A New Adventure for This Food Junkie

I've been freezing chicken stock, bbq sauce, soups, spaghetti sauce, and various meals for years. I have a ten cubic foot chest freezer and a ridiculously small  nineteen cubic foot refrigerator/freezer, but it's not enough space to hold everything anymore.  I make batches, not serving sizes, and I am quickly running low on freezer space.

There's only two of us, sometimes three, but I like being prepared for the unexpected guests or the request to host a decent sized dinner party.  There's also poker nights once ever four to six weeks at our house in which we provide a meal.  Makes the day easier if I have something at the ready so that I don't have to be in the kitchen all day.

My husband, God love him, has been supportive of me and my love for cooking. It used to drive him absolutely bonkers that I enjoy making things from scratch. He's given in on some things, but he absolutely will not give in on his need for Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookies. He loves the refrigerated squares - which drives me bonkers. I have my own refrigerated dough for cookies that I like to prepare. He eats mine, but a piece of him just can't let those darn Nestle ones go.

Where am I going with this?  Here it is.

I've already written about my new found hobby of gardening, and you'd think that'd be enough to keep me busy. Nope. Though I have been too scared to even imagine myself doing something this "daring" with food, I am going to begin and additional hobby. The thought is still causing me some trepidation, but I've already begun the process of learning about my new venture.

I'm biting the bullet. I'm taking up canning.  

Yep. It's the next natural step, isn't it? One grows a simple little houseplant and sees if they can help it to survive their predisposition for killing the greenery which assists in giving them the very air they breathe. Once one has somewhat mastered the art created by a green thumb in growing houseplants, the next step would be to take up gardening. Right? Well, as you've read, I've done that.

In anticipation and hopefulness of the abundance of fruits and vegetables, I am going to learn how to do an ages old food art. It is the next natural step. My basil is coming in, and it is nearing the time to harvest, which also means it is time to make another batch of spaghetti sauce.  Well, that and I am running low on stock in my freezer. So, instead of filling my freezer, I shall fill my meager excuse of a pantry.

The thing that's getting me excited is that if I can truly keep this gardening thing going, I will be purchasing other plants or seeds. I am already giddy about growing blueberries and strawberries in the springtime. If I can do that, then I can make jams or spreads and really get things going. Wee!

Don't worry, I plan on taking you all on this ride with me.  As if I'd leave you out.  You'll share in both my successes and my opportunities.