Sunday, August 3, 2014

Summer

Since I haven't posted in a month some of my sweet blog friends have wondered where I've been. Well, I've been busy, just like many of my fellow homesteaders. There is never enough time in the day and to add to my normal crazy, the family and I have taken day trips almost every weekend in July. The first trip wasn't really a trip but a family gathering for the fourth. We stayed out late, so I prayed the chickens would be safe when we got back and they were. The next trip was floating down the Illinois river. That was fun and we got there early enough we were back home by 6. I was totally sunburnt after that one :/ One weekend we took some rabbit and veggies to a friends house. He slow cooked the rabbit on the Hasty Bake and grilled up the veggies. Best meal EVER. We stayed there really late. I worried about the chickens all the way home and they were fine. Our latest outing was The Center of the Universe Festival. It's an all weekend music fest. My older girls were going and we happened upon some cheap tickets so we were there with them. I'm glad we went since there was some creepy people and we were only a phone call away if they needed us. The music was meh, UNTIL, I sat next to a fella sitting on a curb playing a washboard. We talked for awhile, he said his band played bluegrass and they were just killing time before their gig at a bar down the road. Best part of the night! I sat on that curb getting my hee haw on and by the time the kids were done watching their show, the band was packing up to head to the bar. So once again we stayed out late and I worried about the chickens all the way home and they were fine :)
School starts in about 11 days. Summer went by too fast. I can honestly say I didn't get everything I wanted to do done, not even close. I did sew myself a dress. It's not perfect but I love it! I'm also working on a crocheted purse. I'm pretty sure I've been working on it for six months but it's almost done :) I want to make some harvest aprons for me and my friend but before that I need to hem skirts, finish my bee suit, and make a lady a nap mat for her kid. It never ends......

If you guys are still harvesting jalapenos, you have to try this recipe, it's yummy!

Cowboy Candy

  • 3 pounds fresh, firm, jalapenos washed
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 6 cups sugar
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 12 tsp celery seed
  • 3 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
Remove the stems from the peppers. Slice them into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside
In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, sugar, turmeric, celery seed, garlic, and cayenne to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add the pepper slices and simmer for exactly 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean jars to within 1/4 inch of rim. Turn the heat up under the pot and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes. use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Wipe the rims of the jars and put the lids on. Process for 10 minutes for half pints or 15 minutes for pints in boiling water. Allow to mellow for a month before eating

*I think the trick is to cook down the peppers. The last time I made these mine didn't cook down so when I put them in the jar it was full. Once they came out of the boiling water bath it was all juice and very little peppers. Just make sure your peppers are cooked down so your jar stays full :)))

14 comments:

  1. You will soon be able to get back into the school time routine, our schools start next monday but teachers go back tomorrow. Glad you are doing good.

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    1. Wow! You guys start a few days before us. This Summer went by too fast but I am looking forward to some quiet time in the mornings :)

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  2. Got your Hee Haw on did ya? Does that include short shorts and a plaid half shirt?

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    1. Sure did! I was rockin' the shorts but not the half shirt, lol!!!

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  3. Hi Kelly, first of all, I am delighted that your chickens are alright :)
    Maybe after the kids are back in school you will have time to exhale and get some of the things that you wanted to get done, done :)
    Thanks for the recipe. We are new to canning. A little bit afraid (maybe a lot afraid) we are asking friends to be with us to supervise while we learn :) I want to learn to can, Steve does, too, but the last thing that we want to do is kill ourselves with our canned goods. Have you been canning long? We are reading Canning and Freezing for Dummies, LOL. it is very helpful :)
    Have a wonderful week.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. I've been canning for about four years. I would start with easy stuff like pickles, these candied jalapenos, or a jelly of some sort :) I'm pretty sure I have some questionable food put up that needs to be thrown out. It just takes time to get comfortable with it. Good Luck :)

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  4. Good to hear all is well and that you've taken a bit of down time in the last month. We'll be okay here if August lasts 90 days. Otherwise, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO SUMMER??!!

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  5. Thanks for the recipe. Hubby LOVES jalapeno. I am sure I have a ton to pick today too.

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    1. My husband loves them too! I hope you guys like it :)))

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  6. Kelly,

    It sounds to me like you and your family had all kinds of family fun over the weekends of July. School has actually started over in OKC. I don't think school starts in town here until August 20th.
    I enjoyed the Illinois River it's beautiful there.

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    1. We have had fun! We were getting in a rut of never leaving so it was nice to kinda balance it all out. The river is soo peaceful :)

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  7. Well, I figured you were cramming in as much summer as possible - it did fly by, didn't it? I love this recipe. I am going to print it out for next year. I had so many jalapenos two years ago, that I'm still eating them out of the pantry. Enjoy your quiet mornings, LOL!

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  8. Glad you are back. I thought something had happened to you. People sometimes just disappear off the net and you never find out why.

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