For a good 3 weeks, we would gather that much about every other day. it was incredible!! So we decided it was time to can. We don't have a pressure canner (something I WILL be investing in before next year) so we had to do the water bath version. After finding a salsa canning recipe we liked we set to work (well, Cam did really!) He did one batch one night, about 5 jars. It turned out yummy, and we had PLENTY of veggies left to use, so he made another batch the next day. The boys liked helping. We let them peel the tomatoes, since that's the least favorite job, but they really did a good job. And all in all we ended up with about 10 pints. And that was a few weeks ago now, so we should probably do another round! I'm looking forward to our yummy home grown salsa all winter long!
So he cut off about a third of this little Inch and a half sized pepper. Chopped it up into about 4 teeny-tiny bites and mixed it into his gumbo. I missed the first bite he took because I was still taking a picture of the second pepper, but I knew once he had gotten a bit of it! He started coughing and choking and sputtering. Sucking down milk left and right, and sucking cool air in over his tongue. I was laughing. To most people this would be painful, and a sign of too much. But not Cam. That's a sign of something good!! I still remember when we were first married and in a store for Hot sauces. He tried the hottest one they had on a toothpick and it immediately sent him into a similar frenzy. But the first words out of his mouth were - I'll take it! But this pepper was just a little bit much for him! The second and third bites of pepper were just compounding too much for him and he had to dig around for the last few to take out of his dinner. I couldn't help but laugh at him (because he did it to himself). And frankly I don't think he's eaten the rest of it. lol That is definitely a first for Cam. I've never seen anything "too hot" for him!
Another yummy treat I've been into lately is Apples. A few years ago I found a really good recipe for Apple/Pear butter. I LOVE Apple butter!!! There used to be a place in Nashville (IN) that had some really good stuff, but obviously that's out of the question now! So when I discovered Martha Stewarts version, I was so excited. It cooks in the crockpot so it's really easy, and the pears add a little bit of extra sweetness to it. Needless to say I've been waiting for apples to go on sale this fall so I can make a TON of it!! (it freezes nicely, and last year I even canned some). Well, this week organic honey crisp apples were on sale, and I went a little crazy! And I'm glad I did because they are SO GOOD!!! I made my first batch of apple butter a couple days ago and wanted to eat the whole crockpot full right then and there!!
And I plan on making the rest into applesauce here in the next couple days. The way my family eats applesauce though I better head back to the store and get some more apples! (Maybe we should plant an apple tree too) lol
Other news is scarce right now. We are just getting into the swing of the school year and have a great little system going. Riley and Jayce are both loving school! Riley is really doing good, and Jayce hates that he has to wait until after lunch to go to school. He wants to go at the same time that Riley goes. ;) Amara is enjoying herself, but naps when Jayce is gone so she usually doesn't notice that she has time as an only child. I haven't taken too many photos of them recently, with school in session it's just a little harder. But I think this weekend we are going to go up to the mountains for a little aspen viewing and try to get some family photos at the same time. We'll see how that goes, since Mommy isn't the best photographer when she's in the photos too. It may just be a kiddo session! One pic I do have is of Amara. Last week we introduced her to the potty chair. She's definitely ready for potty training. She tells us when she's wet or poopy and doesn't like sitting in it.
Not much coming up in the future. I think I finally decided what everyone is doing for Halloween this year. It's gonna be a easy costume year. I've already got a lot of orders for my business and so I won't have much time to put into Halloween this year. (not that I really do ever anyways) But the boys picked out their costumes as part of a matching set, so they will be coordinated, but Amara won't be. I know I should do another family themed one since they are still young enough to let me, but I just don't have the energy this year. Hopefully next year I can convince them to do it again!
I can't believe that September is already almost over. Time just keeps on whipping by!
