Putting Corn By

I am canning and putting food by, all this week. Mother Nature knew this was going to begin the craziest week in my life (important meetings (3), school starts, student teaching starts, Eddy starts 4th grade, Baby Gnat starts new baby sitter, and Anti Hippie leaves for his 2 week AT with the Navy) so she decides that it is time for Earthy Birthy to harvest her garden. Every time I walk near the garden, I see more ripe tomatoes. I will be canning those bad boys tomorrow. But tonight I put some fresh sweet corn by. The title of this post and the idea of putting food by came from this book probably the BEST book for canning and putting food by ever written.
When I was a little girl, I always helped Ma and Pa Kettle (new names for Crabby Patty and Red Green) harvest the garden. When I was older I not only got to harvest but stay up and help put food by, I remember one really hot summer and Pa was gone and Ma and I canned 35 quarts of tomatoes and it was so hot by the end of the night I was in my bra peeling and coring tomatoes. That was way before children and way before they moved out to the prairie.
This year with the cost of food, I thought that I might put some food by, I always can tomatoes but this year I have sort of a bumper crop of corn so tonight I put 7 cups of corn by, and come next January when the nights are cold, I will get to enjoy the fruits of my labor.


Three rows of Illini Sweet corn behind the 'tall as can be' sun flowers [aka the tall as fuck sun flowers].

Shucked corn cleaned in sink, waiting for water on stove to boil.
Said water getting ready to boil, you wouldn't know it but boiling water makes for a hot kitchen.
Supplies: sharp knife, water for hydration, wine for libation, and cookbook for the blanching times, as I cannot find my copy of Putting Food By.

Corn in water 'returning' to boil.
Corn out of boiling water and into cold water to cool rapidly.
7 cups of corn in freezer waiting for January and the next batch due later this week.

I know I blog about how much my Ma drives me crazy, but she did teach me important lessons in her kitchen and in her garden. I am proud that I can Put Food By and that I learned how to do it from her. If you want to help out tomorrow with the tomatoes let me know, I have two sharp pairing knives and some cold beers to share.