When life gives you apricots pt.2

As you may have already read in a blog titled similar to this, you would know that we have a very healthy apricot tree. So in an interest of enjoying our apricots later, we decided to can them up. I wanted to make sure that we would be able to enjoy them, maybe even for baked goods, but didn't want to do jam again.

The first thing we did was collect the apricots


Then we halved them


We then let the halved apricots rest in a bowl with a solution of fruit fresh and water. This helps guard them against browning.


Then I made a simple syrup 2 parts water 1 part sugar



While I was making they syrup Cameron and Larry filled the clean jars with apricots. We cold packed the jars meaning the apricots had not been cooked. There for, the jars were cold too. If you hot pack the jars, meaning the item going in the jar is hot, you need to make the jars hot so they don't break. Once the jars were filled with apricots I filled in the voids with the syrup I had made.







You need to soak the flat lids in hot or boiling water to soften the rubber seal. Then place the flat lid on the jar and hand tighten the ring. Place jars into rack of canner. Normally I use a water bath method of canning. But in an effort to try and preserve the integrity of the fruit I opted for a steam method I had never used. I placed several inches of water and vinegar in the bottom of my canner. Instead of lowering the rack into the water I kept the jars above the water. I put the lid on the canner and let the apricots steam for about 20 minutes. The heat is important because it can kill any bacteria in the jars. I probably could have done this for less time, but since I had never steam bathed before, I didn't' want to take any chances.


When the jars were done in the canner I left them upside down on a cooling rack. Some of the jars hadn't sealed completely in the canner and I did this as an extra precaution to see if it would help seal (this method has never failed me yet). I am proud to say, everything sealed and we got 13 jars of canned apricots! After abou an hour of them being upside down, I righted them back to finish cooling before rinsing them off for the pantry.


Cameron wanted to help us even further by helping us label some other cans we had in the pantry. We had some apple sauce left over from a few months ago and Larry directed him on how to label it.

Walk Down Memory Lane Wednesday

From time to time on a Wednesday I will post a "Walk Down Memory Lane" or a "Wordless Wednesday" depending on . . . well . . . my mood I guess. But today I'll introduce the "WDML"

These pictures were taken about 2.5 years ago. Cameron wasn't so much into getting his hands dirty, but part of his therapy for "Sensory Integration" was getting him dirty. What better way to do this then by finger painting. He actually really enjoyed him self. These pictures are a little out of order. But at some point during the painting, he had a paintbrush. Yes his hair isn't combed and he's sitting half naked in his high chair, but sure looks like he had fun!

Hey, there's fish in that there pond

In March of 2008 we built a small pond in our backyard. We had purchased a pond kit at Lowes after Christmas for an incredible price. We knew we wanted a pond, but didn't know what to expect as far as maintenance went. Over the last year Larry and I have learned the joys and trials of pond maintenance. Every six months or so we have to drain the pond and remove the algae and scum that had been building up. We would love to invest in a bio filter, but they can run a couple of hundred dollars, so for now, we do fine with the little filter that came with the kit. We placed the pond to the left of the apricot tree. At the time the apricot was much smaller. Knowing what we know now. Having a pond under a tree that drops fruit . . . is not necessarily the best idea. But again, this is one of the trials we have learned. This year we had LOTS of apricots drop into the pond and after several days the pond water (despite our best efforts of pulling the drowning apricots out) was turning into a algae, apricot, fish water, pond muck. It was quite gross. Larry had a brief window of time off yesterday and decided that the pond needed to be cleaned then, not a week from now like we originally planned. We didn't know if the apricot mess could cause the fish (if there were any left) any harm. Catching fish in pond water you can't see through is a difficult task indeed. Especially when your new puppy eats the fish net and you have yet to replace it. Larry improvised quite well by using our fishing net. We decided that the best temporary home during the pond cleaning would be a LARGE Tupperware Thatsa Bowl (I bleached it when we were done with it, BTW) and to prevent the fish from jumping out of their new shallow home, we placed the base to Cameron's t-ball set on top like a lid. They say, necessity is the mother of all invention! Well after about a half hour of Larry playing "catch and release" we discovered we still had about 20 fish! And one is QUITE large!

The fish in their temporary bowl home


The fountain is working again! Thanks to being scum free!


The clean pond!!

When life gives you Apricots . . .

We have a very healthy apricot tree in our backyard. For the last two years we have had VERY bountiful crops. Last year, we made LOTS of yummy apricot things including dehydrated apricots and LOTS of jars of jam. This year we have been making dehydrated apricots but with Ashley's graduation party and being the resident dessert person in our family I decided to give a cobbler a shot. I had never made a cobbler so I wanted to make sure I documented the process.It was REALLY Yummy!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (I didn't have nutmeg, so I used all cinnamon)
1 cup water
45 oz of apricot halves, (drained if canned) I used fresh
1 tablespoon butter


You can use canned apricots but I used fresh


You will need to half the apricots if you use fresh, canned apricots already come halved


Because I used fresh apricots I needed to weigh them to get the right amount.


In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in water;


Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil and stir for 1 minute; reduce heat. (This activates the cornstarch with acts as a thickening agent.)


Add apricots and butter ; heat through. Stirring to coat apricots with sauce. Then pour into baking dish. You will need one that holds at least 2 quarts.


Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients into a bowl


cut butter and place into dry ingredients


mix butter into the flour (I used a pastry blender) until crumbly


Add milk and mix


Mix until moistened into dough. Spoon over hot apricot mixture


One thing I realized this morning when uploading my pictures, was I didn't take a picture of the cobbler completed. So hopefully I will get enough apricots to make another cobbler and then I will post a picture.

Meeting Buzz again

Buzz Lightyear is one of Cameron's favorite Disney characters. I am trying to be more of an effort of making video's of Cameron, Lord knows I have TONS of still shots. Cameron showed Buzz his Woody autograph book that I made him (the Buzz one is already full), I like Buzz's reaction!

A Fish Called Cameron

Cameron takes private swim lessons at the indoor Aquatic center in Hemet. He is really starting to become a good swimmer. Water safety is SO important to us. We hope that with in a year or so he becomes a strong swimmer so we can take him to do the fun water activities Larry and I enjoy like kayaking and someday white water rafting. But hey, you got to start somewhere.

Wordless Wednesday

A moment to brag

Jessica and I come from a very close family. This year, our cousin Ashley is graduating from High School. She is such a good kid with such a thirst for life! Her number one passion is Theatre and this passion has provided her much success in high school. Ashley sent out a little letter with her graduation announcement telling people what had been happening as her high school career finished up. She also discussed the awards she received for theatre. I will take this information from her own words,

At the theatre banquet I was awarded with Best Supporting Actress for my role as Marmee in Little Women the musical, Best Female Performance for my lead role as Eleanor/Milady in Starmites, plus Honor Chords and an Honor Medallion to wear at graduation. I was also voted Best Thespian by my peers which was an honor that now words can describe. Then the Murray's, my theatre teachers, awarded me Outstanding Theatre Student which is the highest award given to a Senior. On top of all of this I received a small scholarship of $250

Tomorrow is another awards ceremony, for academic achievements as well. We took Ashley's studio senior pictures today. We took her on location last summer and took some of her pictures on the beach and in Balboa Park. We, as a family, couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become! Congratulations Ashley!! We love you!!! And to the entire class of 2009, good luck in the future!






My FAVORITE with the cap and gown!


All of her theatre awards




Jessica made Ashely this scrapbook for her birthday, you can't see it on this small picture, but the tag says "it's a passion thing"

First Bloom

Back in April, Larry transplanted 20 rose bushes from our neighbors yard. They had moved to NC 6 months earlier and after the tenants who were renting their house moved out, the roses and two flowering plums started to look sad. Not knowing what would become of the house, we contacted them and asked them if we could transplant them so they could have a chance at survival. Well after transplanting on the HOTTEST weekend of the year and careful pruning, we are proud to report that ALL of the rose bushes and both of the trees are THRIVING! We even got our first blooms on one rose bush! Several other bushes are ready to just explode with roses!! We are thankful they let us take them, because they would have surely died (the house is still empty) but they will also make our yard very beautiful!

Go Mets!

Cameron started T-ball in May. I don't think there is anything cuter than him in his baseball uniform! He is on the Met's and his coaches name is Toni. So far we have been VERY blessed when it comes to teams and coaches! Opening ceremony's for the baseball season were on May 2nd.

Jessica, Keri (the other team mom) and I made the banner


SO CUTE!


Waiting to be announced

Kahoona Cameron

Cameron LOVES Turtle Talk with Crush at Disney's California Adventure. He especially loves it when he gets to talk to crush himself. This time I had the video camera ready. Make sure you have your sound up and enjoy!