this year's canning bounty.

some of my friends think that my house always looks perfect.  here's proof that it often doesn't.  whenever i have a big project going on it consumes almost the entire house.  what's the down side of having a large kitchen- LOTS of counter space to fill up with junk!  can't wait to have a garage again!

this is what my kitchen looked like during the two weeks that i was busy canning!

this year i tried some new things to can and was quite pleased!  chris' parents gave me a bag of apples, not enough that i wanted to make applesauce, but i wanted to make good use of them.  so, intro apple butter!  i grew up eating apple butter and loved it, so when i came across this crockpot recipe i knew i had to try it!

canned apple butter
40-50 apples
3 C. brown sugar
2 T. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. allspice

Rinse apples well, core and quarter, leaving skins on.  Boil in large pot with about 2 inches of water on the bottom and lid on. Steam until soft.  Process into applesauce (can use blender or food mill).  

In crockpot blend 5.5 quarts of the applesauce with 2 C. brown sugar, cinnamon and allspice.  Mix well.  Heat on high 2-3 hours.

Stir again and reduce heat down to low, vent lid with a wooden spoon and cook overnight or for 8-10 hours.

Add remaining applesauce and 1 C. brown sugar, mixing well.  Cook on low for another 2-3 hours.

Puree until smooth (if applesauce was still a little chunky).  Fill 1/2 pint or pint jars and process in a hot water bath canner for 10 minutes.


i got about 16 1/2 pints out of this and have been able to give several away to family and friends as gifts.



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i canned potatoes, carrots, applesauce, cranberry applesauce, corn, beets, tomatoes, peaches and pears this year.

carrots: 25 lbs. 
potatoesZ: 60 lbs.
peaches- 4 boxes
pears- 3 boxes

i discovered some interesting carrots along the way, and just to amuse myself, gave them funny names:

"the nubbin" 

(like, as in friends!)

               "the right angle" 

                "twisted sister" 

                "the corkscrew" 

peaches- 36 quarts

beets- 6 pints 

(next year i plan to do much more and grow them in my garden!)