My auntie the bag lady

We were caught off guard by an unannounced rain storm.














Aunt J had just gotten back from the beauty parlor.













We had no umbrellas.














Aunt J says '99 THANKS!!'

canning

Arn't you just a little sad you didn't NaBloPoMo?

Just a little?




Every year I try to can something. I love to can. For years I had this plum tree that gave me more fruit than me, my neighbors and all my friends could eat. I canned for days and days. And days.

Now I don't can so much. I missed it. A few years ago I ran across some Habanero jelly at the Balloon and Wine festival. It was delish and I decided to give it a try. It's become so popular that I now find myself making it every year. Last year it made it's way to Korea! And will again. (I haven't sent it yet AM, hopefully before Christmas)

I wait until the bell peppers are plentiful and cheep. Usually I get them at the farmers market but this year I wasn't able to get down there. I found them at the 99 store! 3 bells for .99! How can you beat that?

So I get all my supplies ready.

Peppers, check. Habs, check. Cutting board, sharp knife, GLOVES! Check.

Canning jars, check.
Vinegar, sugar, pectin, check.

Large pot for sterilizing jars, hot jar tongs, funnel and little magnetic lid grabber thingy, check, check and check.


Heavy enamel pot for cooking jam, ginormous pot for processing jars, check.

Clean kitchen? ooops!

Cannot start such a ginourmous project with a mess like this. I clean it up quickly.

Coarsly cut peppers and throw them in the processor. Not too long, just chunk them up a little. I wonder if the pepper heat will infuse the processor as it has with the cutting board.

Cooking pot with peppers and pectin. It may not look like it but this stuff is lethal! You cannot breathe the steam or look over the pot while cooking.


When done cooking, strain the solids out. I hate tossing this stuff as I'm quite sure I could do SOMETHING with it. Until I figure out what, out it goes. The wooden spoon will now be hot as blazes.

I used red peppers this year and the color was not as red as I would have liked. I perked it up with a touch of food color.

Pour into jars and water process for 5 min.

Beautiful! Yes?

Like my new apron? Just had it made for me, for National Apple Month.

99C THANKS ! ! ! Birthday edition

Well it's birthday time again and you all know what that means!!!
Time to go shoppin at the 99C only store! Which is now 99.9 store. Should they have to change their name? Anyhoodle, I got these terrific bags. The Pooh bag had a raised head. (what do you call that in scrapbooking lingo?)

Look! A pug bag! Didn't need it but had to have it.

Got this for DIL. I thought the cupcake book was awesome! I thumbed through it. All the pictures and ideas will be so much fun for her and her little girls. She also got sprinkles!

For K a That's so Raven bag with a lot of goodies. I also gave her a friendship bracelet kit.

Gotta stoll down the produce isle whilst there. Fresh brown buttons, and that huge box of pea pods. I picked up some oyster sauce and baby corns and we had Chinese for dinner. Oh and there was an english cuke too!

Yellow bells, cabbage, celery and the prized asparagus. Farmer John liverwurst! YUMMO!!

The usual staples of onions and toms. I surely do miss homegrown toms but it's impossible right now.

A birgthday card, zippy bags and some clearacil cleanser. Works great and smells great!

99C THANKS ! ! ! ! Wedding Edition

Yeah. . . .

I would totally do this. . .

Clueless? Click here and here.

Is that awesome or WHAT!!

99C THANKS ! ! ! !

Lookie!!The 99 store had asparagus! ASPARAGUS!! Yum. I decided to try the brown rice in my rice cooker which also has a veggie steamer, which means I cook the rice AND asparagus at the same time. Nirvana! The yellow bells were fresh as were the toms. I have no idea what I'll do with them but they'll be in the fridge when I need them. Along with the limes, 8 limes for a buck. Yeah. And Liverwurst or Braunschweiger, whatever you call it. 99C!!

Oh and the brown rice cooked up ever so nicely in the cooker.