Quick Update & Pie Filling

I really, really don't want to know what this conversation was......maybe: "Kyle, you're boobs are bigger than my butt!" ??? :)

Kyle got first runner up (second place) in the Ms. Fairbury Jeff Contest. (He raised the second most amount of money for Relay for Life.) I'll have to get the totals later, too much noise at the time to hear very well! (We were standing in the Band section.)


We got Mr. Rooster (pretty, but he decided he liked to come after me one time too many) and the final two turkey hens butchered today. I don't have weights yet as I haven't weighed them. Things slowed waaaaaaay down on the last one, as Pat threw his back out dunking it in the hot water to loosen feathers. (They aren't light, let me tell ya!) We used the homemade feather plucker.....Pat does a much better job than me with it!! (I forgot to get photos of it, I will eventually!)

And once again, I can't comment on my comments! :( I use Tammy's (Cupp, from KFC) Apple Pie Filling recipe, same as last year. It's on her September 20, 2010 blog post. It actually let me copy and past it here:

Tammy's Canned Apple Pie Filling

4 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
10 cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
6 pounds apples

1. In a large pan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add salt and water and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.
2. Sterilize canning jars, lids and rings by boiling them in a large pot of water.
3. Peel, core, and slice apples. Pack the sliced apples into hot canning jars, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.
4. Fill jars with hot syrup, and gently remove air bubbles with a knife.
5. Put lids on and process in a water bath canner for 20 minutes.

We tripled it, and did 12 quart jars full. I could of just doubled the ingredients (but the apples) as we had a 1/2 gallon jar of 'sauce' left over. Oh well, I'd of rather had too much than not enough!!

Officially Fall

Apple pie filling! :)


Oh wow, the first day of fall! There is a crispness in the air--nights can easily get under 40' already. Time to think of moving house plants from the outside back inside. NE parts of the state had frost warnings last night. I hope it stays away from here, the garden is getting a "second wind" and there is lots of tomatoes and peppers ripening. (I see more canning in my future!) HA

Kyle is in the running for Ms. Fairbury--Relay for Life puts on this contest every year for the highschoolers during Homecoming week. It's a fun way to get donations; guys dress up like gals and donations are put into jars with their 'girlie' photos. Whomever has the most money in their jar wins. We shall know the results later today at the Homecoming parade and "Crowning". :)

Jared has been doing more training, and has spent more time at the Armory (yeah!) He spends lots of time at Gander Mountain--kind of like Cabelas' or Bass Pro Shops stores. (Probably spends too much time and money there!) HA

Patrick and I canned Apple Pie filling this past week. We used his requested Christmas present (finally): and apple peeler/corer. I poo-poo'd it, thinking it wasn't going to save THAT much time, but by golly he proved me wrong! It worked pretty slick and I almost couldn't keep up with him--he ran the peeler/corer. (I got it at one of the chain feed stores.)


Pat also made us a 'feather plucker'--we've put off butchering the last two turkeys and annoying roosters because plucking takes the longest part. It's a simple plucker that fits on his drill. (I'll get photos later for y'all.) It's modeled after another one a gal made (from KFC), and she got the instructions from someone else. I will report on how well it works. :) This weekend is their 'date with destiny'! (Thank goodness my Mother In Law has extra room in her freezer--the last two turkeys were so big, they took up what room I had left!)

Pat has been keeping busy with helping my niece with re-wiring and putting in baseboard heaters before the winter cold comes. And I realized last night there were several bikes in my yard--the great nephews and niece need Uncle Pat to fix them! :) They have him trained well! HA HA HA

And to Omaha Dave: the site is PMS'ing and won't let me reply to your comments. :( I am always encouraged by the awesome work you do--you keep on keepin' on!! You might be encouraged by this article as well. (Acres USA is an awesome magazine--it's not just for "farmers"!) :)
Coming Home To Farm is the title of the article.

(If I mess up--its here: www.acresusa.com --you'll have to copy and paste.) I'm still blog-illiterate! It's best I stick with the cooking' and critters! Giggle!