Canned Goods

Today I saw a mini Ball jar in my cabinet that was labeled "Blueberry Chutney," and I realized that I never blogged about a wonderful gift I received in the mail from GabbyGail. She's one of those people who actually does canning all summer (unlike me, who edits an entire cookbook about canning and then still can't seem to bring myself to do it). She sent me this lovely assortment:

 

The one on the left is fruit ketchup, which Julie will tell you goes with everything, even roast chicken. Yum. In the back is peach jam, and I hope I don't need to tell you how delicious real peach jam is. We especially like it spread on challah toast with butter. On the left is—ohmygod—black forest preserves, which is a chocolate-cherry combo. Wow! We put it on ice cream, but I keep forgetting that I want to try it on a peanut butter sandwich as sort of a cross between jelly and Nutella. And then there's the blueberry chutney, which we haven't even sampled yet.

One of my favorite singer-songwriters, Greg Brown, has a wonderful song called "Canned Goods," in which he describes his family dinners: "Taste a little of the summer, Grandma put it all in jars." That's just how I feel when I taste peach jam in the winter.

Thanks again, Gail!

Comments

[Sandy]

Last fall, I made jam -- peach! -- for the first time. Rather than deal with sterilizing jars -- and then worrying that I'd give the family botulism anyways -- I put it in tupperware and froze it. Beyond delicious. Gone by New Year's. Doubling the batch next year.

[Deborah]

Ok, so after clicking through to the Greg Brown post, I realized I had read it when it was first posted. Which means I've been reading your blog for closing on (at least) 6 years. I think it took me awhile to delurk. And now I'm a stalker. Oh, how far we've come!