Cabin Invite Thank You Care Package

I'm getting things ready to go to my sister and brother-in-law's cabin for Labor Day weekend.  We always have such a fun time there.  I can't wait for some fun and relaxing time.  I know the rest of my family is looking forward to it too!

One thing I like to do whenever we're invited to stay at someone's cabin is bring a care package as a thank you gift.  This time is no exception.  On my way home from work today (oh, by the way, I was let go from my job today........some day I may blog about it but I'm not ready yet), I stopped by WalMart and got things ready for my cabin care package.  Sorry that the pictures aren't great but you should still be able to get the idea.

I started with paper products:  paper towels, toilet paper and kleenex.  Having a family of 5 visit?  We go through a fair amount of paper!

 Next, I added washing products:  dishwasher detergent, dish soap and hand soap.

I also added some bright napkins in the color of the cabin interior:  green and yellow.

Lastly, I'm working on embroidering a dishtowel and knitting a washcloth.  The dishtowel has a sailboat and lighthouse on it (I know Lake Koronis doesn't have lighthouse but it's water-themed none the less).  The washcloth is bright yellow to go with the kitchen colors.  I always like to give something handmade.  Now that I don't have a job, I will definitely be able to finish these by Friday!!!

I will put them all in a gift bag and my daughter is busy making a thank you note.  It's just a simple way to say how grateful we are to be invited and we're hoping to be invited again!!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."  -William Arthur Ward

Apple Butter

I started this project yesterday and finished it up this morning.  This project used the apples from yesterday's apple jelly recipe.  This is a recipe for apple butter.  It uses a crockpot.

And lots of apples (12 to 13 pounds filling the crockpot to about an inch from the top)......

that are cored, peeled and diced.

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar,

3/4 cup brown sugar,

3 teaspoons cinnamon,

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg,

2 teaspoons vanilla,

and 4 Tablespoons pancake syrup.

Mix it thoroughly and add the apples.  Stir to coat all of the apples.

Pour this mixture into the crockpot.

Cook on high until the apples start to boil and become soft.

Turn it to low and cook stirring occasionally until it becomes very thick and the apples turn "mushy".  I used a potato masher to break up any larger apple pieces.  You can also put this mixture through a sieve to give the apple butter a smooth consistency.  Just be careful because it will be very hot!

Put the apple butter into sterilized jars (get the jars, lids and rings very hot in a pot for a short time).  Fill the jars to a about 1/4" from the top.

Make sure the edges and rim of the jars are wiped clean.

Cover the jars with sterilized lids and rings.

Put the jars into a hot water bath for about 5 minutes.  Remove and put on a counter top to dry and finish sealing.  I usually cover mine with a clean white towel.

This apple butter tastes great on toast.  Make sure the apple butter is completely cool before you use it and once the jar is open, store it in the refrigerator.  If you have any jars that don't seal, put them directly into the refrigerator.

"It’s hard to find any apple butter, let alone good apple butter in the grocery store these days. Making apple butter is a great way to preserve the fruits of an apple harvest. In contrast to what the name implies, there is no “butter” in apple butter. The name comes from its smooth and buttery texture."  -Simply Recipes

Apple Jelly?

I should have taken a picture of my kitchen from earlier today.  It looked like the canning fairy had come and forgotten to finish up her work.  I had jars and lids and apples and towels and tongs and pots and sugar and an occasional pizza pan (teenage boys still need to eat) all over the place.  Every counter space was filled.  It's still a little messy......but now it's an organized mess.

My main objective today was dealing with the apples my parents had sent home with me last weekend.  My daughter had made a big dent in my supply by eating 2 or 3 of them a night but the bag was still overflowing.  I began the process of making apple butter and a tried a new challenge......apple jelly.

I was at my knitting group on Tuesday talking about making applesauce and apple butter.  One of the women in my group talked about her very southern Mama, she grew up in Alabama, doing the same but then making apple jelly with the apple discards - the peels and cores.  I thought I'd do a little research and do the same.

The first thing I did was wash the apples.  They looked so pretty!  Imagine a whole tree of these gems!

Then I cored and peeled them.  I have this great tool from a local apple orchard that cores the apple.

Next I peeled, sliced and diced the apple.

I added the diced apples to the crockpot for apple butter and I added the cores and peels to a stockpot for the apple jelly.

I peeled a lot of apples......

To the stock pot full of apple cores and peels, I added 6 cups of apple juice.

I let this mixture come to a boil and then simmer for about 30 minutes then I remove it from the heat.  While it was cooking, I prepared my equipment for the next step.  I took a funnel, a large glass vessel and a sterilized piece of cloth and put them together.

I ladled the apple peel/core/juice mixture onto my cloth/glass creation and pressed gently to allow the juice to pass through.

While I was preparing the jelly, I was also preparing the lids and bands in a hot water bath.

I put all of the juice into a large stock pot.

Here's where the recipe gets a little "dicey".  I only added 5 cups of sugar because my apples were so sweet.  Many recipes call for up to 9 cups of sugar.....this may be an issue later.

And to this I added a package of Pectin.

With two cinnamon sticks, this mixture was ready to boil.

I let it boil until the pectin and sugar were dissolved then I ladled it into my jars and sealed them with the boiled lids and bands.  I put them in a hot water bath for about 5 minutes.

I moved them with tongs to a clean white towel to finish sealing.

Lots of sealing/popping going on.  I'll either have great apple jelly or a tasty apple syrup in the morning!

As of now......10 hours after I started the process, all jars have sealed and the mixture is getting thicker.......jelly-like.

I hope what you're taking away from my day in the kitchen today is it is not necessarily the recipe but the process.  Don't be afraid of taking risks.  If my jelly doesn't "set up" it will make awesome homemade pancake syrup or a sugar substitute for oil/sugar in another recipe.  My kids all made comments on how wonderful the house smelled.  My 14 year old son coming out of his room to see what smelled so good and how soon he could eat it is quite a compliment!  Tonight when my kids go to bed, it will smell like apple/cinnamon.......a homey smell.  So apple jelly or apple syrup.....it's all good!

 "Even if I knew the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."  -Martin Luther