clock but I honestly think they started up all the commotion around 3 a.m. If not, that's what it felt like to me! Funny, though, for some reason it made me grin. Most likely giddy from lack of sleep!

I rolled out of my bag at 6:30 a.m. without need for the pre-set alarm. I put on my "farming" get up, unzipped my tent, quickly brushed my teeth and headed for the truck. Hilary and I didn't want to miss breakfast at the restaurant which started at 7:00 a.m.

Of course it goes without saying that breakfast was delish. Some kind of an egg casserole was served with potatoes and really awesome coffee. (I later learned they have a special coffee blend roasted just for the restaurant) I loved that they took the time to embellish the egg dish with edible flower petals. Completely unnecessary for people on the way to mob a farm, but such a special touch.

We headed back to the farm and got started around 8:30 a.m. We had a couple of options. One group was going to weed and hoe around their special variety corn. I believe they have some kind of grant to develop this corn from special heirloom seed and get it as close to possible as it originally was. It seems like a pretty big deal and I didn't want to accidentally knock over some of those special corn stalks! The other group was headed to clean out and completely weed the now defunct pea patch. I thought that sounded right up my alley. It was surprisingly large and in need of extreme weeding! The farm has been a bit short-handed for part of the summer and the mob help was much appreciated. I can't tell you how many times they sincerely thanked us for the help. I won't lie. It was a HUGE job and it was very physical. I'm guessing that about 7 of us worked in there for close to 5 hours! The weeds just went on and on and on! Every so often one of the farm workers or the owner would thank us again and point out how many man hours we were providing them. It was incredibly rewarding and fun. We visited and got to know each other and felt a huge sense of accomplishment when it was done. My only complaint...we didn't get any before and after pictures! You are just going to have to take my word for it!

This was the area we spent the morning in. Yes, we were completely surrounded by these happy, perky sunflowers...oh, and weeds!

Lunch time finally rolled around! Remember that whole work for food thing??? I'm pretty sure everyone was as excited for lunch as I was.

This might not be a big deal to you, but I was so excited to ride to the restaurant in the back of this pick-up truck! I can't remember the last time I did this! Riding in the back of a truck is frowned upon in the big city anymore...(I think it goes without saying...I wasn't the only one excited!)

The food just never stopped being surprising and delightful! Not really surprising I guess...but just loved how they garnished even the simplest things and made them so special. This was a crookneck squash soup. I'm a soup junkie. I could eat soup everyday for every meal. I am craving and dreaming about this soup. Yeah...it was THAT good!

A light and refreshing salad full of more goodness. It had pecans and red onions and sliced plums and it was zesty and tangy.  Perfectly fried zucchini fritters accompanied the salad and was finished off with dollops of sour cream or homemade spicy apple butter! We were also served these "off the hook" scones. Can't believe I haven't got a picture. I think we were just consuming them faster than anyone could snap a shot. Either that or no one was motivated to set their scone down long enough to grab their camera.

We headed back to the farm after a leisurely lunch. It was hotter in the afternoon and we had lots of options for tasks. I completely enjoyed myself harvesting long beans into a cute little basket. I was joined by 3 other female mobbers. There was something special about moving along the trellis and hunting for hidden beans while chit chatting with these fun women. Surprisingly when we were finished we had a huge bin full of beans! (We were also encouraged to snack along the way if so inclined)

After the bean harvest we moved down to weed the broccoli patch.

One of the locals...This and the next few pictures are compliments of Hilary's amazing photog skills.

One of the chicken neighborhoods. I'm pretty sure this guy is one of the culprits of my early morning wake-up call.

Pretty little rows of growing goodness...

 Cool, right?

Yours truly in the broccoli patch. The funky vintage trailer in the background is another chicken neighborhood. My home sweet home tent was up on the hill behind me as well...

This little guy was a pretty great helper in the weed patch. Okay, so maybe he didn't know the difference between the weeds and the broccoli. No one seemed to care. He was working for food as well!

We finally finished up for the day around 5:00 p.m. I think I can safely say we were all pretty hot, tired and sweaty. I already had huge respect for local farmers but seriously people...it's hard work!

Yep...Bonus! We all got to take a dip in the farm pond when we were all done! Yes, it's true. There are several dogs swimming in the pond as well. ( There are several dogs that live at or visit the farm daily...they are very happy dogs) The pond was especially welcoming as we had no showers at the farm. It was super refreshing and fun to boot!

Okay, it may be a little different to farm all day and then get spiffied up for dinner by swimming in a pond. But...that's how we rolled!

The beginning of the end...an unusual salad of greens, jicama and anise dressing. It was exotic and interesting and very tasty. We knew it would be our last alluring dinner and I was prepared to relish every last morsel.

Okay, yeah, I confess...I started wolfing this before I realized I hadn't taken a picture. I couldn't help it! The famous spicy meatloaf they have on the menu year round. It is served with cooling lemony buttery mashed potatoes. The perfect marriage of opposites. I couldn't finish it! I really, really wanted to! Our new found mobber friends came to the rescue. They thoughtfully offered to take it to their lodge room for the night and refrigerate it for me until the next day. Yay...I was soooo glad they did that! It made the trip home with me and I ate it the night I arrived back in the city. Made the transition somewhat bearable!

The finale. A deep, rich, dense chocolate cake and frosting. Hilary and I opted to share a piece and we still couldn't do it justice. I sure wish I had a piece of that right now ;(  These are the kind of meals that haunt me and taunt me! That five hour drive isn't the most convenient when I'm having a craving! I'd like to tell you what the little pearly garnishy things are on top. I can't because I couldn't figure it out and I forgot to ask! They tasted good, though...

And so...another unforgettable meal, another night with new friends that now seem like old friends. Another ride back to my "tent sweet tent" and one more night gazing at the vivid and endless star show high above my head.

I won't forget this experience any time soon. I know I will go back. Something about that place calls to me and I'm so grateful that I listened to my inner voice and jumped at the opportunity to go.

p.s. I hope I spelled "jicama" correctly. Once again spellchecker needs to get just a little more hip!