Zucchini Pineapple

What a great and easy canning recipe!

This is my first year making zucchini pineapple, but the smell in my kitchen from it was incredible.

I don't know about you, but I honestly think I could throw zucchini seeds just about anywhere and still end up with a ton of zucchini.  It just grows so easily.

And if you're anything like me, sometimes you lose track of a zucchini or three and next thing you know, they're as big as baseball bats.  Not much good for tiella or any other great recipe. 

But they are good for canning.  And this is just the recipe - zucchini pineapple. 

Here's what you'll need:

8-9 cups of zucchini, peeled and cubed small
3 cups of sugar
1 cup of lemon juice
2 46oz cans of unsweetened pineapple juice

Add all the ingredients to a large stock pot and bring to a simmer.  Let cook down until the zucchini is semi-soft.  Ladle into prepared jars - I used pints.  Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. 

Use in the place of pineapple in recipes. 

Let me tell you how I really feel about that.....

Those of you with me from the beginning of my blogging escapades all those many months ago will remember Ronnie's foray into the wonderful world of beekeeping. 

Ronnie has forged ahead with his new hobby, even joining the Marion County Beekeepers Association.  For the bargain price of $12, you can not only be an official member of this local group, you are also a member of the state beekeeping hullabaloo.

We  He received his newsletter in the mail today listing all the various classes and (wait for it) bee expos going on in the state. 

He's very excited for the six week course being offered locally.  He's looking forward to learning ways to get more honey from his hives.

I pointed out that the class I'm planning to teach is missing.

What class is that, you ask?

Aqua Net & a lighter :  A beginner's guide to getting your hunny out of his hives.

I think it's a winner.

Please don't think I'm being disrespectful.  Ronnie knows I have no love for the bees, but lots and lots of love for him....and so I put up with the bees.

Ronnie's Honey is Here!

That's right.  The bees have made honey already. 
Have a look.

OK, I have to admit that it is really great honey. 

I really like it.

Even if it came from the bees.

They're here.

Despite dragging my feet for almost 2 years.....we are now the proud owners of approximately 48,000 bees.

Here's a photo tour of Ronnie's trip:

Ronnie arrives and unloads his empty hives.

The only picture of Zelda without her bee suit!

Transferring the frames.

This is what the frame looks like.  The queen is the one with the white dot on her head.

                                                               

Back at our bee yard.  You'll notice it's not as pretty as Zelda's.  Ronnie didn't want to mow.  The fence is there because I didn't want the neighbors to go crazy.

And there you have it.  Bees.

Ronnie says he bets I'll end up liking the bees.

I wouldn't take that bet.

Charli 

Updates on the week.

Well, our bee adventure has begun.  Ronnie is officially on his way to Ripley to pick up his bees.  When I asked him to make sure his Dad got a picture of he & Zelda getting the bees. he asked "Why? Because you've never met anyone named Zelda?".  Um, No.  Because she is Zelda the bee lady and I want to see her. 


So now it's 4:30am and I can't sleep.  I thought I would let you know what I think of the freezer cooking.  I have to say, it's been great.  It was well worth the initial effort.   I really believe it's the reason we haven't been eating out.  There is always something in the freezer ready to go.  I've had no issues with freezer burn - everything has stayed well wrapped in there. 
Here what I will do differently the next time:

• Label better - If I had more meals, I think I would have forgotten what was what in the freezer.  I'm going to try a fat sharpie the next time.
• Use real baking dishes instead of disposable.  I'm going to look for cheap baking dishes at yard sales this summer for freezer cooking.
• Change how I make the garlic bread.  The recipe is great, but when it's cooked it's a little soggy.  Next time I'm going to pop it under the broiler after it's baked to crisp it up a little.  
• Make more french toast.  This was a morning lifesaver and probably Ronnie & the boys favorite thing.  I liked that I just had to throw it in the oven for 20 minutes from frozen and it was ready to go.  
• I'm also going to look in the Bulletin Board and check store sales for a small freezer.  My big upright is still very full with the cow & deer.  Don't get me wrong, we are making a big dent in it, but we also have another cow in the field right now and I'm hoping to have a pig butchered this year.  I'd like to have a small chest freezer dedicated to my month of meals and extras like milk & bread.

I know without a doubt, I've saved at least $100 this month with freezer cooking, just from not eating out as much.  I also haven't gone to the store as often, which has to be a savings.  Let's face it, no matter how disciplined you are, it's really hard not to pick up a little something extra at the store.  Another thing that I really like is that I have less to clean up, because I did that when I was making the meals.  For the most part, it's just a baking dish, grill pan or cookie sheet and the table settings.

Conclusion:  I like freezer cooking and will definitely do it again.

Check back later for an update on Ronnie's bee adventures!

Charli

The Bees are Coming! The Bees are Coming!

Ronnie got the call today. Actually, I got the call first, as he was working at the trailer park. The lovely little bee lady, Zelda, told me the bees would be ready by the 19th or 20th. WHAT?! I was momentarily tempted to offer her 1/2 of what Ronnie is paying her to tell him the bees met an unfortunate end. But then I remembered that I love my husband and that would be a very bad thing. Right? Right. She then proceeded to ask me questions about our "bee houses" - my words, not hers - and I promptly admitted my bee ignorance and told her Ronnie would call her back.
Needless to say, Ronnie was excited when he hung up from talking to Zelda, the bee lady. He asked if I would take pictures of him putting his bees into the hive. He thinks it will be great for my blog.
I agree.

We're doing what?

Sometime over the past couple years, Ronnie & I started getting Mother Earth News. Lots of neat info about baking your own bread, gardening tips, composting, solar thingys...you know, stuff like that. Somewhere in that time, we read about the plight of the honeybee. Poor honeybees. All the chemicals we use are killing them. I was actually already quite aware of this having watched "The Bee Movie" in like 2007 or 2008. (Unfortunatly, a large majority of my knowledge is from movies). I was more than happy to quit using so many chemicals and considered that move a job well done. Ronnie, however, had to stew on this bee dilema for a while. Periodically over the past year, I'd notice videos about bees on our browser or articles left up. Finally the time had come. He took his beekeepers class last fall and another class from our old Jr. High teacher Mr. Keyes a couple of weeks ago. The hives are assembled and his little space suit is hanging on the back of our bedroom door. We anxiously await our call to pick up the bees this week.




He assures me our garden will be "awesome" this year.




He assures me we really won't notice them.




He assures me the neighbors will not form a lynch mob.




I am assured that he loves me and does have our best interest at heart.




About the bees.....we'll see.