This...

Is what I've been up to...my elbows in fruits and vegetables! (my mother-in-law mentioned last night that my blog didn't have anything new on it when she looked yesterday. :) This is why.)

I bought a box of pears from bountiful baskets, and when they were ripe, I canned a batch, thinking I'd finish them while the kids were at school the next day.  That was until I got a phone call from a lady in our ward who said that their orchard was loaded with peaches and nectarines that were going to go to waste if someone didn't come get them.  So, instead of canning pears, I went and picked peaches with two of my friends.  After that, I came home and canned another two batches of pears (I got 22 quarts total with a few left over for eating).  The next day I did the peaches.  I got 16 quarts of peaches.  One of the ladys I picked peaches with wanted nectarines to juice so we helped her pick a few 5 gallon buckets full.  Somehow, I ended up with one of those buckets.  After sharing some with a neighbor, I made Nectarine Juice.  I got 3 quarts and a pint of that.  We only have one cucumber plant in our garden and I've been saving up to do a batch of pickles.  John wanted to try some Bread and Butter pickles this year, so I made 4 quarts of that and got 3 quarts of Dill Pickles with what was left.  Our zucchini is producing like crazy. (we ended up with 3 hills of zucchini--we thought we planted two and one crookneck--oops!)  I've frozen a lot of it so we can use it this winter I think I have 30 or 40 bags so far. (I freeze it in 2 c. amounts so I can just thaw it and it's ready to use.) I've been using it fresh as well--I've made lots of breads, and have been throwing it in chunks into casseroles.  The kids can't tell the difference this way! I also made a batch of Zucchini Candy--it turns out like little pieces of fruit leather--the kids love it! Yummy!  See--I've been busy!