Preserving the Harvest

There has been a lot going on in the kitchen. It is just that time of year. The harvest has begun and with it come the preserving and canning. It is wonderful to see the empty pantry shelves being filled with all this summer goodness. Even better is knowing how much we will enjoy this bounty when the New England winter is upon us.


First up was quarts and quarts of Roasted Tomato Soup. This is a family favorite and I'm not sure I could ever have enough in the pantry. The goal is to have at least on jar per week. So far we put up 15 quarts, a little short. Luckily the tomatoes are just coming in. So I'm sure there will be lots more.


Dill Pickles is another family favorite that I can't seem to make enough of. I made our favorite recipe and then also made a batch of the Dill Pickles from the Ball Blue Book of Canning. The little jars of dill pickle chips on the end were a last minute addition with the left over cucs and brine. We'll see how they turn out. I've never had good luck with chips staying crisp. And who likes a soggy pickle?

Three pints of wild blackberry jam! Oh how good these will be on toast of fresh baked bread in front of the wood stove. Almost makes me wish for winter mornings, almost. The blackberries are still coming into it. So I'm sure there will be more in the days to come. Of course we will also freeze some berries for pancakes, muffins and such. We are so blessed to have a couple large wild patches in the forest behind our home.

There has also been lots of zucchini! We made this chocolate zucchini cake recommended by Suzanne over at Blueberry Cottage. WOW! It was amazing! And the best part everyone liked it. And that is saying a lot since I have a hard time finding deserts that we all like. We will be making this one again. Along with zucchini bread and frittata. Good thing my friends garden is over flowing with zucchini. I'm shredding and freezing as fast as she bring is over.

Then there are beans becoming dilly beans and three bean salad as well as quite a few bags just slightly blanched and frozen for dinner veggies. And of course we have been making my favorite summer green bean dish. Just realized I have never shared this recipe. I'll have to keep you in suspense a little while longer. Promise I'll take pictures the next time I make it and share. It is so yummy!

Oh and if you've ever wanted to try your hand at making your own ketchup this is the best! Everyone around here loves this ketchup (scroll down a bit). So much better than anything you can get at the store. So you can bet I'll be making up a bunch of this.

This time is so busy in the garden and kitchen. I feel like the kitchen is never clean for very long. But truly I enjoy the hours on my feet with the steam from the canner billowing. Come January I be heating water just to get the chill out of the kitchen and eating blackberry jam and tomato soup thankful for the time spent during late summer.

Menu Plan Monday - Week of August 22nd

Back to school mean back to some old favorites. While homeschooling three children, getting frugal healthy meals on the table takes some planning. We fall into a nice rhythm that make meal preparation more of a pleasure than a chore. Breakfast stay the same only changing how the eggs are cooked, what kind of muffin, and rotate between pancakes, French toast and waffles. As the weather cools Swiss oats will become hot oatmeal. We all come together for breakfast. So very 40's I know, but I love to start the day together around the table.

Monday
Breakfast: Homemade Yogurt and Maple Almond Granola
Lunch: Left overs from the weekend
Dinner: Homemade Personal Pizzas

Tuesday
Breakfast: Blackberry Muffins
Lunch: Mac and Cheese with Peas
Dinner: BLT's, Potato Salad, and Veggie Sticks

Wednesday
Breakfast: Swiss Oats with Fresh Berries
Lunch: Tuna Wraps and Apple Slices
Dinner: Black Bean Burritos and Mexi Corn

Thursday
Breakfast: Crepes with Ricotta Cheese Filling and Fruit
Lunch: Hummus with Pita Bread and Veggie Sticks
Dinner: Pork Chops with Pesto, Rice and Broccoli

Friday
Breakfast: Fried Egg Sandwiches on English Muffins
Lunch: Hot Dogs
Dinner: Homemade Pizza

Saturday
Breakfast: Waffles
Lunch: Grilled Cheese and Fruit
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Potato and Squash Torte, and Green Beans

Sunday
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread and Sauteed Zucchini

So what is your family eating this week? I'd love to hear. And if you are in need of some more inspirations hope on over to Menu Plan Monday hosted by I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Yarn Along

Joining in the fun of the Yarn Along sponsored by Ginny over at Small Things. I'm sharing two of my favorite things - knitting and reading. And of course planning to visit the other yarn along participants as well. There is always so much inspiration being shared.



First up the knitting. the sweater is coming along, not as quickly as I would like, but none the less coming along. I finished the body and it actually fits! Now all I have is the sleeves. I'm really happy with how this is turning out. I have never had to increase a pattern so I was a bit nervous.

As for reading, I'm back to some more school stuff for the kids. Making Math Meaningful has been an awesome addition to our bookshelf. Written for teachers and parents it's a whole new approach to math. I'm loving all the tricks, rules and whys. I feel so much more empowered to teach math. I've also been thumbing though the Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book. A neat little book with some interesting snack ideas. We will be trying a few of them, especially the muffins, breads and porridges. My girls are always hungry and I'm always looking for healthy yet frugal snack ideas. Hopefully this book will add a few more to the mix.

First Day of School

I can't believe it but we have started school! The girls were excited to begin and didn't have a problem getting a jump on the school year even though most of their friends are still enjoying the rainy summer weather. With Sarah entering her first year of high school and Bekah joining the mix we changed things up this year. All the girls are doing their own thing. It seems strange not to be teaching them together, but it was definitely time to let them go their own ways.

Sarah is using Oak Meadow for English, History, Biology and a few electives. She is staying with Math U See for Algebra and using Rosetta Stone for Spanish. We're only on day two, but she seems to be thrilled with her classes and choice of curriculum. But boy is the work load different. Her days are long, but she is excited and really linking how things are going so far.

Hannah is also using Oak Meadow and Math U See. We are also supplementing with a bunch of Earthschooling blocks. We are learning the Choroi flute together as well a incorporating handiwork and home economics. So far so good and with Hannah that is amazing. She keeps telling me she is liking everything, but knows that it can't last as school can't be fun. Her words not mine.

Rebekah is just so excited to have her own school to do. For her I am putting together a Waldorf inspired kindergarten. We will do this for two years. I am using the wonderful FREE files at the yahoo group Waldorfhomeeducators, Earthschooling, and a lot of my own research. After family breakfast, Rebekah and I have her circle time while the other girls work independently. She really enjoys lighting our circle time candle, singing our morning song, reciting verses and more. Right now we are working on counting with a ladybug poem and rhythm with clapping games. Our circle time also includes some stretching and movement activities. We close with a verse and blow out the candle. Then we head to the table were Rebekah draws in her main lesson book. She chooses something to draw from one of the verses in circle time. Then each day we have a different activity-painting, play dough, baking, etc. The rest of her day is spent in creative play and helping mom around the house. We also try to get outside and explore the amazing world around us.

Rebekah working with homemade play dough.

Potato print lady bugs. Five of them just like the poem she is learning.



Hannah and Bekah working on Hannah's first science project.

Sarah's first biology lab.

The only class we are doing together at the moment - Geometry! We had a bunch of fun outside in the rain making circles. And then brought it inside to construct and dissect circles.

This is the first year I've had to teach all three. And so far so good. I worked hard at establishing a daily and weekly rhythm and it is paying off, at least so far. Of course this could all blow up by the end of the week. However for now all the school work is done, the house is rather tidy with laundry and dishes caught up and all the kids are asleep and it isn't even 9:30! So now I have a little time to knit, read, correct today's lessons and get ready for tomorrow.

Menu Plan Monday

It has been a few weeks since I've share our menu plan. I have been planning as meal just wouldn't happen without one, but I have been short on time to share. As summer is winding down and we are getting ready for another school year, I am trying to get back to some sort of routine. So hopefully the menus will be up on a regular basis. Thanks for stopping by.

Monday
Breakfast: Bagels and Cream Cheese
Lunch: Fruit and Veggie Tray
Dinner: Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Tuesday
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Whole Wheat Toast
Lunch: Tomato and Cheddar Bites
Dinner: Pork Chops, Bakes Potatoes and Alyssa's Special Beans

Wednesday
Breakfast: Swiss Oats with Fruit
Lunch: Grilled Cheese with Carrot Sticks and Grapes
Dinner: Chicken with Vegetable Fried Rice

Thursday
Breakfast: Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Lunch: Tuna Melts with Apple Slices
Dinner: Shepherd's Pie, Garden Salad and 90 Minute Rolls

Friday
Breakfast: Homemade Yogurt and Maple Almond Granola
Lunch: Hummus, Pita Bread and Veggie Sticks
Dinner: Pizza

Saturday
Breakfast: Pancakes and Sausage
Lunch: Ham Salad Sandwiches and Watermelon
Dinner: Spinach Quiche, Home fries and Fruit Salad

Sunday
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: BLT's with Macaroni Salad

I'd love to hear what you're eating this week. It is nice to have the family favorite, but I am always looking to try something new. Maybe one of your recipes will become our next family favorite. So if you've got a favorite recipe on your blog I'd love for you to leave a link in the comments.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

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In gratitude this week for:

*A dinner of fresh brook trout

*Concerts in the park

*A yarn tasting with friends

Wishing you all a glorious weekend!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny in her weekly Yarn Along. In her words:

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

After knitting way too many swatches, did you know I despise knitting swatches? I finally figured out that I couldn't just go up a needle size, but rather had to try and adjust the pattern. so with calculator in hand and a lot of prayer I think I finally figured it out and cast on. So far so good, but as you can see I'm not all that far. A few more rows and I can split for the sleeves and body. Then I will really know if I'm on the right track. So far I love the pattern and the color is perfect for Bekah in the fall.

As for reading I'm starting What is a Waldorf Kindergarten? Bekah is only 4 and really wants to "do school", but I think a lot of it is just to imitate her older sisters. So I'm trying to meet both our needs. A little "school" for her and a wait till she older for mom. I think developing a Waldorf ish rhythm to our day with morning circle time full of verses, songs, stories and movement along with an afternoon activity should fit the bill. But you all know how best laid plans can take on a life of their own. So we shall see.

So what are you reading and crafting? I'd love to hear. The weekly Yarn Along has been such an inspiration. I want to thank Ginny for hosting. And really you should stop by if you haven't.