Well, as the tomatos were begining to weigh down the plants in Matt's garden...we quickly realized we weren't going to be able to eat all these beauties up now. So, I decided to call one of my favorite ladies in church, Paula, to come and teach me how to perserve tomatos! She told me to pick them the night before and she'd be over in the morning to teach me how to make spaghetti sauce and can it. I unfortunately was so involved in learning when Paula was here that I didn't take any pictures with her (such a bummer) but I did finish up a batch the next day and got a few pictures of that. 
Aren't they huge?!
Here's the load of tomatos we used for our sauce
And here's the gardener who has tended the garden faithfully all season...you did a great job Babe!...now we'll eat it all winter!!
Aren't they huge?!
Here's the load of tomatos we used for our sauce
And here's the gardener who has tended the garden faithfully all season...you did a great job Babe!...now we'll eat it all winter!!
Spaghetti sauce in the making...simmering
All the lids POPPED!! woo hoo!!!! I know, I know....the littlest things are getting me all excited!
Now on to strawberry jam
hulling the strawberries
Mashing them up...
All the lids POPPED!! woo hoo!!!! I know, I know....the littlest things are getting me all excited!
Now on to strawberry jam
hulling the strawberries
Mashing them up...
the boiling strawberry pulp...slowly turning into jam
the canning process
my helper, Josh
one of his birthday gifts from me
josh loves to help me cook or bake in the kitchen...so we got matchy matchy aprons
(I seriously can hardly get this little guy to give me a decent smile for a picture!! How long does this stage last?!?)
the canning process
my helper, Josh
one of his birthday gifts from me
josh loves to help me cook or bake in the kitchen...so we got matchy matchy aprons
(I seriously can hardly get this little guy to give me a decent smile for a picture!! How long does this stage last?!?)
14 comments:
Do you grow those beautiful strawberries??? WOW! I am so jealous you got to hang out with Paula! :) She is the cream of the crop! :)
Sounds like a blast! Good job, Matt! That's too funny...about Josh smiling. Okay, Katie's the same way (with the goofiness). Maybe it's a first born thing(IDK). Abby's so easy to photograph. Katie's another story. She's always making some kind of silly or wierd face. I have no idea how long it lasts...Katie's still doing it. haha:)
I have to say your strawberry jam turned out great...you left your jar here after family night...you'd think I would give it back, but we've actually been enjoying it so much!
you did such a great job on Josh's apron by the way! You will have to teach me how to embroider.
-Heidi
I think that's so great that you're canning...it's starting to become a lost tradition I think. I have so many fond memories of my grandma canning. Just like you and Matt, my granmda would let my grandpa do the gardening and then she would can the food. They did this for throughout their entire marriage (60 yrs) and not a year went by where they didn't can. Every year she would include her infamous strawberry jam in our Christmas gifts and we all LOVED it. Congrats to Matt on a successful garden! Hope you and Josh had fun!
Love it love it...and your kiddos will never forget it I don't think. I have great memories of canning with my mom...it's like magic when you're that small. You would think I would have bad memories with all the peaches I peeled and strawberries I hauled...but they are all good ones. =o)
Ann
Looks awesome! I stewed a lot of tomatoes for the winter this year and I'm so glad I have it! Your strawberry jam looks awesome! I've never done that...maybe next year!
strawberry jam as christmas presents?! i love that idea. ;) jk. it looks awesome bek...love the pictures.
Wow, Rebekah, you make canning look like a work of art...makes me almost want to do it!!!!
Marla R.
I'm gonna have to agree with Tam, it looks like some great Christmas presents....we city folk may even go as far as to be willing (or maybe eager) to buy them!
luv ya
Booxy
Your produce and finished product look beautiful, Bek! It is a rewarding feeling to see all those jars full isn't it - and I completely understand the excitement of having all the lids pop!
Love you,
Aunt Pam
Fun. Can I have some of that strawberry jam, I love homemade strawberry jam. I love to put it on my rice krispies.
You are so domestic, you are like Sarah Palin.
your comment on his funny smiles cracked me up. :)
your pictures are so good, rebekah. i'm so impressed that you have been canning all that stuff! and i tried once, and i KNOW getting the lids to pop was a big deal! :)
the tomatoes look awesome, too. i would have loved eating them fresh from the garden! good work, matt!!
wait a second. you made that apron for josh?!! impressive!!
(and smith loves to help me in the kitchen, too. isn't it funny how much our boys are alike?!)
I am so jealous of your delicious tomato bounty! LUCKY girl! Have fun eating those, I am just drooling over here.!
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