Plum Crazy

Erin thought I ought to name this stuff "Plum Crazy," but I decided to go with "Hot Plum Pepper Jam" instead.  That way people know what it is.  Inspired by Under the High Chair's 2009 Jam Swap, I invited 15 of my favorite locals to a jar swap, to be held this Friday.  Rather than do my recent favorite, Peach Habanero, I decided to make up this new little plum ditty just for the ladies at the swap.  Actually, I do like that name:  "Plum Ditty."  Maybe I'll go with that instead.  Who cares if they know what it is.  They'll figure out it's hot when they spread a big spoonful onto their toast some early morning.  Here's the process:

 

 

  

Canning the Harvest 2010

It's been forever since I blogged, but for good reason, I swear!  The girls and I have been picking raspberries, apples, and plums left and right, and I'm processing more jars of jam than I ever imagined I'd be able to sell.  The season has been abundant with fruit and veggies, and I feel lucky to have been able to do something with the harvest.  So, what do we have here?  Let's see... from left to right, top to bottom, what you see is   Rhubarb Ginger Jam, Crabapple Jelly, Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam, Dilly Fiddle-heads, Maine Bog Cranberry Sauce, Peach Jam, Dam Hot Pepper Jam, Italian Plum Jam, Cherry Pie Jam, Red Hot Cranberry Sauce, Apple Sauce, Vegetable Harvest Soup, Apple Pie Jam, Sweet Pickled Fiddleheads, Blackberry Jam, Peach-Blackberry Jam, Pasta Sauce, Pickled Horseradish Hot Peppers, Bread & Butter Pickles, and Strawberry Jam.  Oh, and on the other shelves are Zucchini Relish, Canned Tomatoes, Concord Grape Jelly, Raspberry Jam, Peach-Habanero Jam, and Corn Relish, among other things I can't see from here.  I swear I made all this stuff over the summer.  It was nuts.  Well, it was mostly Jam, and some pickles too.  About 200 jars of pickles actually. 

Ode to Dunkin Donuts

It seems like

Every time that I drive thru
For coffee, latte, donuts too,
I see a plate reminding me
That I like making jam for thee, or in this case, 3.

Sunflowers

Last weekend I left my camera at Abby's birthday bash, so this weekend I made Laurie take pictures of my sunflowers with Shea's camera, just so you could get a look, and for proof that they exist of course.  Yes, the sunflowers really are this beautiful, and next year my plan is to plant an acre of them.  I can't believe I haven't actually counted how many individual flowers I have, but there have to be a couple hundred anyway.  My mother, who regularly lets my girls cut gorgeous flowers from her own beautiful gardens, asked if she could cut a bouquet of these babies, and I firmly said NO.  Just please let me bask in the glory of what is my first real success in growing something from seed to flower!  Besides, I know she'll cut some anyway while I'm not looking.