I probably shouldn’t complain, what with all our blog friends roasting their hineys off in triple digit temperatures up in the Pacific NW this week, but goodness, it’s been chilly around here over the past few days.
(Below: We’re located between Cedar Crest and Edgewood)
We do get up into the 80’s during the day, but the nights and mornings have been down to the low 50’s. And yesterday it didn’t warm up and reach 70 until well after noon. I sat out on my bedroom balcony yesterday morning, like I often do, to read a book or check messages and blog, but I had to wear my fleece hoody and I had a fleece blanket over my legs…and I was still cold!
And then the skies filled with clouds, and the wind came rolling in, and the clouds spat out *shiver* cold rain.
And it looks like we can expect more of this goofy weather (hopefully with some real precipitation, too. We need rain.) into next week.
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But this post isn’t just about freezing cold…..it’s also about Freezer Jam!
I made Freezer Jam yesterday. (And that’s a Peach Smoothie beside the blender in the photo above. We’ve been drinking a lot of them the past few days.) Yummo!
And sometimes after I make a batch of Peach Smoothies for my kidlets, I make an adult version just for me.
It’s easy to do with this heavy crop of peaches our peach tree has given us this year.
And that’s just the peaches ready for harvest. The peach tree is still heavy with hundreds more!
(I took this photo yesterday during the thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 45mph and the tree was whipping around, but the poor thing is still heavily loaded with fruit)
So, I’ve been busy blanching, peeling, cutting, slicing, mashing, mixing, freezing…and we’ve all been happily enjoying eating and drinking fresh peaches.
A friend of mine suggested that we bag some up and sell them locally, but we have plans for our harvest and are hoping to be enjoying our juicy, sweet peaches even during the middle of our snowy winter this year. Warm Peach Toddy, Peach Pie, Peach Soup, Peach Salsa, Peach Crumble, and Peach Jam……..
Speaking of Jam. I made 48oz of Freezer Jam today. Two will go in the freezer, and two will be kept in the fridge for immediate use. hah! I plan to enjoy some on hot buttered toast, mixed in some homemade yogurt and spread over our homemade vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
This is where I pretend I’m a postcard and say, “Wish you were here!” You could help me peel and slice peaches.
And of course, there would be plenty of Fuzzy Navels for us to drink. *wink*
From the Tower of,
19 comments :
Peachy!
Too bad about the cool weather - I would happily send my rain out west and down south if I could - we are inundated here!
I looooooveee peaches. They are my most favourite fruit. I'm totally jealous that you have your own peach tree! I would come and help peel them if I could eat a few... :-)
We have a region in our province that is warm enough to grow peaches and they should start appearing in stores soon, so I won't have long to wait!
Lisa: Cool shot of the peach crop. You have done a great job with all your work.
You made my stomach growl Lisa! LOL Looks great. Sometime tell us about the freezer jam?? I've never heard of that!
Oh Lisa, you don't have to hand peel all those peaches.
Just drop them in boiling water for about 15-30 seconds and the peeling just comes right off in your hand.
Beautiful, beautiful peaches, btw! Better than anything I've seen at the grocery store.
Send some of that cool weather this way!
what a great post lisa. speaking of peaches, we bought a box on saturday and i have been downing them like candy. these were fuzz-less giantic ones from california. and they are GOOD! the bad thing is if i want any more like them i have to go back to trader joe's in richmond. so i guess i will savor them while i can.
those smoothies look delish :)
care to bring me one:?
have a wonderful weekend.
many many hugs from me to YOU
Oh, Lisa!! I wish I could be there to help you with your peaches....and a drinkie or two...LOL!!! I love peaches! Yes they are a lot of work but oh, my they are soooo good in the winter time...YUMO is right!!!
I am getting ready to head to town for weekly grocery shopping and me going to stop at the outdoor market to see if they have peaches yet!!! You made me so hungry for peaches!
Rainy here the past three days and more rain on the way...also very humid!
~Jane and Gilly~
Wow that is a LOT of peaches!
We've had unusally cool weather, too, and I am lovin' it! This morning my weather bug said 49 degrees! We rode in the county parade last night where last year we passed because it was too hot.
I keep track of "weather moments" with regards to my riding and last August was unseasonable mild for us. Hoping for a repeat performance!
We've had a very cool, rainy summer. If it gets in the 80's around here, that's HOT!
Oh my peaches. We're at too high of an altitude I guess for peach growing, but I buy 'em at the grocery store anyway. I've been topping our homemade goats milk ice cream with peaches.
Hey Joanna,
What elevation are you? We're at 7,000 ft in the mountains. As you can see we get peaches, but it all depends upon how late we get a freeze or snow. Last year...no peaches, because it snowed and hailed in late May and early June. This year was a mild winter...and LOTS of peaches :)
Hi Cee,
Thanks for your comment about my peaches. Like I said in my post, I was busy blanching the peaches, too.....which is the same thing as 'boiling for 15-30 seconds' so the peelings' just slip off.
I did that twice, but call me weird....I don't like that process at all. It takes too long to get everything out and then clean up and put it away, wait for the water to boil (especially at our 7,000ft elevation), and it uses too much water, the peaches are hot and slippery...and messy, some even end up mushy, and some....their skin doesn't slip off easily and I still have to peel anyway.
In my experience it was just a hassle...and not as relaxing as just sitting down in front of the TV for a fascinating nature show, with a glass of Fuzzy Navel Smoothie, with my paring knife and a bowl of peaches.
Oh! And I did one bowl with the chickens and just tossed the peelings out to the chickens. That was fun!
If you know of a less messy, less water-wasteful, more hassle-free way of blanching peaches letme know, though :)
I really love peaches! I wish we could grow peach trees here... =/
Holy socks that's a lot of peaches!! WOW!!
And send those temps over here. Dang woman!! Don't make me have to move there. Good thing I haven't shown Wade those peaches. He'd be on your doorstep ready to move in. He LOVES peaches.
Hey, you stole our weather! That's perfect for us! It's been up to 108 here (new record) and we're hiding in the house with the AC on - 75 is perfect :)
Yummy what a great harvest. And so photogenic too!
We too are having unseasonably cold weather, although not as cold as you - what happened to global warming??!!
Oh my just looking at all those peaches is making my mouth water.
WE got only about 16 peaches this year. I'm glad we got something but they were gone before I could REALLY get my fill of peaches. Only a few for us all to eat - no frozen ones, peach pies, peach jam, peach ice cream, peach........
sigh!!!!!
Deanna
Oh...I'll take one of those adult beverages!! That would be wonderful on a hot summer day. You're sure keeping busy with the peaches this summer. This winter when the snow is blowing they will be great!
This post was delicious! Eat a few peaches for me.
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