One word, "Citron"!
Remember the 1967 movie "The Graduate" with Dustin Hoffman. Remember the part where Mr. McGuire says to Benjamin, "one word, plastics". My favorite line. Dustin Hoffman was hilarious in that movie!
Anyway, "Citron"! Citron preserves. Look! I've actually made two jars of citron preserves...
Am I proud of these or what! It was a sticky job for only two jars but wow, am I proud of these two jars! It really wasn't a mess until I let the pot boil over, just a little. Thankfully I saw it before too much went down in the burner.
It seemed to me like the preserves were not getting thick so I called Shelby. She makes jams, jellies, and preserves daily, DAILY! I would be crazy! Anyway she told me how to check and tell when the preserves are ready. The trick is to keep a saucer waiting in the freezer. To check the preserves put a teaspoon of the boiling mixture on the saucer and then return the saucer to the freezer for two minutes. I did this probably three times. It works! Did I mention how proud I am of these preserves?
I filled the two hot jars, put the rings and lids on and processed them in a boiling water bath for fifteen minutes. Both jars sealed...
While on the subject of citron, look how pretty the seeds are. These look like watermelon seeds except red...
Once upon a time many years ago my Aunt Berlie picked enough wild cherries to make a jar of jelly. One small jar of jelly! Aunt Berlie being proud of that jar of jelly was holding it up to the light, admiring the clear red color when the little jar slipped right out of her fingers, crashed on the kitchen floor and broke. Can you imagine the feeling.
Another bit of news today...I was rushing around trying to get out the door and to my early morning dentist appointment. Eli was stretched out between the dining room table and the living room, blocking the way into the kitchen. As I tried stepping over him either I lost my balance or Eli moved...or both and I started to fall. There was no stopping at this point. I was on my way down, and hard. I didn't want to fall on Eli and hurt him. But in the shuffle I somehow wound up on the floor and Eli on top. I moaned and groaned a bit. Both knees were hurting. Eli seemed fine and before I could get back on my feet, he gave me two wet licks across the face. Weetie, worried too was trying to get between Eli and me. What a mess. I'm okay and did make it to the dentist.
Thank you for visiting. Where have the days gone this week?
Love,
Henny Penny
Wow I am so glad that you are alright. You are probably sore tonight or maybe in the morning. Be careful you don't need to break any bones. I have never heard of a Citron. That is something new. Your preserves look yummy.
ReplyDeleteLove you
It is scary to fall, especially as you get older. My left knee is a little sore but that's all, Thankfully. Dan says citron melons were grown in Georgia for hog food. Do you want a few of the seeds? Love you too!
DeleteI had to Google Citron melon, because I knew citron as a citrus fruit. It appears that making preserves is the best way to use it, but then you obviously knew that!
ReplyDeleteThat Eli is a sweet menace!
That is a good way to put it, a sweet menace. He surely is.
DeleteOh, I'm feeling for you with that fall. I've had too many of those in the last year. Hope you aren't sore. I googled Citron, and found out that the Citron fruit is the one used in the candied peel, and is not the same as a citron melon. Learn something every day! So are your preserves just the fruit and sugar? Do you eat it like jam? Very pretty looking.
ReplyDeletePS I'm with you on the boiling over pot. I wander down to the computer to kill some time while I'm waiting for the pot to boil....and of course you know how that ends up:(
DeleteFalls are scary. I'm okay, my left knee is a little sore. About the citron. I found the easiest recipe for preserves at http://from karenskitchen.com/recipes/canning/spread/preserves (that's funny, "Karen's" kitchen.) The preserves are fruit, sugar, and lemon and we eat them like jam. Karen, would you like some of the seeds? I would love to send you some. You can email me at hennypennylane@gmail.com
DeleteYou have every right to be proud. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI feel for you on the falling. Hope you are feeling better and none the worse for wear. *hugs* Have a blessed weekend!
These are probably the first preserves I've ever made that ever turned out right. Thank you! You have a good weekend too.
DeleteIt looks amazing, a very proud moment of success, well deserved.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I shouldn't go on and on like I do. :)
DeleteGlad to hear that you came out of the tangle of arms and legs in one unbroken piece. But I bet Eli weighs about the same as you do so it would have been much better for him to have broken your fall rather than the other way around.
ReplyDeleteThose seeds are just beautiful-----there must be something artistic that you can make using them.
Eli probably does weigh as much as me now. He can be hard to hang onto when I walk him. Would you like a few of the seeds?
DeleteYou grew a citron melon? I am impressed, even before you started preserving it! Save them for a very special celebration, I say!
ReplyDeleteI did! I wish I had posted that if anyone wants a few of the seeds to try growing a melon, they could email me. Would you like a few seeds? :) I remember you had a nice garden.
DeleteI've never heard of citron melon!
ReplyDeleteOur melons didn't do well this year....not enough heat.
Oh Eli...he doesn't realise how big his is,does he!
Jane x
Eli is a mess...a sweet mess! Jane I will send you a few citron melon seeds to try, if you would like me to. You can email me. I hope it would be okay to do something like that. :)
DeleteI've made canned tomatoes once......
ReplyDeleteTwelve 2quart jars, filled full of homegrown tomatoes.
The bottoms blew out of eight jars, and the ones that didn't break, I dared anyone to touch them on the shelf.
I ended up throwing them away after twelve years, still perfectly preserved :)
You are a seasoned hand at preserving dear friend.
~Jo
Oh my goodness, Jo! That was a lot of work to have eight jars break. But that sounds like something I would do. I cleaned off a pantry shelf one day and emptied jar after jar of canned goods. All that work and it just sat on the shelf for looks. I just couldn't eat the stuff. It had been decoration for all those years! :) I am not that good at canning, especially jelly and jam. I do green beans best. Thank you!
DeleteThere's nothing like home made preserves. Yes, you should be proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing close to jam or jelly I've made is apple butter. Oh wait a minute, long ago I put up some strawberry freezer jam. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteOur dogs do the same darn thing all the time and we swear they'll end up killing us.