Yes, I can can

Growing up, my sisters and I helped my mother preserve food. We spent a fair amount of time canning and freezing summer produce. I didn't always like it at the time, but now realize what I learned is a huge help to me now. I really don't think I would have had the confidence to preserve my own food without that early experience of food preparation.

I had not canned anything in quite a while but since my small freezer was getting very full, I decided to pick up some canning jars and give it a try.

My mother used to have a chart she checked to be sure how long to pressure the jars. Safety was always our main concern when canning and I wanted to make sure I remembered exactly what steps to take. I decided to look online to see if I could find any good canning guides and I found a great site that gives step-by-step methods and charts for most vegetables. It is part of the University of Georgia cooperative and gives great information. If I didn't know how to can vegetables before, I would by following their helpful guide. Click here to access the handy guide.

My beans are looking good to me and I have two options now for preserving my beans.

My yard sale china

I must admit that when I get the chance, I love to go to yard sales. You never know what you can pick up. Sometimes it is shocking what you can find.

Last spring, I decided to buy a set of china and figured it would be better for my budget to get a set that had been "gently used." I looked on ebay and decided on a simple white china with a scrolled white border with silver accents. I didn't care about the pattern, just the general look. The online price was about $125.00 which I thought was pretty good.

Before I could purchase the dishes I spent a day visiting yard sales and happened on the china pictured above. It wasn't exactly the same as the pattern I saw online, but it was awfully close. The price for a ten place setting was only $10.00. I could not believe it! It might not be the prettiest set of china around but it suits me just fine, and the price was right.

A few months later I went to an estate sale on a trip to South Carolina and found another set for $25.00. I now have twenty-three plates and almost that many cups and saucers.

Of course I don't need that many, but I think if one of my guests breaks a piece of my china, I will just smile say, "That's OK, I have twenty-two more just like it."

More about my china

About two weeks ago I wrote about how I discovered china at an estate sale that exactly matched my grandmother's china.

Last week I learned another amazing fact about this china. My cousin's wife, Louisa, was a relative of the woman who's china I purchased. When she found out I had purchased the china of her late relative, she was very excited, and the fact that it was the same as my grandmother's was amazing to us both.

I have often commented about how small the world can sometimes seem. It probably isn't that unusual to go to an estate sale of a late relative of someone you know. In this case we do live in the same county. But I do think this is somewhat amazing. I know it has made this china even more special to me.

Making quick quesadillas

Last night, my son decided to stop by at the same time I was having a dilemma. What should I cook for supper? (My real problem was not planning ahead but that was beside the point.)

I had all the ingredients for quesadillas and I really hadn't made them before but my son and his wife had so they gladly pitched in to help. It was really, really easy and enjoyable to make together.

I think I will have to add this as a regular menu item for times when I want something fast and easy.

Chicken Quesadillas

4 whole grain flour tortillas
butter
1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
cilantro
Optional ingredients: sauteed green peppers, jalepenos, zuchinni
salsa and sour cream to garnish

In saute pan melt a small amount of butter and put one tortilla in pan. Layer half of chicken, cheese, tomatoes onions, cilantro and optional ingredients. Top will another tortilla and press down with spatula until bottom is browned, turn and cook until the other side is browned. Remove onto cutting board and cut into wedges. Repeat. Top with salsa and sour cream.

Drying tomatoes

A couple of weeks ago I borrowed my sister's food dryer to dry some herbs. I started with basil and then dried some stevia. It works so well and dries so fast. I loved it.

Then I decided to try some tomatoes. It worked even better and they are SO good. Now I can't wait until my smaller tomatoes get ripe so I can dry them. It works even better than I could have imagined! I found out that I really, really, really love dried tomatoes. And they are so expensive in the grocery store. I feel like I am saving quite a bit of money. I am also considering other things like dried fruit. This is really a wonderful way to preserve food.

I really need some dried tomato recipes. Want to share?

Touring Calaboose Cellars

There is a little winery on the outskirts of Andrews, North Carolina. It's the smallest free-standing winery in America. The owners, Eric and Judy converted an old jail into a winery and grow the grapes out back. It is really, really small but very pretty.

And the photo at the top? Two couples, Judy (my favorite cousin), Eric (the owner), Eric (my cousin Judy's husband) and Judy (the other owner). (Hey Eric and Judy, meet Judy and Eric.)

Whether you are a tee-totaler or wine enthusiast, this was a very enjoyable tour. The wines are cleverly named after "jail terms" like Wardin's White and Jailbird's Blueberry. It is a creative operation. They actually crush the grapes out back on the deck and make the wine inside the old converted stone building. I was very impressed by their knowledge and expertise.

The owner's are "snowbirds" from Connecticut who obviously really love what they do and enjoy sharing it with visitors.

Outside the old jail that houses Calaboose Cellars.

The entrance to the winery.

I couldn't believe these huge bunches of grapes. They aren't quite ready, yet.

Visitors relax on the deck where grapes are prepared during harvest.

The vineyard out back with a view of the mountains.

From burgers to rocking chairs

At our cousin's reunion in Andrews, North Carolina, we ate a few promising meals. They were fine, but one was better than the rest. It was the Burger Basket, located just north of downtown. When we drove up, it didn't look too promising. We had heard it was very good and were determined to try it. Andrews doesn't have very many restaurants so we didn't have much to choose from. Most of us ordered cheeseburgers and were very happy with our food.

One of the local men in the restaurant said the cheeseburger was "killer" and I agreed with him. It was perfect, not a preformed, cardboard burger but, a homemade burger served up in a basket. Another good choice was the "Apple dumpling and ice cream with caramel sauce. That was "killer," too.

Across the road from our hotel was, Jimmy's Pick 'n Grin. It was modeled after the Grand Ole Opry and we really enjoyed it. Apparently, much of the town of Andrews enjoyed it, too because there was a large crowd. Most of them had their clogging shoes on and they were obviously having a great time. They really were into dancing.

But my favorite thing was sitting on the rocking chairs out in front of the hotel. What a great way to visit, while gazing out at the mountains. It just doesn't get any better than that.