Necie

Still just working on the pasta sauce. It’s about done. Am putting it in the garage fridge in the morning and will probably can it Friday. Won’t start the next batch until after Thanksgiving. Might be even later than that as DS2 got a deer tonight. So gotta figure out what to do with that and when. Picking up DS1 tomorrow and going to the farm to finish raking leaves. It’s supposed to be a bit windy, so will probably just rake to the fence line and not burn. We usually stay over, but there’s not much left to do, so it will just be a day trip. and Necie

Pan fried bluegill and jalapeño poppers yesterday. DH is grilling chicken leg quarters tonight and I’m just making some plain ole broccoli. Probably one of the last times to grill for the year.

Yup. My DS2 was born with a small trachea and small eustachian tubes. The biggest concern was the tubes getting plugged and causing ear infections. Too many ear infections cause overuse of antibiotics, possibly causing hepatitis, and then the need for tubes put into his ears to keep them clear. His pediatrician was very proactive about prevention. As an infant/toddler we used small doses of children’s cold medicine with antihistamine in it. Once he was old enough (3 yrs old or so), we switched to nasal spray. The doctor also showed him how to *blow his ears*... deep breath, pinch nose, close mouth, blow til you feel air come out your tear ducts. Proud to say, he never had an ear infection!!

Does anyone else feel like we’re this bunch of little old ladies trying to herd cats???

Are we officially playing *Tag* yet?? I tried to edit the title of this to say Part 9, but couldn’t figure out how, so added Part 9 as a tag. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all good.

FOUND YA!! Read through the last few posts since mine and now understand what happened. All fine by me since I started the new one. I’ll edit the title on mine to say “Part 9”. No wonder I couldn’t find it! URBAN?!? I never come here... I get lost in cities!! *Necie wanders up one street and down the next mumbling “how in the world do I get out of this place? I’m soooo looooost... and a little bit skeeered”*

Didn’t do much today. Went to pick up DGD(12) to go to lunch today. She said her lunch was at 11:15. I got there and the secretary told me her lunch is at 12:15. I asked her what class she was in— “Art. Do you want to pull her out now?” Noooooo... I don’t want her to miss any classes. Just can’t figure out why she told me 11:15... like, who wants to get out of art?? 🤷‍♀️ (Sneaky girls, yanno!! ) So I ran to a local Amish store and picked up a few things on my list to kill time. Went and got her and we got Mexican 🤤 and chatchatchat. We were a little late getting back. Of course, her next class was history! Should’ve pulled her out of art a little early. Got home, started another batch of pasta sauce, did dishes, *bring home leftovers* for dinner, did a bit of crocheting, and now am playing on my phone. Pic of DGD and her pineapple thangy. She’s such a sweetie! 🥰 and Necie

Well, thank goodness I’m not crazy!! Or if I am... I’m not the only one! <bigcheesygrin>

I can’t find the old one... ?? I know it was here in The Kitchen, under Preserving The Harvest. Am I lost? Crazy? (Don’t answer that!!! ) Anywho... started another batch of sauce. 12 qts tomato juice in the pot with the automatic stirrer doing it’s thang! Last batch was 15-24oz jars. All sealed! YAY!!

Went to mom and dad’s today for our family Thanksgiving dinner. Figured there was 31 there 🥰 and 29 missing 😢. It’s awesome having a big, close family. The cousins (20’s/30’s- 14 of them) are all very close and hang out with each other... even when they don’t have to. And that means that all the grandkids (newborn to 13 yrs old- 19 of them) are growing up together and know each other. Big dinner— got stuffed!! 🤤 Kids/grandkids played some baseball, pushed each other on the tree swings and hammock, walked through the woods, 2 ended up in the lakes 😂 — one after a dog and one *mis-stepped* , then they had a bonfire. Decided to do Christmas Sunday dinner December 10. Sister6 is in charge of that. (I was in charge of Thanksgiving.) It takes a lot of the work off Mom. We’ll have a kids (under 18) gift exchange and she’ll figure out some gift game for adults. Always a fun time!!! Hopefully we’ll have snow to play in!! Doubtful that the lakes will be froze over though. and Necie

Another batch of pasta sauce done. 20 qts tomato juice 3 qts (about) of other stuff Got 15-24oz jars. Will start another batch tomorrow evening.

Canned pasta sauce. DDIL+++ ❤️ and DGS(6) and DGD(4) came down. (Not sure what else to call her.. she’s so much more than a DIL—and her and my son aren’t even married. 😂 They’ve been going out for a couple years and just combined households. He has DGD(12). DIL has been one of my DDs best friends for AGES. She has always called me *Mom* and her kids have always called DD *Auntie* and me and DH *Grandma and Grandpa*. I just love her so much and more. ) Anyhow, she came down to watch and learn to can. Did a bit of shopping in the fruit cellar. The kids were good and played outside most of the time— other than picking on Grandpa a bit while he was watching football. They wanted to stay the night, but I said not this one and besides I’d see them tomorrow at Great Grandma and Grandpa’s for November/Thanksgiving Sunday dinner. Made macaroni salad for said dinner tomorrow. Then made dinner. Now sitting on my butt!! and Necie

I have a food processor. It’s what I usually use. I’d decided to try the blender cuz stuff ends up finer. I went back to the processor. It’s about 35-40 yrs old and I use the heck out of that thing. The good thing is, without the blender it makes room on that shelf for my juicer. I won’t have to go to the basement every time I need it. 🙂

I blew it up... again. 🙄 I can’t tell you how many blenders I’ve went through in the last 40 years. This one lasted the longest... probably cuz I didn’t use it much... cuz I was afraid I’d blow it up. 😏 It was a nice Hamilton Beach. Not sure if I even want another one, but if anyone has a Necie-proof, indestructible recommendation... I’ll listen.

Still working on pasta sauce. So far I’ve put 20 qts of juice in the pot. 🥴 Will make sure I find paste tomatoes for the garden from now on.

I’m feeling the same *weird* lately. I’ll get there. But beware... when the rambling begins, y’all be hollering at me— SHADDUP!! and

Today is Day 1. Every day is Day 1. Just keep repeating and don’t give up. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I have been repeating for 10 yrs, 11 months, 2 days. And am doing it again today. God willing, again tomorrow.

Finished canning up the cherry tomato juice pasta sauce yesterday. Out of 7.5 qts of juice and 1.5 qts of veges and stuff, I got 7-24oz jars, plus about 1/2 a pint dumped into the next batch. Started the next batch with 12 qts of juice. Will add more to it. Only grew regular tomatoes this year— Big Boy, Better Boy, Parks Whopper— so will take a lot more cooking down. I usually grow some paste tomatoes and mix the two, but couldn’t find any at planting time. Will also process veggies today to add to sauce.

Here’s tonight’s supper. Kinda a variation on boiled dinner: sliced smoked sausage 1 qt canned potatoes 1 pt carrots 1 onion ham soup base and a pkg Sazon (all veggies were from the garden) I did NOT put the kale in the pan... that would be ruuuude! 😂 I heated it in the micro and added it to MY bowl. 😉 DH made cornbread, but I didn’t get a pic of it. 🥴

Figured this might be fun to help give each other ideas. Hope everyone joins in!! I don’t cook/bake as much in the summer cuz... busy. 😂 Maybe one or two nights a week and the rest of the time, it’s leftovers... or *free for all*. But once market is over (October), I’m in the kitchen nearly every day—cooking, baking, canning. I don’t do breakfast (unless it’s for dinner), don’t even usually do lunch, but I love coming up with new or old comfort stuff for dinner. 🥰 Last night I made: mangalitsa pork steaks (raised by DS2) mushroom gravy mashed potatoes (DH made—instant) kale Got cast iron pan HOT and seared steaks, turned heat down and added cream of mushroom soup with some water. Put lid on and let simmer til tender. Kale was just on a low boil while steaks cooked. DH (D isn’t always for *dear* 😉) doesn’t like kale, but I’ve taken the attitude that I’ll make what I like sometimes and he can make something else or not eat. 😏

Go for it!! 🙂 I don’t measure anything though. 😂 The only way I knew how much juice I used is cuz I canned it first so I could make sauce as I had time. 🙄

There are tons of sourdough discard recipes. I see a lot of people rave about the chocolate chip cookies. There’s a cracker recipe that I want to try, but haven’t got to it yet. 🙄

Cherry tomato pasta sauce for DS2 (Tony-37). He likes a sweet sauce—but doesn’t want sugar. So I’m experimenting. Used 7.5 qts of juice. Roasted carrots, candy onion, yellow and orange bell peppers, garlic, and apples in olive oil. Blended veges with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, beef base, basil pesto, garlic paste and enough water to make it blend. Finished with 1/2 stick unsalted butter. Started yesterday boiling down the tomato juice. Added veggie blend today. Will can tomorrow. Oh, yeah, I tasted it. 🤢 It’s SWEET!! He ought to love it!!

Ya almost got to see my goofy self up close. DD (Leah 35) and I were supposed to go to Florida this next week to see my newest great niece. Plans got changed and we did a whirlwind trip to TN/NC/GA — right in your neck of the woods. I had your addy pinned in my map app just in case. But with only 2 days, it was crazy. 🥴😂

Still feeling sloooow. 🥴 Started making pasta sauce yesterday. Harvest time was so crazy busy that I burnt the first batch of sauce when picking tomatoes. So I just decided I’d can the juice and make sauce later. 😉 I’ve got over 100 qts of juice sitting in my dining room. 😂 Did the same thing with blueberries... 6 half gallons of juice that need to be turned into syrup/jelly. My sister and mom are coming down in a bit. Sis is getting canned venison and frozen burger to take back to Georgia with her. That’ll help clear a bit of shelf and freezer space to deal with this year’s harvest. DS2 is in charge of that. They have 9 tags to fill. DS1 and DD help to *finance*, my mom provides the hunting ground, and I process. We all eat good. 🤤