Memorial Day

Product Downsizing

I wonder how many people notice when things are downsized yet still command the same price.  Maybe on purchases that you do not make every week or even every month.  Where I shop they do not sell cooking Sherry so I go somewhere else and buy a few bottles at a time.  Since I use the same brand for a couple of things I think my next purchases will be made at a liquor store at a better quality.

My older bottle is 16 FL. OZ., while the one on the right is 13.1 FL.OZ.  I know that product downsizing is nothing new but it is still disappointing just the same.  I would rather pay more for a better quality than to be downsized at the same price.

Relish

While on the way back from the weekly food shopping trip my husband asked me when was the last time I canned relish.  It had been a while due to the decrease in garden size most relishes are made with cheap ingredients.  My neighbors behind us have a huge garden and they are done picking in June regardless of what continues to grow so we are able to glean from them.  People at church, the local farmers market and a man who comes to my work with flats of fruits and vegetable should be able to see us through also until we increase the garden again.  

Zucchini Relish (two days) 6pts

10 cups peeled and finely chopped small zucchini

6 - 8 bell peppers seeded and finely chopped

4 large onions or 6 small finely chopped

1/2 cup salt

2 1/2 cups white vinegar

4 cups white sugar

2 T cornstarch

1 t ground nutmeg

1 t turmeric

2 t celery seed

1/2 t ground black pepper

Put all your chopped vegetables in a stainless steel bowl or a crockery bowl.  Cover with salt and place a weighted plate on top to keep them in the brine.  Let sit overnight.

Rinse in cold water and squeeze out excess liquid by hand.  Mix your cornstarch and seasonings and add to the white vinegar in a large pot.  Heat until boiling and once the sugar has dissolved add vegetables and simmer for 30 minutes.

Pour into clean, hot, sterilized jars and process for 10 minutes in water bath canner (185F). Complete seals.

Tomatoes

I am always excited when the tomatoes start coming.  That is when the real work starts, stink bugs will follow soon after.  Our garden is a lot smaller than in years past but we plan to extend it more next year.  We had lost one of our beds due to a tree, then had to take the tree down anyway.