MORE FOOD PRODUCTION FOR 2011

Well we haven't put anything on here for a little while, but that doesn't mean we have not been keeping busy. We picked and shelled Peas a few days ago and the Peas pictured below produced 4 pints of canned Peas.

Actually on the 8th of August we picked a lot of produce as seen below.

these are the Cucumbers we picked, notice the tape measure I couldn't believe one was 18 inches.

These beauties were great even without Ranch dressing along with cucumber sticks. 

This is a bucket of regular Basil that has already been dried for use later, and the dehydrator tray below is lemon Basil. 

These are the same Bell Peppers as above along with one lonely Kohlrabi, and below the half bucket of shelling Peas that produced the large bowl of shelled Peas at the start of this post.  Some of the Peas were saved for seed, as were the pepper seeds, Bell and Jalapeno. The Jalapeno Peppers went into the pickles.

Since that time Janice has canned 19 pints of Bread&Butter Pickles, which will make a nice addition to our larder.

The day before yesterday Janice and I separated excess milk for the cream and came out with one gallon of heavy cream. Janice took a quart out for Ice Cream and made butter from the remaining 3/4 gallon. We came out with 4+ pounds of Butter, which is now in the freezer.

We put the Butter into Cottage Cheese Tubs covered with plastic wrap and then the lids. Janice made this butter in her Kitchen Aid mixer and WOW did it do fast. from start to finish of clean up it only took two hours. We didn't add much color and only about 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pound, much less than commercial creameries.

I didn't mention that there are at least five Hugh cucumbers still to be canned as dill sticks, the chucks are too big not to be cut up in some fashion. I wouldn't mind some slices but Janice feels sticks are easier to eat.