Halloween 2009 - Attack of the Killer Carrot!

This isn't one of John's black and white horror films... this killer carrot was harvested from our garden Halloween 2009.

To preserve our harvest, we sliced all of the carrots not destined for salad and dried them in the dehydrator. I will enjoy many months of carrot in soup!

We look forward to planting more carrots in the spring.

Canning 2009 - Rounds 2 & 3

September 25, 2009

Repeated August 16th salsa batch, made 11 pints.


October 17, 2009

Repeated August 16th salsa batch with one exception – used Habaneros in place of Jalapeño peppers for Extra, Extra Hot version. Made 5 quarts and 2 pints.

Also made batch of Green Hell (recipe follows)

6 cups chopped Anaheim peppers
4 cups apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons canning salt

Combine all ingredients in sauce pan and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot into pint or quart jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in boiling water canner 20 minutes (Rio Rancho altitude). Made 5 pints.

We like to used the Green Hell as a salsa or in dishes such as Chicken Enchiladas.

Yucky Bug 2!

I'm not a bug person. I don't like bugs. Some people are fascinated by them. On a scientific level, I agree. On a personal house guest level, I don't.

John and I were watching television one evening and I got up and used the bathroom. When I came back to the sofa and sat down I felt a strange prickly trickle run down my back. I jumped and thrashed back at my shirt and grabbed a fistful of cloth. John knew something was up. I struggled to figure a way out of my t-shirt without letting go of the fistful of shirt. Honestly I was ready to cut it off. John inspected the fistful and coaxed me to open my hand and drop the contents. Damn if a centipede didn't fall out of my hand. Quick as they are, John managed to kill it - in flip flops even. I should have won an award for the ensuing oogy-dance - it was something John won't soon forget. Naked (of course!) I went off to the bedroom and shook every piece of clothing I own. I redressed and returned to the livingroom. I no sooner sat down then felt another prickly trickle low on my back. Another shreak, another dance! This time it was a clothing label followed by a stiff drink.