![\"\"](\"http:\/\/beardogco.com\/WPBlog\/blogimages\/Oct16\/Cooking5187.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPickled Peppers! … pickled jalapeno peppers. I enjoy them as a garnish on many things. The vinegar-sugar brine brings out their sweet-hot flavor. <\/p>\n
A new venture: sauerkraut. I made it once before in just a water and salt solution but was not enamored of the flavor. I always have a jar of sauerkraut in the refrigerator and like the jalapenos, add a little of it to many things.<\/p>\n This new homemade batch is a recipe from Donna Schwenk\u2019s Cultured Food Life <\/font><\/a>. The recipe calls for some apple and jicama and also the addition of a culture starter to add to the good bacteria during the fermenting process. <\/p>\n Bread of course! And I processed a very small batch (13 ounces) of plums into a tiny jar of plum jam. I have become a huge fan of small batch preserves. I know that many people do large batches because they have a lot of fresh fruit that must be preserved, but I like making a jar or two as needed with whatever is in season.<\/p>\n And speaking of a lot to be preserved – I have all of those vegetables from the market! So another bit of the weekend was spent doing a bit of planning – what needed to be used first and what to do about any extra. <\/p>\n I typically plan meals very loosely around what I have and the freezer is my friend!<\/p>\n A recent acquisition to help with the freezing kind of preserving is a vacuum sealer. I had been dithering about which one and which features when Mel, of Mel\u2019s Kitchen Cafe <\/font><\/a> featured this one which is a very basic model. Since it works for her and her family of 7, I decided it would no doubt work for just me. It is very easy to use – it seals as well as vacuum-seals. Any of the vegetables that look like they MUST be used that I am unable to use will get pureed, vacuum-sealed and frozen for later use.<\/p>\n Two varieties of beans, two whole chickens … neither very photogenic – were cooked and divided up for meals and the freezer. A pumpkin and a batch of rice are also ready for this week’s eating. <\/p>\n It is to be a cool and rainy week and there is plenty on hand for a variety of soups and stews. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n