Summer Fruit

Yummy summer fruit is almost over, so this week I was busy.

This recipe comes from Kristi and it is oh so yummy.  We spent a morning washing fruit, boiling syrup, chopping, and making another friend's kitchen all sticky.  So worth it.

Yes, we used a Christmas tablecloth to help keep the table a little less sticky.

Frozen Fruit

1 watermelon -balls

2 cantaloupes - chunks

1 honeydew melon - chunks

6 peaches - sliced

3 pounds of grapes - washed

blueberries - I can't remember how many we used, we each bought a Costco size. -washed

4 cups sugar

2 quarts water

1 can frozen lemonade concentrate

1 can frozen orange juice lemonade.

Boil the sugar and water.  Add the concentrates.  Fill each bag with fruit.  Add the syrup.  Squeeze out as much air as possible and freeze.

When serving, thaw slightly!  Kristi likes this with a little 7-up on the top for a dessert.

Aren't they so pretty? 

We tripled the recipe and we packed 30 quart size freezer bags.  The hardest part will be waiting for the winter to pull these out.

I also spent a day with these:

2 boxes of peaches = 42 pints

My neighbor and I spent an entire Friday working on these together.  It is so worth it to rope a friend into doing this with you.

I can in pints because my biggest pot won't accommodate quarts and I don't can enough to buy an official canning pot!  Pints works great for our family, though.  We finish one jar off per meal, and I like not having an open jar in the refrigerator.

I love doing things like this.  I love pulling out a jar throughout the year.  I'm really excited this year for our frozen fruit.  My freezer is packed and I couldn't be happier!  One of the best parts is that I worked with my friends.  We get together and watch kids while we work.  It is working together with other moms to be a success that really gets the job done!  

And now, we can enjoy this fruit all winter long!  yummy!