I discovered the 'deal of the century'. Well, maybe not the century, but I was really 'stoked' with this one!
We were going to make our yearly strawberry jam. Where to get the berries, is always a big question. I was out running errands on Thursday, and just on a whim pulled into the strawberry stand by Lowes to see if they would sell me jamming berries for a reduced price. The guy looked at me like I was a fruit loop. Finally between my limited spanish mixed with english, he understood what I wanted, and told me to go to the 'main' stand in a sister city.
I got there yesterday morning, and communicated what I was looking for. I was told to come back at the end of business which was 6:30 when all the individual vendors checked in and returned their inventory not sold. At that time, the owner and his workers go through the flats and pull out all the over-ripe berries AND THROW THEM AWAY!!! Uh, I about fainted. So I struck a win/win deal with the owner: sell me the berries for a reduced price. I get the sweetest berries, and he gets a little more cash.
He had never thought of that. I was thrilled. Love these plants!
So we got 4 flats of berries for $20.00. They are regularly $37.00 a flat! I was so happy.
Canning Necessities.
...plus sugar...
Duff was like a peacock with his feathers fluffed that we girls were busy in the kitchen together 'canning', and he ordered some pizza and wings to give us (and all the guys upstairs) sustenance.
After we got all the berries cleaned, stemmed, and mashed, we were able to have 3 double batches going at the same time. Everyone had a different job and moved between them.
Adrianne stirring in the sugar.
Meredith cooking the pectin.
Natalie filling jars.
The finished goods. Notice the new jars that the girls got with the silver seals and rims. If I was buying new, I would definitely get these. They are by Kerr. Adrianne found some by Ball at Target, that are with the silver, but the shape is a bit different and very contemporary which is the new style. Mine of course, are the old gold ones.
4 flats berries
We were going to make our yearly strawberry jam. Where to get the berries, is always a big question. I was out running errands on Thursday, and just on a whim pulled into the strawberry stand by Lowes to see if they would sell me jamming berries for a reduced price. The guy looked at me like I was a fruit loop. Finally between my limited spanish mixed with english, he understood what I wanted, and told me to go to the 'main' stand in a sister city.
I got there yesterday morning, and communicated what I was looking for. I was told to come back at the end of business which was 6:30 when all the individual vendors checked in and returned their inventory not sold. At that time, the owner and his workers go through the flats and pull out all the over-ripe berries AND THROW THEM AWAY!!! Uh, I about fainted. So I struck a win/win deal with the owner: sell me the berries for a reduced price. I get the sweetest berries, and he gets a little more cash.
He had never thought of that. I was thrilled. Love these plants!
So we got 4 flats of berries for $20.00. They are regularly $37.00 a flat! I was so happy.
Canning Necessities.
...plus sugar...
Duff was like a peacock with his feathers fluffed that we girls were busy in the kitchen together 'canning', and he ordered some pizza and wings to give us (and all the guys upstairs) sustenance.
After we got all the berries cleaned, stemmed, and mashed, we were able to have 3 double batches going at the same time. Everyone had a different job and moved between them.
Adrianne stirring in the sugar.
Meredith cooking the pectin.
Natalie filling jars.
The finished goods. Notice the new jars that the girls got with the silver seals and rims. If I was buying new, I would definitely get these. They are by Kerr. Adrianne found some by Ball at Target, that are with the silver, but the shape is a bit different and very contemporary which is the new style. Mine of course, are the old gold ones.
4 flats berries40 lbs. sugar
27 boxes Sure Jell pectin
Yield: 76 pints
4 comments:
I wish I was there!
So, whose fingers ended up really red at the end of the adventure ???
I'm going to have to have you teach me how to "can". I was really young when my mom used to can & then as she got older, she had health issues & couldn't.
Now that she's gone, I wish I had her recipes & such on how to do this. ;)
my goodness that is a lot of jam
Looks awesome! Love the deal you got!
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