Chokecherry Season

We have a bumper crop of chokecherries this year—in spite of the drought!  On our morning walk we’ve noticed piles of bear poop filled with chokecherry seeds.  We do lots of laughing and talking as we walk along—don’t want to surprise a bear!  Yesterday before we left for Livingston Michael picked three and a half gallons of the berries—today it was my job to process those berries into beautiful, deep red jam. 

I used my handy, dandy Nutri-Steamer( there’s a link for where to buy on the upper left of the blog)—I love this thing, before purchasing the Nutri-Steamer my kitchen would look like a war zone or operating room—bright red chokecherry juice everywhere from using a crusher/strainer which splattered.  Now I just fill the bottom pan with water, the middle pan holds the rendered juice and the upper section holds the berries or fruit.  You just let the water in the bottom boil, steaming the juice right out of the berries.  The hose can be used to drain the hot juice into a measuring cup.

 

Six batches and 30 half pints later—all the chokecherries are processedNow if it all jells, I’ll be very happy!

Michael finished the rock wall today, YIPPEE!!!  Looks very nice.  Nat came for lunch and we enjoyed steak on the grill, roasted potatoes and melons.  For dessert homemade ice cream with fresh raspberries and peaches.  I bought the peaches at Costco and they are delicious—juicy and sweet.

The garden is looking great, the tomatoes are starting to show a little change in color, the corn has tassels and this morning I picked a small tomato from my Glacier tomato plants.  Hot, dry summers are good for something!

By the time I canned 30 jars of jam, made lunch and then cleaned the kitchen it was almost 5pm!!  I’m pooped—time to relax.