Our poor old apple tree.....99 years old...now only 1/3 the tree it was before Irene...The gent that built the first part of the house, farmed this little piece of land and planted the trees in 1912..there were 7 apple trees , one crabapple, two cherries and one pear when mum and dad became the owners...I just love this tree..it is a Baldwin apple..one you don't see too often any more...well. we still have one branch left!!! and it is loaded with apples....so there!
Pictures for Helen!
Dear Miss P. is really starting to relax...she is a very shy little girl...this is her new bed!
This fellow is quite the explorer!!!!! on everything....under everything.... he is a dear dear boy!!
Helping me cook!! His tail likes to flop...flop...flop...as he lies near me !!
Poor little Rusty.....we always know when the weather changes because this fellow does not like the cold at all..we have to cover him up and double up the blankets .....His littles ears get pale ...poor little pink kitty......... = ^..^ =
When the hurricanes come and go the garden always seem to just explode!!! and boy is it ever !!.....!!
We can not eat tomatoes fast enough.....so time to make a huge pot of tomato sauce!!!
several hours on the stove and then into the deep freeze!!
A lovely simple tomato sauce!!!! the house smells divine!! For those of you who wanted the pickle recipe...Here it is! I hope my directions are clear enough...please feel free to mail me with any questions!
Mr Wolks polish dill pickles!
I usually double this recipe and use the large Quart Jars because we eat them so fast!
this is the original Not doubled recipe....
4 lbs of pickling cucumbers or so ( I just buy a big sack and use them all )
one bunch of fresh dill washed and rinsed well. I use the leaves not the flowers...
(I do not use dried dill ever for this recipe)
8 cloves of garlic or so to taste
4 tablespoons pickling spice
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1/2 cup kosher salt
5 cups water
4 quart jars or several smaller ones
Wash and dry the jars ----put the lids in a small saucepan with water to cover and put them on the stove and bring them to a boil.......then let sit in the hot water until ready to use
Put the water.. vinegar and salt into a large pan and bring to a simmer
Put one tablespoon or so ( can be less ) of pickling spice in each jar...a few slice garlic cloves
Then slice the cukes into thick slices about 3/4 of an inch.layer cukes and a few sprigs fresh dill until to the top of the jar ..You can really pack them in tightly...
sometimes I sprinkle some of the spice on top and some on the bottom.
Now take your hot water and carefully pour it into the jars...I find the best way is to put the water into a pyrex measuring quart container..then it easily pours into the jars..
Full to 1/2" from the top then clean the glass edges and put on your tops..
Seal tightly.....the jars then sit out for 3 days....then chill and eat when they are cold...
I do not processes these because they will lose there crunch...they MUST be kept in the fridge.. not on a shelf........I make about 25 jars a year and we just used last years last jar...they were exactly as they were the day we first opened them!!
They were all kept in the fridge until used.
You can use thick sliced green tomatoes or string beans instead of cukes in this recipe if you want. Just make sure for any choice that you pour very HOT vinegar water over what ever you choose.
Happy cooking!!
Today is sewing day ( I hope ) that means Inspector Lewis... or Foyles War or Upstairs Downstairs or Midsummer Murders or Downton Abbey or Anything Jane Austen.. or...... Room with a View...or...House of Elliot.. Inspector Moorse or Forsyste Saga!!!!
Oh that Maggie Smith..... "What is a ....week.... end........." ( Downton Abbey )
There is really no point in watching anything but!!!
Yes..I did just find the colored type.......Happy day and weekend to all you really wonderful people!! and Thanks for all the kind words of concern about Irene...xxxxxxxxxxxx
