Adventures in Canning

As I mentioned in my post about raspberry picking, this is the year that I decided to try my hand at canning.  I’ve made freezer jam in the past, and it is so easy and delicious, but I have limited freezer space.  And it wasn’t even a question about whether or not I’d make raspberry jam, our family loves enjoying it over the winter!

I borrowed my mom’s canning supplies.  I love the vintage canning book, which cost a whopping 50 cents!

 

No fancy recipe for me, I simply followed the MCP Premium Fruit Pectin’s directions.

Step 1:  Bring a large pot of water to a boil. This takes a LONG time. My biggest discovery about canning is that it is all about timing.  Thankfully, if you follow the directions step by step, the timing all works out.

Step 2: Pour boiling water over the lids and let them sit in the water until ready to use.

 

Step 3: Wash jars in soapy water and fill with warm water. I added the part about leaving them filled with warm water. I decided to do this because I had read on some blogs that it was good to have the jars warm when you put the piping hot jam into them.

Step 4: Place berries in a bowl and smash them. I used this wooden masher from my mom, but a potato masher, or spoon would work too. Mash berries well, but leave small bits of berries in tact for a good consistency. Once mashed, measure exactly 6 cups of berries and place in a saucepan.

Step 5: Measure 8 1/2 cups of sugar in a bowl.

Step 6: Add pectin and 1 tablespoon butter to berries in saucepan and bring to a full boil. Stir continuously. The butter stops the berries from becoming too frothy.

Step 7: Once berries have come to a full boil, boil for 4 minutes exactly.  Stir the whole time.

Step 8: Pour jam into jars. Fill jars until about 1/8 inches from the top. Wipe rims with a damp cloth and put lids on. My counter looked a bit like a scene from a horror movie after this step!

Step 9: Seal jars in a water bath. Place jars on a wire rack and lower into the boiling water. Make sure jars are covered with 1-2 inches of water. Place lid on pot, return water to a full boil and boil for 10 minutes.

Step 10: Remove jars from water bath and cool on a towel. Jam will need about 24 hours to fully set. As jars cool, you’ll hear the lovely pop of the tops as they seal. Test seal by pressing down the center of the jar.  If it doesn’t move, you’re sealed!

And there you have it, fresh jam all year long!

Berry Pickin’

Raspberry picking is becoming a summer tradition at our house.  It is such a great way to get out of the city for a bit, and to return home with delicious loot.

The boys were experts at finding the really large berries.

Emmett was certain he didn’t like raspberries. Until he tried them. :)

The boys are great pickers. We picked 12 pounds of fresh raspberries. That’s a lot of berries!  I usually make freezer jam with my berries, but this year I am going to attempt to do some real canning. Stay tuned for my adventures in canning!

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Here are some shots of past berry picking. I just love to look back at pictures. One to relive that memory, but also because they reveal how much my boys have changed.

2011:

Jack didn’t come with us the first year because he was at “camp” with Grandma and Grandpa.  Emmett and I went with a couple of friends. Look at how white Emmett’s hair is!

2012:

The second year both boys came picking and we picked 8 pounds of berries. I thought that was pretty good. Little did I know we’d be picking even more this year!

 

Preschool Graduate

Jack has graduated from preschool.  Just another of the many firsts that I both welcome and dread. I welcome these milestones because it is a beautiful thing to watch my son grow. And dread them because it all goes way too fast and I wish I could pause time to enjoy each age and stage more. I know every parent sings that same tune, but can’t someone just put the song on repeat?

But preschool graduation has come and gone. Just like that, another milestone notched in his belt. His school did a special little program in the evening where the kids sang several songs and the teacher shared what each child wanted to be when he/she grew up. Jack wanted to be a firefighter (which was a surprise to us, since he has continued to say at home that he wants to be a mailman!).

After the ceremony, the kids were rewarded with ice cream. Jack could hardly wait! I just have to pause for a moment and comment on Jack’s outfit. The blazer that he wore was Tom’s when he was the same age.  It was so special for Jack to wear his dad’s blazer on such a special occasion.  Wouldn’t you love to see side by side pictures of Jack and Tom at the same age?

Jack was not exactly thrilled to have another picture taken, but I just had to get a picture of dad and son together!

This is Jack’s amazing teacher. She created the perfect environment to nurture little minds and foster friendships between the children. Jack adores her, as do we.

And this is Jack’s PE teacher. Jack loved everything about PE and always made sure to wear comfy pants and his fastest shoes on days that he had PE.

So, we have finished the preschool chapter in Jack’s life book. The past two years have flown by!  I am so thankful that he spent those years in such a loving environment and that Emmett will get to have that same experience.

   Here is Jack on the first day, 2 years ago.                                And the last day.   

It’s official, Kindergarten here we come!

Father’s Day in the Woods

We celebrated the favorite man in our lives with a campout in the woods. Hammocks, tents, fishing, and s’mores…we did it all!

It was a great weekend camping trip and the perfect way to honor our favorite dad!