Apricots, Wheat Crackers and Basil...

My mom checks this blog often.   And she likes to see some updates.  Which I'm not always great at
So Mom this is what I've been up to today.

 I cut the third cutting of my basil.  It's really doing well.  It actually came back from last year volunteer.  So that had a good bath, a spin in the salad spinner and then into the dehydrator.  It took a few hours to dry.  Last cutting I hung it in the open air to dry but this time I was in more of a hurry I guess???

It dried down beautifully.

After vacuum sealing all of my latest dried items: mint chamomile, basil I decided to make some  wheat crackers.

I made a big pot of bean soup so crackers sounded  good.

My recipe:

3/4 cup warm water

1 package yeast (2.5 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon honey

let this set a few minutes for the yeast to dissolve then add,

flour freshly ground from 1.5 cups wheat berries  (Vita Mix dry blade)

salt

and freshly ground pepper

I let this rise for an hour or so.

While this was rising I got a call from a friend who wondered if I wanted apricots.  They have an orchard and  have so many they will rot before she can get them all processed.  

I ran quickly out to her place for some lovely very ripe apricots.

YUMMY!!!

Came back home to finish the crackers.  I cut the dough into 16 pieces rolled them out thin and then put them on a hot griddle, not oiled.

Cooked them for a minute or two on each side.  They really are tasty.

After a bit of lunch, bean soup that I had put in the crock pot this morning it was time for apricots.

Two batches of jam. and six trays of fruit leather.

I used parchment paper in my dehydrator for liners.  I  can cut and roll it on the same paper once it's dry.

I ran the apricots with some lemon juice in my blender to puree and then onto the parchment.

I am drying two cookie sheets of fruit leather in my oven.  I added some coconut to the top of this one.

Apricot Jam

2 quarts crushed apricots

6 cups sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

That's  it.  Bring it to a boil stirring often so it doesn't scorch.  Boil until it thickens, about 25 minutes.

Put in your clean warm jars and process according to your altitude.  

 USDA Link

So there you have it.   That's my day.  I have washed the kitchen floor, the counters are wiped off and dishes done.  And I'm done too.  Time to have a bit of dinner and then I think a movie is in order.

Love you mom.

your little bird