A Peek Into My Pantry

This is what my small pantry looked like, early in May. (Sorry it's blurry. I need new glasses one of these years.)



I went through (literally) a couple hundred pounds of tomatoes this year. I've made and canned plenty of tomato sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, and salsas of various heat factors. I have gotten pretty good at turning mangoes into mango salsa and mango chutney.

On a side note, I was startled by how few of my friends and family knew what mango chutney was and what you do with it once you have it. It's ohmygoodness delicious, and if nothing else goes on water crackers perfectly. I also have this phyllo dough/chicken/chutney recipe if anyone's interested.

We picked blueberries as a family at a local farm, and I made jam and blueberry syrup. We went to Plant City and picked up a few flats of delicious local strawberries which were quickly turned into jam and syrup. Next year, I will buy twice as much blueberries and strawberries. I can't wait to someday have enough land to grow all I want of each.

For much of the spring, my gigantic canning pot never went far from the stove. My hands had tiny burns and cuts and looked very ladylike, I'm sure. It was hard work.

It was worth it. Every time I look in my pantry, I smile. Every time I pop open a jar for us to use, I feel proud.