First, I finally put a search box on my site for you so that if you’re looking for say, my whole wheat pretzel recipe…you just type the word “whole wheat pretzels” into the box and it’ll find the recipe link for you! You’ll find it on the left hand side of my blog, right under all the categories. No, your other left. Yep, you got it. Now you can search to your heart’s content. It’s about TIME I did that, huh?
Second, after peeling 300,000 peaches (give or take) to freeze for smoothies, I finally took Lindsay’s advice and just left the peelings on. And guess what? The peelings just blend right up into the smoothie and you can’t even tell they’re there. They’re more nutritious that way of course. And, oh my word, does the freezing process ever go faster! Now if you’re canning them, you’ll need to peel them, but if you’re freezing them, for the love of all things sane, just slice ’em and flash freeze them.
Third, I have no idea what I used to do with my time before I began canning and freezing and fruit leathering. I don’t remember my life before this fall harvest. I think I remember something about cooking a meal without having to step over boxes of apples or scooting jars out of my way so I could mash some potatoes. And I wish I had a dollar for every phone call I’ve gotten asking if I need any more apples. Ooh, better yet, I wish I had a dollar for every APPLE I’ve had in my kitchen during the last few weeks. It has been some year for apples around here. Wow.
Fourth, the past few weeks, I’ve been reading Little Britches to the boys. Have you READ that book? It is SO good. I fell in love with the family and how the daddy and the son worked so hard together…and it made me want to buy a ranch and some horses and go back in time 100 years (but I would, of course, take my computer and electricity with me). Anyway…when we got to the last two chapters…it got so sad and I could not read it anymore because tears were streaming down my face and my voice was all messy. I handed the book to Matt and he finished reading it to us. It was all I could do not to sob loudly as we sat around the table and listened. I’m still not over it. Oh, but it was a good book.
Fifth, there is a big chorus of crickets blessing my home. (Do you all have tons of crickets too, or did they all decide to move into my house?) They are singing so loudly right now I can hardly concentrate to write. I don’t mind them too much (because I’d rather have crickets than say, termites) but I do wish I could turn their volume down.
Sixth, I’m going to start doing product reviews on my blog. Because I have a bunch of stuff that I’ve been thinking about that I want to tell you about and brag about to you and encourage you to have. (Like a blender. You should all really have a blender. Between making applesauce, fruit leather and lots of smoothies and milkshakes…I been using my blender three times a day. I highly recommend blenders.) But seriously, I’m excited to start recommending other useful kitchen tools and homemaking helps. If you have a product from your home business or etsy shop or whatever that you’d like me to review…email me!
Seventh, I could continue to be random and write about the little lego people on my steps just asking to be stepped on or something like that, but the crickets are distracting me. And really…I should go start getting busy with those apples again. Anyone have anything random to share? Hopefully I’ll be able to hear your comment above the Cricket Sing Along…
yay, yay, yay! Thanks for the search box!! It’s windy here and there’s a small tree down and I think the yard waste container might weigh more than 250 pounds today so I wonder if they’ll really take it or just leave it on the curb.
Well, I didn’t want to suggest it, but I am so happy you put a search box on your blog!!!!
As for the apples how about sending some our way, there aren’t many apple trees in DC… :)
Toni
Yay for the search box, thank you! That will be a big help :o) Love your blog, it’s the one I go to first every morning.
Oh, I know what you mean! I am still working on apples! Right now I have honey sweetened cinnamon applesauce in the crockpot. I’ll freeze what we don’t eat. I’m even going wild and crazy and boiling the peels with water to make apple juice for jelly. Yeah, I needed to make more work for myself. LOL It’ll all be worth it this winter when apples are no longer in season. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. :)
Blenders are wonderful. We’re vegetarian and I don’t know how I could function without it. I make all kinds of sauces and batters with it. But alas, I think I’m going to have to upgrade my blender. It came with a glass blender “bowl” (or is it a pitcher?! can’t think of the word for what it’s called for the life of me right now) and that one started making horrible noises, so I switched to the metal pitcher/ compartment/ bowl thingy, which worked for about 8 months, and now it’s starting to leak. That’s not gonna work for me. I really want to get a Vita Mix, but they’re a bit expensive and I don’t know if I want to fork out that kind of money.
I cried when I read Little Britches to my kids too. Then we had to go on and read the rest of the series. It is the kind of book where you just don’t want to leave the family, you want it to go on.
I went to a friends house last evening and the sound of the locusts in her trees was deafening! I hope your crickets find another home…
I wish I had some of those apples! Sounds awesome.
One random tip about canning, if you have really ripe tomatoes (some fruits too) you can’t get to right away, freeze them. Whole, peels on, etc. When they thaw the peels will come right off. Even if they are only partly thawed, you can throw them in a strainer and run hot water over to get any stubborn peels off.
LOL You are so cute! I really enjoy reading your blog and am especially enjoying the healthful eating tips. Great food for thought…and food!
You are toooo funny :) Can’t wait to hear about the appliance reviews!! I’ll try to come up with something for ya :) Gotta run…almost time for school to be out and then…off to flag football practice and BUNCO for me tonight! WOO HOO!! Good luck with the crickets!
I sometimes dream about all the things I could do if I didn’t can and freeze food every summer and fall. LOL I just remind myself of how good it would cost in the winter.
So I’ve requested the book from our local library and will have to get it soon. I know my two boys would enjoy reading it, too.
Thank you for the search box! :D What a blessing!
I sure wish we had some apples around here. I have a friend that has pumpkins though. :D PUmpkin cake and bread here we come. :D
I love my blender too. It even has a food processor attachment, which I love!! It chops up those onions so I don’t have to cry about it. LOL!
I completely understand the cricket dilemma! My house is also filled with crickets. My whole backyard is filled with them. When you walk through my yard you see tons of them hopping way!