Wish I had room to add a few trees to the inside of the house!! Your look so healthy, we are hoping the pear and peach tree’s we planted last year will get going and give us a little something this year. We had 1 peach last year but the squirrles got it first.
Kathy, will you share the varieties of citrus plants you have and the sources where you purchased them? You must have a south-facing exposure in your sunroom. Thanks!
The citrus was a gift from my daughter, Neddy. She got them from some magazine (4 trees for $12.00). They were not anything special looking but are pretty amazing now. I know they are Meyer lemons and kefer limes but I have no idea what the other two are. The window is not south facing. It’s actually Northeast.
I know this is way off the current topic, but I wondered if you could answer a few questions as to how you pressure can your dried beans? I’ve get the soaking part, etc., but wondered if I have to put a sauce of some type with them? If I just want to do the beans “plain”, would I put some kind of liquid, like water or something in them? Or is that not a good idea? Any info you can give would be appreciated.
I can’t remember where this info was on your blog to backtrack (sorry about that…).
I soak the beans overnight (although I know people who don’t). The next day, I fill jars 1/2 full of beans and add water, leaving an inch of head space. I often use tomatoe water, left over from steam juicing tomatoes when I make sauce, instead of water when I can red or black beans. I rarely want sauce in my beans. The pressure canning cooks the beans very nicely. I will say that I have found that older beans do not get as tender without a lot of cooking.
I love the pictures of green! Especially nice during winter.
Question – The potatoes I’m keeping are all amost growing roots/shoots. Are they headed for the compost pile, or can I keep them and they become my seed potatoes (I’ve heard we can plant around St. Patty’s day here in MD, but that’s two months away)? Clearly next time I need a colder place? They were in a dark paper bag.
Don’t feel bad about the house and unexpected guests. There is almost never a time when the house is spotless when we’ll have company. It’s when the house is turned upside down and we’re at our busiest when there will be others in the house!It’s Murphy’s law I guess. Dang that Murphy!
I have a few suggestions but they may be more trouble than they’re worth. You could cut off the shoots if not too big, make up a huge batch of maxhed potatoes and freexe flat in plastic bags. I did this and the results are fine. You could also consider canning them. Just cut in fries or chunks and follow blue boo suggestions. I have never made french fries to freeze but I’m guessing we could find directions. The other idea would be to dry them in an excalibur. You need to blanch them in steam but the results are excellent. It’s a bit early to save for seed but if we have an early spring……
January 13, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Kathy, they are gorgeous! Amazing to have citrus as far north as you are. Mighty impressed.
January 14, 2012 at 8:24 am
FYI – Markdown.com will have emergency preparedness stuff over the next 3 offers – they are listed now (without prices).
January 14, 2012 at 9:09 am
Wish I had room to add a few trees to the inside of the house!! Your look so healthy, we are hoping the pear and peach tree’s we planted last year will get going and give us a little something this year. We had 1 peach last year but the squirrles got it first.
January 14, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Kathy, will you share the varieties of citrus plants you have and the sources where you purchased them? You must have a south-facing exposure in your sunroom. Thanks!
January 14, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Ooohhh, local limes. ::sigh:: Someday when my south facing exposure isn’t a metal roof, I’m going to remember this. Thanks!
January 14, 2012 at 7:49 pm
The citrus was a gift from my daughter, Neddy. She got them from some magazine (4 trees for $12.00). They were not anything special looking but are pretty amazing now. I know they are Meyer lemons and kefer limes but I have no idea what the other two are. The window is not south facing. It’s actually Northeast.
January 14, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Kathy,
I know this is way off the current topic, but I wondered if you could answer a few questions as to how you pressure can your dried beans? I’ve get the soaking part, etc., but wondered if I have to put a sauce of some type with them? If I just want to do the beans “plain”, would I put some kind of liquid, like water or something in them? Or is that not a good idea? Any info you can give would be appreciated.
I can’t remember where this info was on your blog to backtrack (sorry about that…).
I really enjoy reading your blog!
Thanks,
Sheila
January 14, 2012 at 9:53 pm
I soak the beans overnight (although I know people who don’t). The next day, I fill jars 1/2 full of beans and add water, leaving an inch of head space. I often use tomatoe water, left over from steam juicing tomatoes when I make sauce, instead of water when I can red or black beans. I rarely want sauce in my beans. The pressure canning cooks the beans very nicely. I will say that I have found that older beans do not get as tender without a lot of cooking.
January 15, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I love the pictures of green! Especially nice during winter.
Question – The potatoes I’m keeping are all amost growing roots/shoots. Are they headed for the compost pile, or can I keep them and they become my seed potatoes (I’ve heard we can plant around St. Patty’s day here in MD, but that’s two months away)? Clearly next time I need a colder place? They were in a dark paper bag.
Don’t feel bad about the house and unexpected guests. There is almost never a time when the house is spotless when we’ll have company. It’s when the house is turned upside down and we’re at our busiest when there will be others in the house!It’s Murphy’s law I guess. Dang that Murphy!
January 15, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I have a few suggestions but they may be more trouble than they’re worth. You could cut off the shoots if not too big, make up a huge batch of maxhed potatoes and freexe flat in plastic bags. I did this and the results are fine. You could also consider canning them. Just cut in fries or chunks and follow blue boo suggestions. I have never made french fries to freeze but I’m guessing we could find directions. The other idea would be to dry them in an excalibur. You need to blanch them in steam but the results are excellent. It’s a bit early to save for seed but if we have an early spring……
January 17, 2012 at 12:36 am
I saw your comments on looking for a Master Canner program. The University of Maine Extension program offers one – it’s in Gorham, ME
January 17, 2012 at 4:33 am
I called them about the program a while back. You must be a resident of Maine to take part in it but thanks for the info.