August 6, 2010: It's Been a Hard Day's Day....

......and I've been working like a dog.


After I cleaned the strawberries I picked last night, I made a batch of strawberry jam. Then I tackled all those veggies that were languishing in my refrigerator. First, I made sweet relish, using up all the cucumbers, red onions and green peppers. I didn't have quite enough cukes, so I used some zucchini, as they are interchangeable in the recipe (see Pat's Zucchini Relish).

Next I shredded and packaged zucchini in oil, to freeze for Kelly's Put Away For Another Day Zucchini Bread. I still had some shredded zucchini left, so I baked up a batch of the zucchini cookies that Momma_S had featured on her blog, Gardening With Care, yesterday. Mine didn't turn out like hers or the original recipe. My cookies almost never turn out like they are supposed to. Oh, they are good, they just aren't soft and puffy, they're chewy and flat. I pooped out after baking half of them, so the dough is in the fridge until tomorrow. Besides, it was already time to start dinner, and there were more veggies in that refrigerator that needed to be used.


So, with all the zucchini, fresh onions, cucumbers, green peppers and most of the strawberries taken care of, I tackled the green beans, carrots and potatoes.


Two of the twelve or so tomatoes were taken from the windowsill, and another was composted when I picked it up and put my finger through its rotten side. It had a crack in it, and had gone bad overnight. The two good ones were sliced and served with a bit of parsley (that I've not found the time to dry just yet). I cooked half of the delicious French green beans, all of the carrots and half of the potatoes. I definitely made a dent in the refrigerator fruits and veggies today!


I even mopped the kitchen floor. Erin was terribly afraid I'd get stuck to it, with all the sweet stuff I'd managed to spill today.


But....now I have THIS. Can anybody mess up a kitchen like I can? *Sigh*

****Yesterday we had a refrigerator challenge. RUN, don't walk, over to Momma_S' place and look at her refrigerator (and comments). I swear, I spewed my lemonade all over my monitor and wet my bloomers, I laughed so hard!

15 comments:

  1. Wow Granny! You did so much today! I feel like such a slacker. Hahaha That jam looks so good. Strawberry jam is one of my favorites.

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  2. Meemsnyc, then I went out to the garden and now the fridge is full again :-( I'm going to start tossing zucchini into passing cars.

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  3. You only know you've had a good day when all of the pots, pans, and dishes are scattered on the counter. Well done!

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  4. Your pretty awesome Granny. Your dinner looks delicious and I think we might have to try out that relish recipe. Thanks for posting the link.

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  5. All you had to say was "I made pickle relish", and know without a doubt that you worked your butt off! Gosh, i'll never make it again...

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  6. I am at the "toss the zucchini into passing cars" stage myself! I have been featuring zucchini in the dinner menus at least every other day but could easily do it every day and still not keep up with the production.

    You are a whirlwind of energy! Good work. :D

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  7. Ribbit, I must have had a fantastic day then, 'cause I had them scattered everywhere. All was clean before bedtime, though.

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    Mr. H., I made that relish last year, both with zucchini and with cucumbers, and we love it for hamburgers and hot dogs. I find it sometimes is a bit too juicy, so I use a slotted spoon to fill my jars, then pour in the right amount of hot liquid. There's usually a cup or so left over that I strain into a clean jar, and use for refrigerator pickles.

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    EG, I just can't figure out why it was so difficult for you. I find it one of the easiest canning recipes I have. Of course, if you don't have a food processor for chopping the veggies, it could get quite tiresome.

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    Kitsap, I thought I was caught up, then went out last night and brought in three more. One's a biggie that got away from me. Maybe I'm in for another batch of relish today.

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  8. That's exactly how my day today is going! I'm tackling all the "stuff" laying around and seeing if I can get caught up! Nice to see you didn't spend the night sleeping standing up from being stuck to the floor, LOL. that's my floor today! looks like you had a very productive day topped off with a delicious looking dinner, congrats!

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  9. Erin, today I have more zucchini and maybe enough tomatoes for a half batch of salsa. I'm determined to stay on top of it! Of course, one day off and I'll be behind again.

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  10. I ought to make some pickle relish. It as on my list today, but I don't think it is going to happen. I did however manage to cover up my counter in tomatoes . . . again. Sigh. I'll never get caught up. You seem to be doing a pretty good job of it though.

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  11. Daphne, I was caught up...then I went back to the garden last night. Now I'm right back where I started, sans the red onions and cucumbers.

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  12. Those carrots and green beans look SO good AG. I can mess up a kitchen like no one else I am afraid. I see cluttered cooking areas when I look at your kitchen. Mine would have the jam, gravy, and what ever else I had been making splattered everywhere in addition to the cluttered stove and counter top. My darling husband is kind enough to remind me nightly that he has never come across a more messy cook....it is one contest I would prefer not to win. ;)

    (Off to try to not wet my bloomers!)

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  13. Kelly, I was stuck to the floor ya know ;-)

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  14. You are a dynamo. You did all of that and still cooked a nice dinner. It would have been Pizza Hut to the rescue around here.

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  15. Cheryl, LOL! I was tired, but did Mr. Granny offer dinner out? Nooooo. Today I really didn't do as much, and he wanted to take me out to dinner. Go figure. I declined. I had leftover chicken and gravy...who needs to eat out when there's leftover chicken, for heaven's sake!

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