Finally, A Bit Of Preserving

Since we are still getting situated here in North Idaho, I have had a tough time doing my usual harvesting and preserving activities. I guess we did pick some blueberries earlier this month that we froze. However, I didn't get around to making the blueberry jam that I was hoping can for holiday gifts. I also still want to make a bunch of dill pickles-which reminds me, I need to call someone about cukes tomorrow (jotting down note on paper).

Well, the other day at the Wednesday Sandpoint Farmers market we came across a pleasant surprise. There was a vendor selling local no spray peaches. A 25lb box only cost $15. That's pretty good up in these parts. We bought one box with the intention of canning some for winter. Tonight we finally got around to it. Still, it was no picnic. The hardest part was finding the pressure cooker in storage (the water bath pot was no where to be seen-as were our extra jars), figuring out the extra cooking time for higher elevation, and battling the limits of our tiny one room apartment. But with a little work, we came out successful. Below are some highlights.

The peaches cooking. I used a water-slight sugar solution. Next time I want to use some local apple juice (or my own) for the syrup solution.

KIA getting in on the fun, She actually got a hold of one and mashed it up right well.

The Pits. I don't know what to do with these things. I've tried composting them, but the take forever to biodegrade. I may change my name to Peter Peachpit and go around planting them.

I did have one casualty. When I removed the lid of the pressure canner, the peach floating around reminded me of an orange carp in A Japanese pond-well maybe with all of the metal more like a goldfish that was surviving in the sewer after being flushed.

And finally, the finished products-with a few fresh peaches to spare.