Preserving in the Winter and Crafting Classes

I really slowed down on this blog once canning season ended, but realized it does not just have to be about food preservation in that sense. This insight occurred to me in particular as I was deciding what to do with 5 pounds of organic meyer lemons. My neighbor and I decided to share a 10 pound box, shipped from Fairview Orchards in California. I knew I needed to use every last bit of these beautiful lemons.

Lemon peels in vodka, preserved lemons, and homemade vanilla

I adore the taste of limoncello, so I knew that drink had to feature in my plan. I bought some 100 proof vodka and carefully removed the yellow portion only of the peels of 12 of the lemons. They will steep in the vodka for about a month and then the flavored vodka will be mixed with simple syrup to create the limoncello. Half will be mixed with a milk-based simple syrup for a creamy version. Then I had plenty of juice to mix up some delicious meyer lemon margaritas! (2 oz lemon juice, 2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz Cointreau, splash of agave syrup)

I also enjoy preserved lemons chopped up in tuna salad, potato salad, and many other dishes that are brightened by this tart and salty addition. I cut 2 of the lemons into 8 pieces each and squeezed the juice into a jar, layering the lemon pieces with kosher salt. I needed to supplement with the juice of two regular lemons to get them completely covered. I'll leave these on the counter and shake them daily for the next three weeks and then refrigerate them for use for the next few months. 

The other item I'm regularly shaking is a jar of homemade vanilla extract in process. New Year's Day seemed a great day to go through all my dried herbs and spices to see what I am low on and refresh older items with a big Penzeys order. I found a few stale vanilla pods that wouldn't work anymore to scrape into recipes so I broke them up and they are steeping in vodka and will soon be strained for vanilla extract.

Soaking seeds for cilantro, Thai basil, lemon basil, bush basil, and mint

January is the month I also plan my garden each year. The day I sit down to review the seeds I have and pore over the beautiful seed catalogs from my favorite companies is one of my favorites of the year. Since many have arrived in the mail, I decided to start some herb seeds early since we have a great shelf underneath a south facing window in our house. We'll have some fresh herbs while the March and April snowstorms blow outside this year. The bulk of my seeds are ordered from two companies: Botanical Interests and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I also order a few specialty seeds from Territorial Seed Company and Johnny's Selected Seeds. All have excellent, high quality products. I particularly love the beautiful botanical illustrations on the Botanical Interests seed packets and the excellent descriptions provided inside each packet. I'm looking forward to getting more seeds started in our indoor seed starting station when we return from a spring break trip in March.

Knitting practice

And when I'm not busy with gardening and canning in the colder months, I have to keep occupied in other creative ways so I have signed up for some classes. On Sunday I attended the first of a two-part beginning knitting class at Fancy Tiger Crafts. I have crocheted since I was about 10 years old, but had never learned to knit. I took a two hour class a few years ago, but it didn't stick. This class is excellent - you do not tackle a project. Instead you are given a little practice ball of yarn and are encouraged to do each step and then pull it all apart and begin again, gaining the muscle memory necessary to really learn the skill. I practiced a bunch yesterday and am looking forward to the second lesson on Sunday that ends with a tour of the store to use our discount on some yarn for our first project. Stay tuned!