Thursday, April 18, 2013

Nearing the Bottom of the Barrel

Not really.  Don't worry about us, it's not like we're running out of food or anything close to that.  But these days I do find myself grabbing the last bag of one thing or another out of the freezer.  (Like the frozen peas I blogged about a couple of days ago.)


Or tonight when I opened the very last jar of canned raspberries to dribble over a small dish of vanilla ice cream for dessert.  The Very. Last. Jar!  Waaah.

However, I do have a couple/three gallons of frozen raspberries lurking in the freezer, and I think I'm going to can them.  This winter we ate more canned raspberries (think about having them on oatmeal in the morning . . . oh, so good!) than frozen ones.


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I worked in my pantry for a few hours this afternoon.  It seemed like a good time for spring cleaning in there.  It wasn't too much of a mess, but as in so many instances, once I cleaned, sorted and organized I found I had a lot more room than I thought!  Plus, a bonus was that I got ideas for many menus while going through all the goodies in there.  (It also made me really hungry!)

* * * * * * * *

We got about 2" of new snow last night with 8" more forecast for tonight.  It's been snowing quite hard for a couple of hours now and we have about 2" already.  These April snows have been very wet and heavy.  They coat every twig and branch turning the landscape into an awesome picture.  That is until it all starts to melt and turn everything into slushy mud.  (Now, I ask.  Who in the world likes slushy mud?)  Watching the snow come down so steadily (almost hypnotically) before dinner lulled me into a trance-like state so I thought I might have to take a nap before cooking.

Now dinner is over and I must go tackle those dishes waiting for me.  Then . . . well, it seems like a perfect night to curl up on the couch with a book or Netflix DVD.  Papa Pea is happily into his latest research project on the computer so if you want, you're welcome to join me. 

Addendum:  


Shot of nannyberry tree off the side of our deck.  Taken at 8:45 p.m. -- a few minutes ago.  

16 comments:

Freedom Acres Farm said...

Beautiful night time picture!! Those are hard to do. Guess you'll have to up your canning totals for 2013 eh? I canned blueberries and cherries this year. All the raspberries I made into jam - might have to remember to can some of them babies!

Jennifer Jo said...

I love that last picture! It's beautiful, in a spooky sort of way.

And I'm SO jealous of your ice cream and raspberries. I miss good ice cream.

Michelle said...

We don't have snow thankfully. But it looks like the unexpected freeze last night killed my zucchini and potatoes. I think the potatoes may come back. I am not holding my breath on the zucchini. I have two jars of apple pie filling left. I am saving them for a special occasion .

Sparkless said...

Oh wow you are sure getting hit with an unusual amount of snow so late in the season. But as you've said before, you need the moisture so it's all good. Well, except for the slushy mud of course, that's just plain nasty stuff. Here's hoping it all melts without any flooding and spring finally arrives. I'm on my last bag of frozen blueberries. Our raspberries have been long gone. We ate them all in smoothies and over yogurt.

Sue said...

You didn't take a picture of the spiffed up pantry????? There ARE people in the world that LOVE to look at your SCALLOPY Shelves!!!
Sigh...........

LindaCO said...

Yum on those canned raspberries. That looks delish.

Mama Pea said...

Freedom Acres Farm - I'm definitely gonna can more of the raspberries this coming season. I'm the only one who likes raspberry jam so I can't use many of them for that. We sure do eat A LOT of raspberries fresh though!

Mama Pea said...

JJ - I thought the way the branches of the tree were bent over gave it a pleading, wailing, spooky look, too!

I can understand how you must miss ice cream, but oh my, all that luscious fresh, fresh fruit you have right now! That sounds better to me than ice cream.

Mama Pea said...

Michelle - Ooops. I'll bet your zucchini is done for, too. Sorry.

Isn't it funny how when we get down to the very last of something put by, we hesitate using it? We should just gobble it up and celebrate!

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - I had thought we'd use more of the frozen raspberries in smoothies over winter, but smoothies just aren't as appetizing in the winter as they are in warmer weather.

I think our soil is still dry enough that it can handle all this moisture in the form of snow. The snow has a lot more chance of soaking in than rain, that's for sure.

Mama Pea said...

Sue - You are so silly! I shall have to make a point of sending you some scallopy pictures soon!

Mama Pea said...

LindaCO - I don't know what it is about the canned raspberries (I do them in a very light syrup), but they sure do have a wonderful flavor! ('Course, the ice cream probably doesn't hurt either.)

Erin said...

that is a great photo of the tree, but I wish you could say you took it a month ago! I am in awe of your winter weather this year... even back home in Southern MN they are still just swamped with the white stuff, ugh! Severe weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow so I think I will clean my "pantry" area and freezers!

Akannie said...

Oh yeah...I need to get into my pantry too...sigh. I know what you mean...in the freezer I have maybe 4 bags of edamame left, and just bits and bobs of other things. TYhe Asparagus has been gone a while. lol In the pantry I am down to my last 8 jars of green beans...a few jars of salsa and tomatoes.

I agree--gobble them up and celebrate !!!

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Frankly, my dear, I'll take our "severe" weather rather than what you have to deal with where you are now!

Mama Pea said...

Akannie - Yep, when we get this close to another gardening season, it's time to loosen the death grip on stuff we feared we'll run out of. You had asparagus in the freezer? Oh, how wonderful! The darn stuff is not so easy to grow up here.