My "Half"

When Eric's mom got the call for the annual Utah fruit harvest shippments, she asked if I wanted half of the peaches. Half a box of fresh peaches, for FREE, of course. I like to make freezer jam, and freeze sliced peaches in a simple syrup. My mother-in-law gets fruit every year, and, since we've been here, she has shared with me. I am usually able to make one batch of freezer jam (about 7 1/2 pt containers, or 3-4 pt containers) and 4 qt sized freezer bags of sliced peaches. And then as strawberries go on sale (10 for $10), I like to make a batch of strawberry jam too. This was not a typical year.

The peaches came in last Saturday in their usual box (bigger than a Guittard box). Eric's mom again told me that half were mine this year (I usually get a very full grocery bag full). I was happy to be getting more this year. They needed a few days in their box to fully ripen, and then I could get mine. I should have been a little wary when I called on Wednesday (I forgot to get them Monday night), and mom said that it was a good thing I called as she had totally forgotten about the peaches. Ashelee brought the peaches by last evening before her class. I was a little surprised to see her with THE BOX, but that was nothing compared to what I found inside. No, not half the peaches, but almost all of the peaches, and one lone box of pectin. I think mom took 5 or 6 peaches out, but that was it.

The real shocker came when I felt the peaches, and realized that it was right NOW for canning, or I would loose the peaches (I had to toss 3 or 4 that were bad). I only had 8 1/2 pt, and 1-1 pt containers, and no freezer bags, and I had just gotten 4 things of strawberries at the store for my other jam. So, after a quick dinner, I was off to Target and then the grocery store for more pectin, freezer bags, canning jars, and a new peeler. From 7:30-9:30 I peeled, pitted, sliced, chopped, stirred, cooked pectin and simple syrup, canned and bagged lots, and lots, and lots of peaches. At 9:30 I sent Eric back to the grocery store for more pint sized jars. I, unfortunately, had saved the pectin that has to sit for 30 minutes for the batch that was made at 10 pm. We went to bed at 11 pm (we usually go to bed at 10 pm). I left 9 peaches out to eat (2 of which were eaten with last night's dinner). I now face 9 quart sized bags of frozen, sliced peaches, 6 pint jars, and 17-1/2 pint jars of peach freezer jam. And I still need to do my batch of strawberry jam. Do you have any extra toast?