Preserves, Preserving, Canning

Preserving has got me worried this year. It’s where I have some of the most fun in the kitchen. It’s where I get some of my cheapest food. And it’s just sooooo tasty! But I’m worried. Due date September 9th? That’s going to bust my most packed time of year! AHHHHHH!!!!!

What I want to do this year… (made a list to see what would be on it… it was a bit longer than I thought it was!) I put in bold the things that would be new:

Strawberries: Dried, Jam
Raspberries: Dried, Jam
Blueberries: Dried, Preserves?, Frozen whole
Blackberries: Jam, Frozen whole
Cherries: Cherry pie filling (I bought a cherry pitter this winter and i know where I can get cheap u-pick pie cherries!)
Plums: Dried, Jam, Frozen in chunks
Pears: Sauce, Dried, Canned in pieces, pear butter
Apples: Sauce, Dried, apple butter
Peaches: Canned in pieces, dried, preserves
Apricots: Apricot preserves
Tomatoes: Chopped tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, salsa

Soooooo – my local friends! Maybe I will sit with the baby or waddle with my huge tummy this late August and September and give you free “lessons” in canning? Your payment for help? I keep most of the preserves. :-):-):-)