Canning 101

The fact that I have any amount of knowledge in this area is comical to me.  I'm not going to share any canning tips since I really just follow whatever I find on Google.  But the fact that I've been canning this year is a huge step for me.  And I kinda like it, too, which is pretty cool.

So far, I've bottled peaches with my sister, Erin ....

Made strawberry freezer jam with my sister, Kelly, and cousin, Linsey ....

(The apricot jam I made later.)

Made applesauce with my mommy, and again later with my friend, Alison ....

And made salsa with the amazing, Steph.

Why I didn't take pictures of each of those cute ladies in my kitchen escapes me.  Makes me sad that I don't have pictures of mom & Erin up to their elbows in sticky apples and peaches, or Alison sticking to the floor with apple juice and peelings, or Steph and me with watering eyes from chopping onions.  Next year, my friends.

I did all of that with fruit & veggies from my own yard!  Pretty cool.  I'm feeling a little less green behind the ears about my whole garden.  We've been here 1 year now and I feel a little more knowledgable about what will grow out back and how to use it.  And will likely plant less of a garden next year.  It was a giant amount of work!