Preparing Summer Squash for the freezer!

The whole reason (well, honestly, one reason) I wanted to do a garden was so that we could have lot’s of healthy, homegrown veggies for the freezer.  Nothing like making soups and stews and other foods from your summer garden during the Fall and Winter months.

We have had our fill of summer squash, so I decided I better get some processed before it went bad.  We have 2 crookneck squash and 2 goldbar squash that are really pumping out the produce!  My zucchini on the other hand…..well, I'm slightly disappointed.  I hope to have better luck next year!

When doing this process it’s easiest to do batches.  And use just picked produce.  What I have showing in this picture made 9 different batches.  Had I had more fresh squash available I would have done more.  I will be doing this again soon!

First thing I did was wash everything off.  No dirt left on it. 

Then I sliced it up into about 1/2 inch slices. 

It then went into a boiling pot of water.  I blanched it for 3 minutes.  The reason I blanch it is because all vegetables and fruit have enzymes and bacteria that in time will break down.  It will destroy the nutrients, color, flavor and texture while being frozen.  Blanching squash destroys the enzymes. 
Cover your pot while blanching. 

Now here is where I got busy and forgot to take pictures!  Once your 3 minutes of blanching is over, remove your squash with a slotted spoon and place it in a bowl of ice water.  The ice water stops the squash from cooking more.  Leave it in for about 5 minutes or until cold.  After doing this with 2-3 batches of squash I had to dump out some water from the bowl and add more ice.

Same with the boiling water.  After about 3 batches I needed to add more warm water.

Once the squash was done with it’s ice bath, I removed it from the ice bowl to a smaller bowl that had a strainer over it.  This way the water could leak out and it wouldn’t be so wet when I went to place it in baggies. 

This is when I wish I had a vacuum sealer!  Someday.  But for now I just bagged up 1-3 squash, enough for a soup or something in individual baggies, then put 4-5 of those bags into a freezer bag.  And, because I'm cheap I like to put a paper label in with the name, date processed and date of “expiration” on it.  I say “expiration” because depending on how it’s frozen it can stay good for 5-14 months.  It doesn’t go bad, it will just start to lose some of it’s taste.

It was very easy and a pretty clean project.  So much easier than canning!

   Bobbi

They are named!

 

Introducing……….

Gypsy Bell’s Meadow Jewel. 
We needed a “fancy” name for her registration papers.

We will call her Meadow.

Figaro.  Also known as “Figgy”.  I love coming down the hill singing “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro”  and Maggie is loving singing “Gettin’ Figgy wit it.”  The name fits him to a “t”.

We are enjoying Figgy and Meadow and their mama Gypsy more than we could have imagined!

On My Mind……

 

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to down---to---earth. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, go back and add at down---to---earth, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.
Thank you Rhonda Jean for another On My Mind!

This is a sunflower that Maggie started at school during a gardening project.  We brought it home as a little pole with a few small leaves on it.  It has grown and just opened up a few days ago!  Our sweet honey bees have found it.  If you look closely, you can see two of them!  What’s On My Mind is the lovely honey they will supply us with next Spring/Summer!

Chickpea Frittata

Yes folks, another recipe!  I have been doing a bit more baking/cooking again.  I get in those moods where I want to do all the cooking.  I don’t get to do much cooking because Chris enjoys it so much.  He doesn’t like baking, so I score there every time!  It is nice to make dinner for your family, sit at the table and enjoy. 

I was surfing the internet and happened upon an interesting recipe, which you can find here on My Recession Kitchen.  The picture grabbed me and the simplicity of the recipe nailed it.  I had to try it.  So we asked our friends, James and Laura over for dinner and we sat down at the table outside for a surprise dinner.  I am happy to say that we all loved it.  And it was so filling! 

I added in mushrooms, onion, summer squash, broccoli, carrots and rosemary. 

I assumed it was going to be good, so I made a double recipe and have the second in the freezer for another night.  One thing that I will do different next time is, put the veggies on top of the frittata like the picture on My Recession Kitchen.  It was super yummy how I had it, but the veggies made it a bit softer.  I think if they had not been put in the frittata would have had a baked cornmeal consistency.  But it was still an awesome, healthy dish! 

Laura made some yummy, quick pickled cucumbers (from our garden) and some yummy green beans with lots of garlic and almonds.  What a nice dinner.  So many healthy vegetables!

If you are looking for a little something different, mild tasting and a major comfort food, this is it!

Meet Gypsy and her family!

They arrived at our house this morning about 10:00.  I was so excited I couldn’t hardly sit still while waiting for them.  I kept looking out the window, pacing back and forth,  they weren’t getting here fast enough.  I woke up at 2am, again at 4 and then was finally up and out of bed at 7.  It was a long morning!  lol

They are Nigerian Dwarf goats.

Mama is 2 years old.  Babies will be 3 months in a few days.  They are gorgeous and sweet!  Mama is barely taller than my knee caps!  We are in absolute love.  Gypsy is so relaxed and gentle, and has a major cookie habit!

Little piggies babies and their mama!

Baby Girl.  She was named Jewels by her previous owner.  And is a strong possibility that she will keep it.  But other possible names we like are Meadow, Willow and Autumn.  We are just waiting a few days to see “who” she is before committing.

Baby Boy.  Oh boy!  This guy is a spitfire!  We are trying to find something that really captures his personality.  His name now is Romeo, but I had a family member I wasn’t too keen on by that name, so it has to go.  No idea yet what it will be.  Has to be something that screams “personality” though.  Chris’ suggestion was King Jack of Assville.  Which is very, very fitting, but then that would make our farm “Assville” and I’m not sure I want that!  lol

Big Mama—Gypsy.  She is already snuggling up to me.  I have found her sweet spot on her neck.  That made me A-OK in her book!

Playing on top of their new house

Who would think goats could bring so much pleasure!

And Pam, the woman we bought them from is an amazing woman.  Our family has so much in common with her.  I am glad that this has brought us a new, amazing friend!  We are looking forward to getting to know her better!

I have wanted Nigerian Dwarf goats for.ever!  So today feels like Christmas, Birthday and every other holiday rolled into one!

Today was a good day!