A friend lent me her pressure canner, so I was able to give canning green beans a go! Once I realized I was not actually going to blow the kitchen up, it was just as easy (or easier) than the water bath method. Definitely slower, though – the annoying bit is waiting for the pressure canner to cool down before you can open it up and start another batch.
This jar *just* came out of the canner – so it’s still boiling and bubbling inside. I liked doing it well enough, that I went onto Amazon, and bought my own pressure canner. It was cheap enough, since I can’t get one of the really nice ones because of my glass top stove. The Presto one I bought is really the only one that will work with my kind of stove. I hate that stove, btw. It’s been nothing but an annoyance since the day it came. Glass top stoves definitely suck.
I think I’ll can some greens, corn, and beets when my new canner comes…plus more beans. I planted some bush beans a few weeks ago, planning for a fall crop.
Speaking of corn, my teeny little corn patch is doing wonderfully. I have actual ears now!
And the plants themselves are so cool and ornamental, growing just beside the back door as they are. I love looking at them through the kitchen window!
The biggest Blacktail Watermelon is full-size, I think, and nearly ready to pick. The underside is starting to yellow. I’m so excited about this.
I’m harvesting several kinds of dry beans. This is a test year, to see what grows well, and which ones we prefer the taste of. Next year, I’ll put in a whole bunch of whichever variety turns out to be our favorite. These are called “Bumblebee”. They are so pretty!
And the last bit of gardening news is that the Tromboncino squash is ready to harvest. Look at this crazy shape! My vegetable garden is in the front yard, so yes, it was slightly embarrassing to carry this past the neighbors…. 😉
It’s supposed to be one of the best tasting summer squash around, but I still prefer my Englischer Custard Squash. I thought the tromboncino tasted a little bit like a spaghetti squash…only without the spaghetti. It was good, though, and the vine appears to be very resistant to mildew, and well as being a great climber. It has earned a place in my garden next year.
When I was a work, one of my patron/friends heard I was planning a trip to Egypt next year, so he brought me in some Egyptian money left over from his trip!
I love foreign money. And it’s cool to think that Steve brought this money from Egypt years ago, and now I’ll be taking it back.
Lastly, what do you all think of the new Doctor?
I was not a fan of Matt Smith (although he got a lot more bearable once The Terrible Amy left) so pretty much anyone would have been an improvement in my mind.
But as it turns out, I’m pretty thrilled with Capaldi. He’s interesting, and so far, he’s shaping up to be my second-favorite Doctor. Capaldi is just a terrific actor, and this role is so perfect for him.
Plus, you know, Scottish accent.
Out of Eden 