I've been busy making these:
into these:
I've canned 42 pints so far. It just doesn't seem like much when I think about the canning I used to do when all of the kids were home! I always tried to have at least 50 QUARTS of just green beans. And they would usually be gone before the next summer and it was time to do it again. We ate them plain, covered with cheese, in casseroles (like tator tot because the icky picky sisters didn't like peas!), and especially with cream of mushroom soup and onion rings on top! Funny, but I mostly make them plain for just the two of us now.
Logically I think we could really afford to purchase these green beans since they really aren't very expensive, but I don't for several reasons; I know how these were handled and exactly what is in them, and I just THINK I should have a garden. I don't necessarily enjoy it, but I'm used to having it and canning to feed a family of six.
So, now I'm waiting for the second picking to be ready, tomatoes to ripen for salsa, and corn to freeze. I'm going to purchase carrots for canning at the produce auction since ours didn't get planted. Times are changing, but old habits die hard I guess.
