This is good news, however, for our Plan to Can. First of all, unemployment is an excellent reason to can your own food. Secondly, since I will likely be living in my parents' basement all summer, I will have boatloads of free time to organize this complex operation. I will also lobby my sister to join, since she's the only one who hasn't emailed me her enthusiastic response to this blog (ahem).
Which brings me to my next topic, emailing vs. blogging. Grandma and my Great-Aunt Becky (our newest recruit, see below) have voiced understandable doubts about joining the blogosphere. I agree that it is tricky. So for the meantime, I will post their emailed comments here.
Let's start with Aunt Becky's response* to my Call to Can:
"Even when she wasn't feeling well, a couple of years before she died, she had Dad carry things out so she could do the canning. I think she took great satisfaction in seeing the beautiful jars of red tomato juice lining up on the table. I know I took great satisfaction in eating chili made from her efforts. It took me years to adjust to store bought tomato juice."
-Aunt Becky, Louisville
*Lydia, recall that Aunt Becky lives all the way down in Kentucky, yet she has committed to can.
Sorry about the dismal job prospects, Katie.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this nice, homey momory will lift your spirits... I'm inspired by Becky's canning memory. I loved Grandma's summer kitchen. I never saw it in action but always thought it was a great idea. Plus, it was just steps away from Grandpa's massive garden.
Here's my happy canning memory: I remember being very little, back when the "big house" had the kitchen in the north end. The cabinets were light colored with very 50's/60's pointy eliptical handles. Jamie and I were sitting at the formica counter and mom took out a jar of home-canned grape juice.
This is a drink that should not be judged by its looks. Picture a large canning jar filled with very, very dark purple juice with brownish grapes collected at the bottom. I also recall brownish skin flotsam. I think Grandma Giltner canned it? *not sure about that*
Turns out this is the best darned stuff I had every chugged before and possibly even since. It was refreshingly light, yet had deep grapish flavor and was very sweet, but not as sweet as stuff from the store.
It made such an impression on me as a little kid that as an adult it reminds me about how even the simple things can taste SO MUCH better when you do the processing at home. Same goes with my mom's frozen corn.
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI see you drudged up a photo from the Jackie Kennedy Chicago trip. It was a great trip...we wore Mom's 60's jewelry and felt very "uptown"!
I hope your canning adventures are going well. I'll look forward to stories about fresh blueberry pies in January.
About your comment to Lydia - always happy to be the source of a little guilt - induced arm twisting. It'll be fun Lydia!