Summer's Bounty

My pantry is starting to fill up with the bounty from this summer’s harvest. We were blessed with lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, which kept salad on our table most of the summer. The children loved picking zucchini, tomatoes, and berries with PopPop every day they were here. Lia learned to harvest beans and peas, she is a big girl now.

Last week I made more garlic dill pickles,

( yes, with cucumbers from our garden), corn relish, brown sugar cinnamon applesauce, apple-pear butter, and spiced apples. Today I made maple walnut syrup, and more pickled beets. Later this week I will make more bread & butter pickles with the last of our harvest and apple pecan syrup .Next week I will finish up my canning by making red onion marmalade, and praline syrup. I love this time of year, when summers fruits and vegetable are plentiful, and canning allows me to savor the bounty later in the winter.

Soon I will be making zucchini and banana bread with walnuts, it’s my favorite way to start the day with a hot cup of coffee this time of year. I just received my first box of pumpkin spice coffee cinnamon, I quickly brewed a pot and enjoyed mine with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I realize the leaves will soon start to change and it will be time to say goodbye to my summer clothes and pull out my winter things. It’s almost time to trim the roses and get the garden ready for its winter rest. Our asparagus bed will need to be readied for winter ( next year will finally get to harvest some). The pool will be drained, cleaned, pool toys and towels will be packed away. The deck will become a desolate place with all the furniture covered and the greenhouse will be filled with all my fragile treasures. Bird feeders will need to be kept full to ensure my little feathered friends are kept full and happy. Much to the dismay of Grandpa Gerry, dried corn will be put out for my little furry friends.

Soon I will do an inventory of everyone’s wardrobe, so I know what I need to replace, this way we will be all set when that first snap of cold hits. I love the approach of Autumn and can’t wait to see the sugar pumpkins in the grocery store, I think this year I will take Lia to the pumpkin patch and teach her how to bake the pumpkin and make puree for our holiday desserts. I can’t wait to share more fall comfort food recipes with her. God has blessed us greatly, life is good, welcome fall my friend.