Canning in my Kitchen

Don't you think this is a bunch of pretty flowers? It is German Camomile. It isn't supposed to be this kind. I didn't know it looked like this and it is so pretty but not  what I wanted for tea. Oh well live and learn.
Yesterday I made what my Ball Cookbook said was Spicy Spaghetti Sauce. One year I put up 100 jars of the stuff. Out of about 50 pounds of tomatoes yesterday I only got 7 quarts. I was exhausted last night and today wasn't much better. I have no idea how in the world I made that much. I also made some dill pickles this week too.

I went out and picked this amount of tomatoes and bell peppers.

I had the other ones I had picked on the counter too.

I had two of my largest pots filled with cooking tomatoes and bell peppers and onions and garlic. I cooked them down to mush.

I then took that hot tomato stuff and ran it through my food mill. I love this thing. I don't know what I would do without it. I sure do make a mess but one of the odd things about it is I love cleaning up my kitchen after I am all finished. I love mopping the floors and cleaning the cabinets and my kitchen stays so clean when I am canning.

This is what the cooked vegetables look like after they come out of the food mill.

This is with the spices and everything cooked down into one large pot. Then I had to cook it for 4 hours. I walked back and forth all day stirring as it simmered. Once it was cooked down and was thick I put it into quart jars and put it in my water bath canner.

32 years ago for a wedding present, one of my aunt's gave me this for a wedding present. Inside was a jar lifter, and wooden spoons and jar lids and pot holders and a Ball Canning Book and every thing you can think of that you might need to start canning. I have used it now for 32 years. It is my old friend and when I get it down from the cupboard where I store it I am always so happy to see it.

Here it is in the quart jars. My pickles and then the rest of the jam I have made so far this year. I need to make a few more batches of strawberry jam. My kids have almost gone though most of what I have made this summer. The favorite snack around here is peanut butter and strawberry jam.

This is my brag picture. It makes me so happy to sit and stare at this. I guess you could say it is all of my work in jars.

Thank you for reading along and looking at the the photos. I hope you have a lovely Thursday.

~Kim~