Aug 27, 2012

Marvelous Monday Update 8/27/12

Did you miss me last week? Probably not, but that's OK! LOL  I didn't have much to post about so I decided to lump it all together for this week.

COOKING
Do you like dill pickles?  I do!  My mouth starts to water just thinking about them... literally!  I don't know why, but it always has.  The BF brought me a couple of large cucumbers that someone at work brought in.  I decided to make refrigerator dill pickles for the first time. 

My trip to the grocery store to buy fresh dill was interesting and disappointing.  Interesting in that I wandered to the produce section thinking to myself, "Where would the fresh dill be?"  At the same time I was thinking it, I smelled it!  So I wandered a bit and found it.  The disappointment?  It was the saddest selection of dill I have ever seen.  Half dead. Dried up.  For $2, I grabbed the best of the bunch and hurried home to try my hand at making the pickles.

The first 24 hours they looked like this:

There is no cooking involved in making these. After the first 24 hours, they "marinate" in the refrigerator for a few days.  The longer they marinate, the better they taste.  Mine turned out very tasty!

My coworker generously offered a box of white peaches to us at work.  She brought them in on my day off, so another coworker called to tell me.  The lady who brought them in said she was really happy that I came in to get them because she hates to have things go to waste.


I spent all day last Friday canning.....

12 pints of peaches
 
11 jars of peach preserves
 

3 mini peach cobblers
 
I had enough leftover that I also froze some peaches for a future peach cobbler, and gave my mom a small bag of peaches.  I thought I'd never get through that box!

GIVEAWAY
Victorian Motto Sampler is hosting another wonderful giveaway. Go check it out! Tell her Meari sent you. :)

STITCHY STUFF
I made more progress on Sampler aux Bouquets.  I'm to the halfway point now.  Woo Hoo!

Here's what it looked like before:

and now....

Other WIP photos can be seen HERE.


I had a start and a finish last week, but can't show pics until I get acknowledgement from the recipient.
 
I started a second project last week called Bluebird Welcome.  Here's a snippet of what it looks like so far:
 
 
Until next time,
 

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your canned pickles and peaches are just beautiful -- what an awesome reward for all your hard work.

And as always your stitching is lovely to look at too...........

Great up-date

Carien

Faith... said...

All that canning looks so yummy Meari!

Love your Sampler aux Bouquets - it looks great!

Anonymous said...

The pickles and peaches look good. I have some peaches, apples, and blackberries that I need to freeze until I have time to work with them. :) I like the way Sampler aux Boquets is looking!

Karin

Anonymous said...

Wow...I bet all those peaches you canned are yummy.Love peach cobbler. You stitch beautifully. That suit you altered came out really nice..>I like the shorter length much better....hugs..Linda

Carolyn NC said...

Yum yum..all looks delicious! And nice progress on your stitching, too.

Vicky L said...

White peaches are one of my favorite fruits. Yours looks delicious and the pickles too. I just might try canning next year. Your stitching looks very lovely and making good progress.

Unknown said...

my mouth watered when I seen all those peaches yummy, yummy. your WIPs are looking good.

Chris said...

You had a busy week! What a great bunch of canning.
Your Jardin Prive piece looks so lovely.

Val said...

Wow - lots of peaches Meari ! Lovely stitching ..
Val x

Anonymous said...

Meari all your canned and pickled stuff looks yummy - we are really jealous about the peaches.

Tara

Akila said...

Oh yes, I did miss you. Was surprised to find no monday update from you last week :)
The canned peaches and the cobblers look absolutely divine.
Great progress, am loving bouquets

Anonymous said...

I’m coming to your house for pickles and peaches!

Christine

Vickie said...

Oh my such bounty!! Your sampler looks lovely.

Anonymous said...

Everything looks great, Meari! I'm craving peach cobbler now!

Berly

MaryT said...

Making me hungry Meari looking at those pickles and peaches:) Beautiful stitching of course too.

Mary Louise

Melody said...

Those peaches look delicious...and I don't even like peaches, lol. Loving your progress on the sampler. Looks great!!

Anonymous said...

Wow Meari. Gorgeous peaches and great stitching!!!!! When are you giving lessons?

Debi

Pam in IL said...

That's a cute little finish you have there!

I haven't tried the refrigerator pickles yet. Might have to do that someday.

Your peach goodies look so yummy too. I bet it sure smelled good in your house.

Unknown said...

I have wanted to learn how to can and make jam for the longest time, after looking at your peaches, I know it is now the time, must stop waiting until tomorrow.

Your Sampler as always - just beautiful...

Sharon said...

What a great post, Meari! I too, LOVE pickles! (the more dill, the better!). I've never heard of refrigerator pickles - I will definitely be giving these a try! I also hate to see food go to waste - you did an amazing job putting the peaches to good use. I'm sure that at some point during all that peeling, that box of fruit did seem bottom-less.
As always, beautiful stitching!

Jo said...

Great stitching and we love peaches here. The peach cobblers look yummy .

Anonymous said...

I missed you. I love reading your blog. I love peaches. I have been search for a good peach cobbler recipe. So far no luck. None taste as good as my Grandmother's. I lost her recipe & have been searching. Your preserves look wonderful!!

Diana-Indiana

JessB said...

Wow! You are multi-talented! I am impressed with the peaches and the pickles- they look super yummy. And of course your stitching is beautiful as always. Haven't been by much, but I am catching up on my blogs now.

Gillie said...

I am popping in for some peaches and maybe even a pickle. How very satisfying, Meari, to reap all that gorgeous harvest! Great progress on your sampler too. Dill is really easy to grow except it goes to seed quickly.

Christina G said...

Nice progress on Bouquets and boy are you going to enjoy those peaches...but I'd like the pickles more!

Barb said...

Good use of all the peaches. Your peach cobbler looks delicious. Love your wip's.

Anonymous said...

Meari, you are an extraordinary person..canning! My Mom used to do it when we were growing up and still does. Your stitching looks awesome!

Teresa

Denise SA said...

I can't believe I missed that you missed posting last week my excuse is it was Eid here and very busy. Love the Sampler aux Bouquets and am intrigued by the new piece.

Rachel S-H said...

The canning looks beautiful. That is one thing I really want to learn to do.

Shelleen said...

Great progress.
I love dill pickles and peaches. MMmm.

Joy said...

Great canning!! I experimented for the first time with banana peppers and they did come out yummy! I just love Jardin Prive and do have that in my stash. Your progress is fabulous! It appears to be an ejoyable project.

Anonymous said...

Hi Meari,

I love your Sampler. I have that pattern and just haven't gotten started yet. Your pickles and peaches look wonderful. I

Just bought a peck of peaches that I plan on canning in a few days when they are soft enough. I am thinking about getting

Some for peach jam too. Just have to see how it goes.

Debby in NC

Anonymous said...

Meari -

Your stitching looks as great as usual. Your peaches look heavenly. I am sure that they will be delicious.

Marge

Carol said...

Such peachy goodness, Meari!! Your peach preserves look especially yummy... My husband is a huge peach lover, too--maybe I should learn how to can some day :)

Your little bluebird start is so cute and I love your progress on Sampler Aux Bouquets (as you know!!)...

Hope you have a relaxing and fun Labor Day weekend!

Katie said...

I LOVE dill pickles too. I've never had homemade ones though. The peaches and peachy stuff looks yummy. Your stitching looks great.

Unknown said...

Meari, I checked online for canning instructions, and making peach jam- found so many different ways - do you have a website to share with directions

groverc53@yahoo.com

valerie said...

Wow, that is a lot of peaches! You have preserves and canned peaches to last a while but that's cool! I love dill pickles too! Great progress on your Sampler Aux Bouquets!

Kay said...

You sure were busy with all of the canning that you did! My mom use to do this all of the time. I remember having to help her out every year at this time with that. You sure did keep busy!! Your stitching is beautiful! The peach cobbler looks yummy as well!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your progress on Sampler aux Bouquets. Looks like it's getting close to done?

I hope you really like peaches with all the canning that you did. I can't say I'm overly fond of them, but your cobblers look good.

Sandy in NM

Anonymous said...

All Peach preserves, canned peaches & your baked peaches look yummy. Care to share some? LOL!!! Your WIP's are looking great. I don't like pickles but yours look good.
Betty in AZ (ILCS)

Sue said...

Gosh Meari! The pickles look yummmmmo! I love dill pickles too; and all you did with those peaches!!! You are fabulous! That is a lot of work.

Your Jardin Prive' piece looks fantastic. I need to decide on a piece of fabric for mine. I am sure it will end up a huge piece!

I like your new start too! Who is the designer?

Hugs,
Sue

glenda said...

You were one busy lady! You are such a good homemaker ;) I am NOT a good homemaker, lol.

Your new start looks very pretty, so far.

Lyn said...

My grandma canned peaches every year. I never learned how. They look delicious! Congrats on your finish and youe start looks great!

Anne said...

Wow Meari! You've been a busy girl canning and stitching and stuff! Those peach preserves look amazing...I can taste them! Sampler aux Bouquets is so beautiful and nearly done!