Canning

It seems as though everyone is into canning in my circle these days, when did that happen? I don't know anything about canning other than the fact that it seems to be a hot hot hot adventure in the kitchen. A few things might be contributing to this phenomenon such as; high cost of groceries, more of my friends participating in farm shares, or even planting a garden (way to go Jen and Abby). I am a huge fan of the fresh veggies but you have to do something with them, and there is no way you can eat the whole farm share every week even if you split it with someone. I do find it a little less scary to freeze the veggies, maybe it's time I find an inexpensive chest freezer.

I do remember Grandma Harvey canning and making lots of jellies and jams and marmalade (oh my!). I do remember Mom making jelly and jams as well but I don't think she canned a lot of veggies. I think it was the same for Patti Jo, mostly jelly and jam and frozen corn. I grew up eating a lot of store bought canned veggies during the winter...I'm surprised I even like vegetables now...yucky. As a kid, I was more than happy to NOT be in the hot scalding kitchen while Mom and Grandma did there thing - canning.  But, give me a homemade slice of bread and some fresh choke cherry jam and I'm in heaven...first in line. 

Speaking of choke cherries, that would be fun to hunt and gather. Where would you even find them? I remember picking them as a child up on the bluffs of Cottage Grove. I'll have to find the recipe for that one and post it sometime.