The Pits and Peelins’

 

What? Another post about peaches? haha! Yeppers. I’m up to my earlobes in peaches and I’m not complaining one bit. This morning we enjoyed some of the freezer jam spread on hot buttered toast….and we couldn’t stop moaning in pleasure. It was so delicious, I can’t even describe it!

Mrs. Mom asked how to make Freezer Jam. And I must tell you that if you are just starting out harvesting fruit, freezer jam is a perfect way to ‘can’ some fruit. Even novices, like me, who’d rather spend all my time outside and with the animals, and will only spend time in the kitchen because I have to, can make freezer jam. Really!

All you do is prepare your fruit (wash, peel, etc), crush the fruit (I like mine smooth, with no large chunks, so I toss mine into the blender for a about 20 seconds), mix in the sugar and some lemon juice or Fruit Fresh (to keep fruit from browning), and then add the pectin (or freezer jam packet…..what did old timers use before there were grocery stores that sold pectin?), and then stir it all up, let sit for 30 minutes until it is thick.

And voila! Freezer Jam. You can put some in your freezer, or use some right away!

It will only last about 3 weeks in the fridge and about 8 months in the freezer, but in my house it might not even last THAT long. lol!

CeeCee commented that I should boil my peaches for 15-30 seconds so the skin will just peel right off, without having to use a paring knife.

 

And 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 it twice, but call me weird....I don't like that process at all. It takes too long to get everything out and then cleaned up and put away, wait for the water to boil (especially at our 7,000 ft elevation), and it uses too much water with all the peaches I have to process, 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’s a hassle...and not as relaxing as just sitting down in front of the TV for a fascinating nature show, or outside in the shade watching the llamas and goats, with a cold Fuzzy Navel Smoothie, a paring knife and a bowl of peaches.

 

But if anyone know of a less messy, less water-wasteful, less steamy, more hassle-free way of peeling peaches let me know. I still have quite a few peaches left to process. hehe!

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Now, you might even be wondering what we’re doing with all those peach pits and peelins’. When I was kid, I remember some of my family members whittling away at peach pits, creating whimsical things like monkeys and squirrels. I’d try that myself, but with my ability to get injured, I’d probably better stay away from a pocketknife and a tiny hard surface.

This is what we do with our peach peelins’………

Yah. Pepper, the caprine vacuum, is always first. But, as you can see, noone goes hungry around here.

Always curious, Cataleya and Catlinite bring up the rear.

 

Nom, nom, nom. Yum, peach peelins’!

Piggy Pepper, always begging for more food. lol!

The chickens get some of the peelings, the windfall peaches and also the pits. They seem to enjoy pecking away at the fruit stuck to the pit.

I haven’t offered any to Baby Doll yet. She’s got a picky palate, though. I’m sure she’s holding out for the apples that are currently ripening on our trees. And she will expect me to slice them for her, of course. Spoiled girl.

From the Tower of,