More rhubarb

While chained to the stove today, I was able to do other tasks that might come in handy if “someone” has her calf!  Ooops – I’m talking about it!

♥  Boiled a kettle of potatoes in their jackets for hash browns, these will keep in the fridge for 4 or 5 days.  Very handy, just saute a little garlic/onion and grate a potato and you’ve got hash browns!

♥  Made a rhubarb cake – recipe follows.

♥  Washed, and dried canning rings in the while the oven was still warm.

♥  Seasoned my cast iron pans while the oven was still warm.

♥  Made up enough pork/beef breakfast sausage for 2 weeks worth of breakfasts.

♥  Made up more chicken cheese.

♥  Cleaned, labeled, put away the 14 qts of juice I canned last night.

♥  Got out more jars for tonight’s canning marathon.

I’m a stay in the lines kind of gal.

Total yield will be 32 qts of juice.  Not bad for 70# of rhubarb.  When I was finished juicing, I put all the pulp back through, just to see if I was losing any liquid by taking it out of the steamer too soon.  I got 1 more pint.  So, not too bad. 

Canning tips I thought of today: 
♥  Have enough rings on hand for the entire project.  They should stay on the jars for at least 12 hours.

♥  Keep a tea kettle of boiling water handy, you can replenish the juicer without losing any time.

♥  Wear closed toe shoes!

Oregon Apple Cake  from the Grange Dessert Cookbook
(Substitute any fruit for apple)
This cake is moist, and dense like blond brownies.
1/2 c butter          
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c flour
1/2 t salt
2 t soda
1 t cinnamon
2 c fresh apples, diced
1 c nuts
2 t vanilla
Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla.  Add sifted flour, salt, soda and cinnamon.  Stir in fruit and nuts.  Bake in 9 x 13 pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
If dough seems too stiff add 1/4 c milk. 

This won’t last long.

 After picking

This rhubarb needs thinning, you can tell by the small stalks.  I will divide it next winter.  I’ve left enough for it to regenerate.  We’ll be able to pick from this all summer.

Just for fun – Della wants to help with the plow pan!