Who knew Michigan had so much yummy produce? Last Monday I was invited to pick grapes at a Welch's vineyard BEFORE the workers came in to pick. In about a half an hour's time, I had enough grapes to can 37 quarts of grape juice.
I hadn't ever canned grape juice. It was so fun and easy! All you do is put the grapes into this steamer and you have juice about an hour later. It comes out hot so the jars seal themselves. Simple and oh, so delicious!
Another friend let me borrow her hopper to make applesauce. I usually cut and peel the apples and then make applesauce in the crockpot. What a timesaver this was! My friend warned me my shoulder would probably be sore the next day from all of the cranking, but it wasn't at all because my kids wanted to do most of it!
I'm still a long way from becoming the canning queens that many of my friends and my sisters are, but I am doing a little more each year. The kids think it's the greatest thing to be a part of this whole process.
