Did you go to the fair as a child? Remember the rides, the barkers, and the gold-fish that died before you got home? Me too. During my trips to the fair, my parents always drug me through the Ag building. It had pieces of hay, plates of corn, beans, tomatoes, cakes, jars of stuff, homemade…
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What is Pectin?
Pectin is the substance used to make jam and jelly gel. Oftentimes, people shy away from its use thinking it is not “natural”. Nothing could be further from the truth! Pectin is what is on the other side of the outside peel of many fruits like citrus fruits and apples. There is little pectin found in…
What should I make first?
That’s a question I get all the time. You should start with a fruit that you or your family personally like for your first jam or jelly. There are fruits that are more forgiving than others. Strawberry is one that comes to mind. You really only need a pot, sugar, pectin, and an old-fashioned potato…
Do I have to pick/buy and put up on the same day?
Today, it is snowing in Oklahoma and many people are home. It is the perfect day for making jam or marmalade! Tis’ the season for citrus fruits so a quick trip to the store will garner you a bag full for a fairly small amount of money. If you keep jars, lids, sugar, and pectin…
I do not have a garden, do you?
I don’t have a garden and honestly, I don’t enjoy sweating, hoeing, and getting bug bites! If you live in an apartment or like me, have a yard that is nearly completely shaded throughout the summer, you cannot grow a garden. I have grown gardens. My grandparents and parents had one from before I was…
How to prepare for canning season
January, February, and March are the greatest months to get ready for the upcoming canning season within most of the United States. Attend flea markets and estate sales to find the best bargains. In order to be better prepared for the season, you will need the following items: Stainless Steel or copper cooking pot, preferably a dutch…
I am back!
It has been a long time and a long year! Such little annoyances like life got in my way. It been almost a year since I made my first post to the blog and then I did nothing! But I am pleased to say that my Kalamity ways have earned me tons of county and state fair ribbons. …
Hello Everyone!
Hello Everyone! My name is Kelli. I am terrible at many of the regular domestic duties like cooking dinner every night, dusting, vacuuming, and laundry…….. just about all of them. But, I excel in the retro kitchen arts otherwise known as canning, putting up, or preserving summer’s bounty. As a child I was forced to participate in…