Can we have a heart-to-heart, you and me? Ok.
I don't consider myself the world's greatest cook. I think I've mentioned that a time or two. If there is anything that causes me great insecurity, it is what I do in the kitchen.
I try, I honestly do, but cooking, although I do it just about every single day has yet to become something that I actually enjoy doing. (Baking...maybe!)
Take today for instance (and yesterday for that matter)...I spent THE ENTIRE DAY standing at my stove skinning tomatoes, and grinding up onions, cilantro, and jalapeño peppers to make salsa. I have also been cooking up multiple batches of applesauce, seasoning it, and mashing it by hand so it would be just the right chunkiness.
It has smelled so good all day.
And just as I was giving myself permission to feel a sense of satisfaction, I started to finally can these bad boys...and this happened. Something that I swear always happens. One of my lovely jars of applesauce...the applesauce that I worked all day on, broke when it hit the boiling water.
I knew it was going to happen to. I knew it. All of those hours wasted...hours that I could have been outside playing in the sunshine with my babies. Gone.
Now all I feel like doing is having myself a good cry. Do I have your permission to have a good cry over wasted applesauce...perfectly, lovely, tasty applesauce?
Please say yes.
PS - I was about to resign myself to a good cry, and then I learned that MMM has created a new website called BonaFide, and I'm all...well, I'm only slightly less depressed.
Go check it out:
Don't put your jar in boiling water. Bring the water to a boil with the jars in them. Or else make sure your jars are really warm when putting them in.
ReplyDeleteCold glass will break when it hits heat.
Yeah, I know...I just like to test the laws of nature every time I can for some reason...
DeleteYou're braver than I am, friend. I give you permission to be sad. Cause you totally needed my go-ahead ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you...now where did I stash that chocolate!?
DeleteOh, that is totally TRAGIC! Seriously, one of the WORST things in the world is to work so hard on canning something only to have the jar break! :-( I will mourn with you!!!
ReplyDeleteI usually do steam canning, myself, and it usually works out okay, but hearing that CRACK is awful! I'm so, so sorry!
Hugs,
Rachel
Yes that unmistakable sound of a bottle cracking! The worst. Thanks for understanding and commiserating!!! I needed someone to say they get it!
DeleteWe lost one of our bottles of pears this time around too. I think we tightened the lid too tight or something. The bottom just popped clean off it and we didn't notice until the end. I hope the others are okay since the tops weren't covered with water when we opened it up, but they still sealed. Our last batch only had four bottles of pears, so my husband decided to put an empty one in as a place holder in the middle and even though he tried filling it with hot water from the sink (I had warned him of this phenomenon) it cracked as soon as it hit the water. Luckily it was empty. Still, I commiserate.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, that's just what this one did. Bottom blew clear off. I might not be so upset, except I only canned two bottles that were seasoned sweet. The others were just straight-up applesauce. So I lost one of the two sweet/cinnamon bottles. It happens...it just stinks!! Thanks for feeling my pain! ;)
DeleteCry away! I hate having something like that happen! All the wasted time and money...sorry!
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that I can make something a zillion times but as soon as I make it to take to another family or for guests, something goes wrong. Every time.
ReplyDeleteFunny my stuff turns out best when I am planning on giving it away...maybe that's my problem!
DeleteSo sorry to hear you lost one of your jars of hard work. That just stinks! I always run my jars through the dishwasher right before I can and pull them out of the hot steamed dishwasher just before I fill them and leave the filled ones on the hot stove next to the canner while I fill the other jars. So far I have never had a jar break. Wishing you luck on your next batch of whatever you can!
ReplyDeleteI have done that in the past but today my kitchen was one hot mess...literally!!! Oh well please pass the chocolate right??
DeleteSo glad you are getting so much support for a good cry...because that's exactly what I would do! I guess you can still pat yourself on the back, though. I mean, after all, you did do your best to can some homemade goodness for your family and that definitely beats spending all day on facebook. ;) Hope your next batch comes out great!
ReplyDeletePS - I'm so enjoying all of your Conference review ideas. I hope you intend to keep them coming after the upcoming session - I would love to do this for our future FHEs! :)
Yay! We've been enjoying it as well! I think we only have about three left to do...but it's been fun so we'll do it again after the next conference! XO...thanks for the love!
DeleteAw, man! I HATE when that happens....which is probably why it's been a couple of years since I've canned anything. Cry and howl away. While there's no use crying over spilled milk, there is definitely a good reason to cry over broken jars.
ReplyDeleteTrue, although I love milk so much, spilling any amount of it makes me upset! ;) Scarlett literally looked at the photo above and said, "Mom, why are you cooking throw-up?"
DeleteHa ha ha! "Why are you cooking throw up?" Oh dear. Spoiled canning is totally tragic! I love to can food and plan on doing a good 150 jars of applesauce this year. I'm really hoping not to lose any like that. Ugh. My other least favorite thing is when I just pressure canned something for 90 stinkin' minutes and then several of the jars don't seal! ARGH!
ReplyDeleteI haven't canned anything in ages as I live in a food desert, but I really miss that smell that permeates the whole house. I remember coming home from school to that smell and it's one of my very favorite things.
So sorry! I hate it when that happens! I recommend using a steamer/juicer (wash, stem, quarter the apples) for about 30 minutes, then use a Victorio strainer. It takes all the peels and seeds out for you. Applesauce canning goes so easy with these tools. It still is a full day's work but you can get through 3-4 boxes of fruit.
ReplyDeleteIt's bound to happen every so often. What's worse it when you drop the bottle before it gets in the canner then you have to clean the floor of glass and sticky applesauce. I feel for you! It's ok to cry. I love your blog and want to be just like you. Thanks for your inspiration and testimony. I always feel good when I read your blog.
ReplyDelete