I just finished putting away the latest additions to this season's puttin' up - 7 quarts of applesauce - made together with a couple of friends the other day. About 1/3 of the apples are still left, so we'll each get another couple of quarts on our own. I've already got 10 pints in the freezer, made one night while cleaning the dinner dishes. Didn't impact my life too much in exchange for the wide smiles on my kids' faces when served homemade applesauce.
As I glanced into my little canning cupboard, I felt pride, satisfaction and a sense of being part of an age-old tradition. Do I spend entire weekends shucking and blanching corn? Doesn't suit my personality. Do I enjoy pulling out a special jar of this or a freezer container of that when we're weary of the roots of winter - absolutely. I've come to view food preservation more as a way to have a small pantry of convenience foods rather than a tedious obligation that takes me away from enjoying summer with friends and family. Now let's face it, we have more food choices than the times when you had to put up the bounty or it was a cruel, hungry winter. So this year, consider getting rid of the guilt, do what you're in the mood to do, and you'll enjoy every mouthful on that cold, gloomy January day. No matter what.
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