Canning and More Ducks

 No, not canning ducks  just more ducks! But I would can ducks if we liked to eat ducks but we don't,so no canned ducks today! Just because the garden is mostly done does not mean there is no canning going on in my kitchen! When ever I find good deals on fruits and veggies I buy them up in bulk and can them.Yesterday they had a whole bunch of mushrooms marked down for quick sale. Now, you do have to inspect marked down mushrooms because sometimes they are...fuzzy! These looked really good so I bought them all,8 packages. Mushrooms are easy to can,but they shrink a lot so if you can only get one or two packs you may not feel it is worth getting out the canner for. They must be pressure canned but you have to do very little to them.Wash them, sliced them if you want and boil for 5 minutes pack in jars and process 45 minutes.

I always wash my mushrooms.Oh,I know those fancy chefs say just brush them off and never wash them.Well... I will tell you,as a gardener who has used that wonderful garden gold, mushroom compost, I am washing my mushrooms!  I know what those little pieces of "dirt" really are! If you have never used mushroom compost let me tell you,it stinks so bad you can barely breath when it is fresh! Literally it smells as bad as an outhouse in the Texas summer time! And yes,I do know what and outhouse in the Texas summertime smells like! Some of you may be thinking port-a-potty. Nope, a port-a potty is like a golden throne compared to a real out house! When I was a girl my great grandparents still used an outhouse. I just know you all want to know what that was like,so I will tell you. First off all the grown ups tell you to watch for snakes and get a big stick to run around the hole in case of spiders! While you are holding you breath and watching for snakes poking the hole for spiders and  still trying to hold your breath and sweating like crazy, Texas summer time remember, looking for these deadly creatures all the while trying not to glimpse down the hole that is withering and alive with, I don't know,a gazillion maggots and praying that if a snake or spider does get you you do not fall down the hole....ahhh child hood memories! Thank you tho who ever invented the indoor toilet!  Gosh, see how easily I get sidetracked!  Back to mushrooms! When ever I can mushrooms I also can the broth that was leftover after their 5 minute boil. It just smells too good to waste!  It is very good when you are cooking meat in the crock pot,or to put in a soup or when you are making gravy.

I always try to save things I need to do that day in the kitchen for when I have to be in there watching the canner.

While my mushrooms were going I cut up some bananas and dipped them in coconut and put them in the dehydrator.

A terrific idea I got from my buddy TEXAN! I then cut up 2 fresh pineapples that will go in to the dehydrator after the bananas. Then I shredded 2 heads of cabbage and salted and seasoned it for Kraut. If you have never tried making your own kraut you should! It is sooo good and good for you because of the  fermentation that has all those lovely good for you bacteria in it! Plus you can season it how you like. Put in some hot peppers...onions...what ever spice you like! I have tried several flavors but my favorite is with dill and celery seed.  I love it in the hot summer time,cold and crisp and salty,yumm!

Now here is where the duck part comes in! Crazy Daisy Jr. hatched out yet another batch of babies! Crazy Daisy Jr. has got to be the most baby hatching  duck we have ever had!

 

 Anyone want some ducks?!?!