2009 September | domestic dilettante, humorless feminist shrew

No-Peel Tomato Salsa

Part of the massive canning spree a few weeks ago was putting up about nine pints of salsa. Really mild salsa, since Maura is still resistant to things that she feels are “too spicy”, but salsa nonetheless.
My initial plan was to try to can corn and black bean salsa, but since I don’t have a [...]

Raspberry Jam

I know I mentioned that a few weeks ago, we went apple picking. At the same farm, they had pick-your-own raspberries. Initially, we were picking three pints. Just three–only three. Who needs more than three pints of raspberries?
Since we planned to pick three pints, I assume that you guys have already realized that we went [...]

Autumn Grate

Even the drain covers are showing their autumn colors.

Disaster!

I had, for the most part, a shockingly productive weekend. Unlike the way things usually go, I actually finished everything that I intended to finish this weekend. I put up about ten half-pints of peach-poblano jam, two half-pints of marinated mushrooms, four quarts of dill pickles, and six half-pints of pickled purple cauliflower and onions. [...]

Sleepy Weekends

Sleepy Molly would prefer that I get my goddamn camera out of her face. Now. Before she cuts me.

Crappy picture, weird lighting, but that’s what Sundays look like around here. Ever wonder why we seem reluctant to meet you for lunch? Now you know. That’s five kitties, four on the bed, one on the windowledge. [...]

Cookie Fail

I’ve had one or two people ask why this blog is called Domestic Dilettante, since–according to them–I am crazy domestic and do wonderful things involving fruit and sugar and jars and alchemy.
To those people who are wondering, I give you this entry. Actually, I can just give you a picture. Here:

…what, that’s not enough [...]

Maple-Spice Applesauce

Last weekend, we went berry picking at Pioneer Trail Orchard, which–for those of you who are local–is out in Hiram.
The plan was to pick three pints of raspberries and a few apples. Somehow, that turned into five pints of raspberries and twenty pounds of apples. I’m not the only person who has this happen, right? [...]

Pretty Piggies

Internet. People. Friends. I have a problem. You guys have to help me.
It’s–it’s my feet. Okay? I said it. It’s my feet.
My feet are fucking disgusting. I swear less on the internet than I do in real life, so let me say that again, just for emphasis: my feet are fucking disgusting.
It’s not like [...]

Yes We Can

The crazed fit of preserving over the weekend was mostly a success. I didn’t quite finish everything I’d hoped to, but I was pretty close. I also figured out where to store everything–my kitchen’s quite small, and doesn’t have nearly enough storage room for the sort of cooking and pantry-stocking that I do.
Aside: Pantry [...]

Big Plans

This was my plan for the weekend as of Thursday night: Go to the Indians game on Friday, hang out on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, maybe tidying the guest room or the dining room.
Somehow, this is what it’s turned into: Go to the Indians game on Friday, go berry picking and apple picking Saturday, and [...]

domestic dilettante, humorless feminist shrew