Freezing Peaches

Freezing Fresh Peaches

To freeze the peaches I simply peeled them and put enough in a bag for a future cobbler. I flattened them in the bag so I can store more in my freezer.

In previous years I just put them in the bag and it was really bulky and took lots of room. Another plus to the flattened bags are they defrost quicker than a bulky package.

Cooking Garden Fresh Green Beans

Cook beans fresh from the Garden

Green beans are a tasty food to add to your summer menu. They are even better if they come from your garden or the local farmers market. 

This is how I fix and cook our green beans. First I remove the ends and strings and then break them up into small pieces about 1 1/2 inches or 2 inches. Some people just remove the ends and strings and cook them whole but we like them in bite size pieces. Wash them until the water runs clean. 

I use a small pressure cooker to cook mine in (not a pressure canner). I put the clean beans in the cooker and fill with water up to the maximum water limit and add small pieces of bacon and salt the beans. Some people add ham pieces instead of bacon but I had bacon on hand so that is what I used.
Put the lid on and I cooked mine about 25 minutes. This depends  on your stove heat. If it cooks really hot lower the time and if it doesn't heat up as fast or hot then cook the beans longer.

I removed them from the heat when the time was up and removed the lid and the beans will still have liquid in them. Some people like their beans juicy but we like them cooked down. So I cook them to remove the liquid from them and they are ready to serve.

I usually cook them in the morning before it gets too hot outside.

You could also cook them on the stove in a regular pan just cook them until the beans are tender. Same for a crock pot.

Freezing Corn

Freezing Corn on the Cob 

I have been freezing corn on the cob. My daughter likes boiled corn and my son and husband like fried corn. I have tried freezing corn in many ways but the best way I have found is to wrap it in foil. I don't blanch it or anything. I then put it in a freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook I just put it in a pot of water and boil. It taste very fresh this way. I can also just take out the amount I need.

Tips for Shucking and Silking Fresh Corn

Shucking and Silking Fresh Corn

Corn time is here in Tennessee. This is a few ears of Hickory Cane corn that my son grew and harvested a little bit early. But here is how I remove the shucks and silk the corn to get ready to cook for supper or to put in the freezer.

Step 1

To remove the silks I pull of the large amounts by hand. 

Step 3

Step 2

To remove the corn silks that will not come away easy by hand I use a new soft toothbrush. This works great. I write Corn Brush on the handle in permanent marker so I don't get it messed up with my old toothbrush I use for cleaning around the sink, etc. You can buy a brush specifically for this job but it does cost more than a cheap toothbrush. 

Step 3