HFU HF Underground

General Category => Huh? => Topic started by: Ct Yankee on September 23, 2018, 1333 UTC

Title: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Ct Yankee on September 23, 2018, 1333 UTC
https://imgur.com/a/A3TeDuv

As Mrs. CT Yankee is the de facto head of the Canning Department for the Durham (CT) Fair - the state's largest - all day Saturday was spent accepting canned items and arranging for judging.  This year 1,100 canned items were entered, a record for the Fair.  Visitors from across the country have said they have never seen such a large display of canning.  Almost everything will be taste tested by judges on Monday. One woman entered 150 separate items. 

Among the hundreds of entries: 4 dozen wines, 3 dozen beers, 2 dozen maple syrups, 2 dozen honeys, a half dozen honey combs, limoncello, 5 dozen blueberry jams, 4 dozen salsas, pickled eggs, stuffed peppers, marinated eggplant, pickled radishes, and key lime jelly to name just a few.  I have my eye on a jar of Pickled Thai Peppers. 

Oh yes in the photo, yours truly was caught (with an FCB jersey on) tasting aligning jars of jam as entries were first being accepted. All four rows of shelving are now chock full. Stop by and say "hello" if you are in the neighborhood Sept. 27-30.  There are a couple of antique radios in the Farm Museum on the grounds.

To my New England compatriots - An individual who entered said The Big E had under three dozen total canned items entered.
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Skipmuck on September 23, 2018, 1839 UTC
Very cool to see that this is still a big thing somewhere!  I attended the Durham Fair twice back around 1969-1971 (I forgot exactly which years!), as well as the Big E many times over the years (I live in East Springfield whereas West Springfield is on the other side of the CT River). At one time the Big E was HUGE with the agricultural side of things. This has gradually diminished over the years to where Agriculture is no longer a driving force for this sort of thing. I don't even know if there is still a viable 4-H club located in the area. Times sure have changed.....
PS. Bet the tasters especially enjoy the beer and wine entries!  ;D
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: skeezix on September 23, 2018, 2109 UTC
I'm glad to see this as well.

A good friend of mine does canning- she's given me homemade applesauce which surpasses anything in any store. Also got some pickles, but haven't opened it yet. I figure I have all winter. And there's no more until next year (but there might be more applesauce).

She enjoys canning and I can absolutely say I support her to can as much as possible, and to throw a few my way.
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Ct Yankee on September 23, 2018, 2122 UTC
Skippy - Glad it brought back fond memories of visits decades past.  Congrats on that third straight division title. While people joke about wanting to judge beer & wine, my favorite judging have been years doing syrup  ;D!

Skeezix - Applesauce is one of my fortes.  Two different types of apples with skins on get cooked up, then run through a food mill.  I make about 20 quarts of applesauce a year.  I usually get a quart of applesauce for every 3 pounds of apples. I'll use a cup of it in making pancakes or even as a base in some soups.  I agree, once you have homemade applesauce you can never enjoy store bought.
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: skeezix on September 23, 2018, 2134 UTC
My friend also canned tomatoes, but she hasn't given me any of that. I want to say yet, but alas... probably will be none. On the other hand, if she could make something with those tomatoes (like stuff cabbages), then that will be fine. Just fine. So very, very fine.

Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Skipmuck on September 23, 2018, 2236 UTC
CT Yankee.....Having given up the drinking back in early 2004, I also would love to judge the syrup....that is if you mean maple! Real 100% maple syrup is one of lifes greatest wake up calls....on waffles, pancakes, lightly spread on toast....etc! It isn't cheap either, but sure is a treasure!
 
When I was a kid in the late 50's and early to mid 60's, we had a grape vine in the backyard, of which my mother would make her own Grape jelly...I have fond memories of that big aluminum pot on the stove boiling the grapes, straining through the collander, and whatever it was that Certo did! I guess it congealed it. There were the blocks of wax and of course Mason jars aplenty. She usually made enough to last well through the winter into the following springtime. Everyone else at school was doing the bag lunch with Welch's and Jif......my brothers and I were doing the moms homemade grape jelly and whatever peanut butter was on sale........ahhh....good memories those childhood days!
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Ct Yankee on September 23, 2018, 2246 UTC

Skipmunk - I have 2 grapevines, we make our own grape jelly - laborious but delicious!  My wife makes a grape pie that's to kill for.
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: skeezix on September 23, 2018, 2311 UTC
I used to have two small grape vines, but some critter ate 'em.  I gave up.


Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Pigmeat on September 24, 2018, 2152 UTC
We had a half-acre kitchen garden. As I was the oldest by a couple of years I was Grandma's assistant and jar washer when it came to canning. I was 4-H'er, too.

My Aunt had huge grape arbor behind their house. My first cousin, myself, and a friend would slide under it on hot days and pilfer a few. One hot weekend we got on a grape eating binge that plucked that arbor clean as high as we could reach from the inside. We thought if we left the bunches on the outside, no one would notice? Wrong. Man, we got in trouble for that one!
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Josh on September 24, 2018, 2340 UTC
Concord grapes are the bomb!
Title: Re: Yes, we "CAN"....
Post by: Pigmeat on September 25, 2018, 0501 UTC
Yes, they were. And well worth the whuppin'.