Canning Season!

[sakon76]

Yesterday I picked a basket of lemons, and, at the behest of my coworkers, took them in to work today. Something around the area of 40 good-sized lemons. Barely made a dent in the tree.

Today, I picked an even bigger basket of tomatoes, and with Wonderful Husband's help, turned them into seven quarts of canned tomatoes. (With a few left over that will go into tomorrow's batch.) Barely made a dent in the fruit on the plants.

I know what I'm going to be doing again tomorrow, and Sunday....

I need more things to do with lemons. At least the tomatoes will get used up over the course of the next year - salsa, sabzi, cacciatore; there's always something they go in. There's a good deal less BPA in one jar lid than in the entire lining of a can, and a good deal fewer ingredients I can't pronounce. (My canned tomatoes have precisely two ingredients: tomatoes, and lemon juice.)

Comments

[flybystardancer.livejournal.com]

Not precisely helpful on the lemon front, but my best friend's parents have a GIANT lemon tree in their back yard. To use up some of the lemons, they play 'lemon ball' when the whole family gets together. Lots of fun! Though those of us who wear glasses (which is most of the players lol) have an advantage in that we're much less likely to get lemon juice in our eyes! The overripe ones are the most satisfying to hit. (Yes, I've played with them a couple times.)

[libbybird.livejournal.com]

Would you happen to have a suggestion for watermelon? My two plants are producing more than my family can eat and give away.

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

Well, I've made watermelon jelly (http://www.pickyourown.org/watermelonjelly.htm) before, and it's pretty tasty. Uses up a fair amount of melon, too! You can also make pickles (http://www.pickyourown.org/watermelonrind_pickled.htm) from the rind if you are so inclined. ^_^

[libbybird.livejournal.com]

Both of them sound yummy. Thank you for the suggestions.

[whitefirebird.livejournal.com]

For lemons: marmalade, lemon curd, lemon juice for cooking/baking, lemon ice cubes - these are great for cold drinks (coke/pepsi, water etc.), lemon sherbert, lemon jelly (as in jelly-and-ice-cream, not JAM!), candied lemon.

Hope that helps.

Oh, and of course, lemonade.