Canning on Tuesday

Cinnamon Spiced Peaches

First of all, a huge "Thank you" to Becky who answered all my questions about canning peaches!  I have made plenty of jams, jellies, and chutneys, but, I have never canned peaches, before, and I was feeling nervous.  I read up on canning, in general, and canning peaches, in particular, and asked Becky for her advice, too, as she cans a lot of what her family eats.  I canned them in a light syrup, which I spiced with cinnamon sticks (the brown pieces in the jars).  I was planning to make eight jars of canned peaches, but, partway through the process of peeling the peaches, I got tired!  Most of the peaches were easily peeled - I blanched them and the peel slipped off with very little effort.  But, some of the peaches were either not ripe enough or I didn't blanch them long enough, because their peels wouldn't slip off!  So, I cut those peels off and when I got too tired, I just put them aside to deal with later!  As a result, I had only enough prepared peaches for six half-pint jars.

How can you get so tired just peeling a few peaches, Bless?  Good question!

I woke up with a bit of a headache, this morning, and I suspect that I was a little dehydrated, too.  I have been making a point of drinking enough water, but, every now and then, I slip up!  Anyway, I drank water, I drank my morning cup of tea, watched the news and coverage of the funeral, had brunch (French toast), tried to call my doctor's office to reschedule my appointment (only got her answering machine - the office is located in Hollywood where all the recent protests have been taking place and is probably closed!), brought in the trash cans and the mail, and, dilly-dallied.  Then, sometime around 3:00 p.m., I decided to can the peaches.

But, first, I had to wash the brunch dishes and clean the kitchen!  I scrubbed the counters and the sink, wiped down the stove top, and then, washed the big pans I would be using to make the syrup and for the water bath.   The big pans are stored in the garage and they get dusty.  I also decided I needed to pull out the box of old canning jars that I had in one of the kitchen cabinets and, of course, that box was at the very back of the cabinet, behind some of the cans of pasta sauce, etc., that that been delivered.  I wasn't going to use those old jars for the canned peaches (I had some new jars for that), but, wanted to reuse some of them for other things I am planning on making.  I didn't have to pull them out, today, but, that is what I did.  Then, I washed the new jars I was going to use for the peaches.

By which time, I needed a cup of tea.  Then, I had to water the back yard, because the plants were wilting from the heat.  Did I mention it was almost 100F, today?  It was warm enough inside the house for me to change out of jeans into a skirt and turn the ceiling fan on!  I watered the plants with the garden hose (as opposed to turning on the sprinklers); that usually takes me about 45 minutes or so.  I wanted to take a photo of the roses that had desiccated on the bush, but, I didn't have my cell phone with me.  Maybe I'll take a photo, tomorrow.

I should have watered the front garden, too, but, I decided to do that, tomorrow.  Because, I still had to can those peaches!  By the time I made the sugar syrup (water, sugar, lemon juice), sterilized the jars I had washed earlier, blanched the peaches and peeled half of them, I was already tired!  Peeling and cutting the peaches was a messy job!  I did it over the kitchen sink to minimize the mess, but I still had to wipe the counters, after I finished!

I had the jars of peaches in the water bath a little after 9:00 p.m. and I processed them for 30 minutes.  I had my dinner (leftover pasta) while it processed.  I was left with quite a bit of the syrup, which I poured into an empty orange juice container that I had washed and kept.  I might use it to make peach lemonade! 

I am not sure if I will make more canned peaches with the rest of the peaches or if I will make jam or chutney.  My daughter would like chutney.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The peach harvest!
- Becky's advice
- Water for the garden
- The jars of peaches all sealed
- Left over sugar syrup for peach lemonade

Today's joyful activity was preserving the peaches, so my daughter can have a taste of them, later.

Tuesday's To Do List:

- Process the peaches - DONE
- Dust my bedroom

- Water the garden, front and back - DID the back

- Water the house plants

- Call the doctor's office - TRIED (left a message; will call again, tomorrow)

Wednesday's To Do List:

- Vacuum
- Water the front garden
- Water the house plants

- Call the doctor's office, again
- Make a pancake/waffle topping with the few peaches I didn't finish peeling! 

How was your Tuesday?  Have you done any canning?   What are some of the things you've canned?