I don't know what it is about seeing bottles lined up on my kitchen counter filled with food that gives me such great satisfaction. It could be the feeling that "I did it myself," or "now my family won't starve." What ever the reason, the feeling is amazing!
I watched my mother and grandmother carefully plant, harvest, and preserve food my whole life. When I was married I, of course, did the same. I taught my children the whole "law of the harvest" also. This week I feel like I did the first time I canned my own peaches 25 years ago. I bought a Pressure Canner about a year ago. (I must admit they scared me a bit, I was always sure they would explode on me!) But to my delight my dear friend came over and I pulled out the fresh boneless-skinless chicken I had just purchased and vola! By the end of the day I had bottled 25 lbs. of chicken and several quarts of white beans! My family will not starve this winter!:).
I think the part I love the most are the secondary lessons learned while trying to do something worth while.
It took me several hours, but in order to have them turn out perfectly it took patience.
It took asking my friend for help and inviting another to create a few hours of fun and teaching the importance of building relationships.
It took a bit of faith to taste what I processed, but it was wonderful. Somehow it tastes so much better when you do it yourself. No more store-bought canned chicken for me!
Confidence grew, and now there are stacks of recipes I am anxious to try and bottle.
We grow with every attempt we make to do a little better, but the key is starting with good fruit in the first place, (or chicken, as the case may be:), and ending with lessons learned and becoming a little wiser and happier in the process!
I watched my mother and grandmother carefully plant, harvest, and preserve food my whole life. When I was married I, of course, did the same. I taught my children the whole "law of the harvest" also. This week I feel like I did the first time I canned my own peaches 25 years ago. I bought a Pressure Canner about a year ago. (I must admit they scared me a bit, I was always sure they would explode on me!) But to my delight my dear friend came over and I pulled out the fresh boneless-skinless chicken I had just purchased and vola! By the end of the day I had bottled 25 lbs. of chicken and several quarts of white beans! My family will not starve this winter!:).
I think the part I love the most are the secondary lessons learned while trying to do something worth while.
It took me several hours, but in order to have them turn out perfectly it took patience.
It took asking my friend for help and inviting another to create a few hours of fun and teaching the importance of building relationships.
It took a bit of faith to taste what I processed, but it was wonderful. Somehow it tastes so much better when you do it yourself. No more store-bought canned chicken for me!
Confidence grew, and now there are stacks of recipes I am anxious to try and bottle.
We grow with every attempt we make to do a little better, but the key is starting with good fruit in the first place, (or chicken, as the case may be:), and ending with lessons learned and becoming a little wiser and happier in the process!
