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Thankful but Tired

 Canning season for sauces has been successful this year.  My house has smelled amazing, and we have restocked some barbeque sauce and taco sauce.  Yes, I am tired, but don't read that as a complaint.  We are very thankful for the harvest this year.  As of now, I have not canned any new recipes.



Although, I had planned to can every day, I did take a day off in between.  I needed to harvest cucumbers, green beans, and such.  I have dedicated a small storage container for "canning" kitchen towels/hot pads now.  Those tomato stains can be frustrating to wash out completely, so I'm a bit more organized with that.

I am thankful this year, as I had some help this year from my husband.  I typically can during the week when he is at work, but canned on the weekend.  He helped do the chopping, and I'm glad it happened.  He was totally shocked at how many ingredients went into some of the sauces.  For example, there is a lot of celery, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos and garlic that goes into the BBQ sauce.  Now he really appreciates the canning.  He now understands why I always want extra bell peppers, garlic, jalapenos etc. planted in the garden for these recipes too.

I have picked some very easy crochet patterns to work on (I needed something that did not require much thought or brain power), while sauces/soups reduce in the kitchen.  I'll be back to share those.  In reality, I should be working on my writing during those moments, but decisions were made ha ha!  Yes, my house is a total wreck, but it's temporary, and always expected during tomato season, harvest season or whatever you want to call it.

Jokes on us.  I started to purge and re-organize our utility room (where all my canning supplies are stored as well), and had to abandon that job with the harvest season rolling in.  In the process of cleaning, I lost the crevice nozzle to our sweeper.  We literally looked high and low, looked in the same places more than two times, and could not find it.  I had to order a new one.  I might need to brew up some "memory" tea next.

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Comments

Pam said…
hi, wondering what taco sauce recipe you use. I am looking for one that is mild
September 13, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Pam, the one I use is made with a cup of chopped (seeded) jalapenos. It depends on how hot your hot peppers are. I'll have to see if I wrote down what library book I got the recipe from.
September 14, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Anne in the kitchen said…
I love home canned items, but I do not envy your time it takes to make all this deliciousness.
September 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Anne in the kitchen, it is good food, but man it's tiring. My kids hated me for growing a garden. Literally. Only came around to ask for the final goods. I do it all mostly by myself, but this year with some help with my husband.
September 14, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Far Side of Fifty said…
After a certain age everything takes longer!
September 14, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Far Side of Fifty, ha ha ha! You are right about that!
September 15, 2026 at 8:33 AM
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