Every year in early spring, I get an urge to plant
things. Putting seeds in soil and watching them sprout feels like a miracle. The
seedlings are so small and cute, so I clearly need more of them, and then there
are many. That’s okay, because they’re tiny. Right?
My brain knows they won’t stay tiny, but the one clever brain cell isn’t always in charge. Thus,
I end up with plants everywhere. Most of them are pepper plants, because there
are so many fun types to try, and the photos on the seed bags are so colorful
and pretty.
Later in summer, I have to figure out what to do
with the peppers. A lot of peppers. They freeze very well, but my freezer is
like a black hole. Once something’s in there it will stay in there.
Canning them is super easy, and you can tweak the
base recipe below to fit your taste. I’ve been thinking of trying different
kinds of vinegar, I just haven’t gotten around to it.
You need glass jars of appropriate size. They must
be squeaky clean, and you can sterilize them through boiling them or putting
them in the oven in 225 F for ten minutes. You want them to be hot when you put
your peppers in. (It’s a good idea to put the jars in the water when it’s cold,
or in the oven before it heats up, so they don’t crack from a sudden change in
temperature.)
Besides your peppers, you also need:
1 ¼ cup water
1 ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
I find that just under a pound of peppers works well
with this amount of liquid. If you don’t have that much, just cut everything in
the vinegar mixture down to half or a third.
· Mix
water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir and bring to a boil.
· Slice
your chili fruits and put them in the pot. Let them boil for around five
minutes. Put them in your warm jars and cover with the vinegar mixture.
· Close
the jars as quickly as possible. I like to put them upside down on my counter
to cool, so any air still in the jar has to pass through the hot liquid. I imagine
that it helps with the preserving process.
· Once
the jars are cool, turn them the right way up and store them in a cool and dark
place.
I also like to grow and can tomatoes. This is also
super easy.
Put clean glass jars and screw-on metal lids in the
oven at 225 F. Keep them in there for about 10 minutes to kill any bacteria –
this will improve the shelf life of your preserves.
Pack the jars with tomato pieces, some spices you
like – for instance cloves of garlic, basil, sage, and oregano – and some salt
and pepper. The jar should be packed; you shouldn’t see a lot of air between
the tomato pieces. Add a couple table spoons of olive oil.
Put the lid on, but don’t tighten it. Just enough so
you feel it’s on.
Put your jars back in the oven and wait until you
can see your tomatoes boil.
Take them out and tighten the lids. I like to let
these jars too cool upside down on my counter. Then, turn them right side up
and store in a cool and dark place.
Tasty treasures for winter!
Maria Hammarblad
Genre: Romance/Military
Publisher: Sadowski Media
Date of Publication: August 1, 2018
Originally Published by Desert Breeze Publishing June 21, 2013
ISBN: 1723130176
ASIN: B07FXZMSWN
Number of pages: 155
Word Count: 47656
Cover Artist: Juan Villar Padron
Tagline: The thing about fighting evil? It keeps coming back.
Book Description:
As the sole survivor of a Taliban POW camp, Steve Petersen is damaged goods. He is convinced that he left his sanity within the horror-filled walls that held him captive for the better part of a year. His mind is trapped in moments of graphic, soul-crushing flashbacks, and his only solace is the momentary reprieve he gains from alcohol and drugs.
When he mysteriously wakes in a bright and cheery bedroom that belongs to a woman he barely remembers meeting, he knows he should leave. He should save the widow Anna from his own special brand of crazy. Leaving is not as easy as one would think, and he finds himself drawn into a world of real life problems such as folding laundry, and what to make for dinner.
This new way of life eases his need for drowning his pain in substances and offers moments of quiet healing – until Anna disappears. To save her, Steve must face the demons that have tortured him for so long and return to the place where it all began. Afghanistan.
Excerpt:
Life outside
could sure be exhausting. Anna went into the kitchen, and Steve rested his head
back and closed his eyes. Listening to her hum a song, just a little out of
tune as she loaded the coffee maker soothed his nerves.
A hard rattling
sound made him open his eyes again.
Gunshots, and
they were close.
Anna still sang,
and she would be an easy target.
He ran through
the apartment, making sure to stay away from the windows. Peeking around the
corner, his beautiful fiancée was oblivious to the danger.
Women.
How did they
survive?
He sprung out
from his hiding place behind the wall, shoved her down on the floor, and threw
himself over her. After all she did for him, protecting her with his own body
was the least he could do.
Anna wheezed,
clearly trying to draw a breath.
“Sssh, they’re
coming.”
She lay on her
back, and the question in her eyes was clear. Have you lost your mind? Of
course he had, a long time ago. She should know.
When she opened
her mouth, he covered it with his hand, so she couldn’t draw attention to them.
“Don’t you hear
them? The shots?”
She shook her
head and closed her fingers around his wrist, attempting to pull his hand away.
“I think we’re
safe, but be very quiet.”
About the Author:
Maria Hammarblad is an author and bass player whose fascination with books started early. Before she could read or write, she made her mother staple papers together to resemble books. She drew suns in them and claimed they were "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun.
The four-year-old also claimed her existence on Earth was a mistake, the result of a horrible mix-up, and that her real family would come to bring her home to her own planet at any time. This didn't happen, but her fascination with books and other worlds stayed with her.
Besides novels, she also writes award-winning screenplays, enjoys photography, and works with animal rescue organizations.
Website: http://www.hammarblad.com
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