My First Preserves!

Yesterday I finally was able to get my car in for it's first major scheduled maintenance.  The reminder came at the end of May, but June was very busy and I needed the car.  My service manager told me that the service would take 4 to 5 hours so my husband and I dropped the car off at 7 am and he brought me back home.  I don't mind waiting a little while, but that's too  long.

Since I was trapped at home I thought it would be the perfect day to practice my canning.  I had class last week, it seemed easy, I made sure I purchased my cans while I was out and about on Tuesday.  I decided on the peach preserves from the book Putting Up: A Seasonal Guide to Canning in the Southern Tradition by Steve Dowdney. 

I got things sterilized, cleaned off the counter and went to work.  They worked!  And look beautiful. I made 12 half pints and have some extra in the fridge.   I am going to have some on toast this morning.

I can't wait to do more.  I looked through the book and I think my next batch will be mixed berry.  I did learn a few things that I didn't get from class.

1. Use a bigger pot than you think you need since once the peaches turn into peach lava, it pops all over the stove.
2. Use oven mitts on your hands so they won't get multiple burns from stirring the molten peaches.  My hands hurt today.
3. It's much more peaceful to make preserves in your own kitchen than with the 20 other people, no matter that they were very nice, that were in the class. 

Today I have plans to go get ingredients to make spaghetti sauce.  I have none in the freezer and I'll be somewhat trapped today by the workers installing new windows.  I also need to get berries!

So far July is "recover from June" month and re-stock the house.