Sunday, August 30, 2009

Credenza Before & After

I finally got around to sanding, priming, "re-finishing" our cool old credenza.
The top of the credenza is a blue enamel. For the front and sides I used Behr's glaze mixed with Behr's Antique Brown over an undercoat of umber brown, for the darker panels I glazed Behr's Toffee Crunch over the Antique Brown. I "scumbled" some gold trim detail, put a layer of glaze over it, then scumbled another layer of gold over that. The pretty blue flower pulls are from Anthropologie.










Friday, August 21, 2009

Canning Time

Last year Sherm bought me a copy of "Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving"....(I know, how romantic!!) The man knows what I like, I guess. This year I've vowed to try something beyond sweet/dill cucumber pickles and beets. First effort was last nite....a mixed veggie hot pickle, looks yummy. Sitting on the couch hearing those lids popping as they sealed, fall is coming soon.
Next in the canner will be tried and true sweet pickle cukes using spice mix from Wal-Mart...then Aunt Clara's pickled beets. Last year I tried my own version of canned beets. Yesterday I dumped about a dozen large jars of flaccid, pinky-pale, inedible beets into my composter. This year I'm using Auntie's recipes....whenever Mom slips us a jar we devour them immediately.
Auntie Clara's Pickled Beets
Boil beets till tender, submerge in cold H2O, slip off skins and cut into chunks
Mix and heat to boil 2 cups sugar, 2 cups H2O, 2 cups cider vinegar
Put beets into mix and boil 10 minutes
Pour into hot jars and seal...be sure to wipe the rims of the jars before putting on lids, leave about 1/2 in head room.
Mom swears thats it.....not boiling bath necessary.