8/27/16

Leaving the Nest

It was kind of a lazy day yesterday if you don't count the awake hours in the middle of the night. The morning was a little busier, and then the afternoon was reserved for napping and slow stitching.

Before picking up tomatoes from our farmers yesterday morning, I took the time to pick some plums and make an Original Plum Torte.


The recipe was silent on whether to grease the pan or not. I lightly sprayed it with Baker's Joy. Next time (and there will be a next time...probably in a day or two), I'll use some of the butter in the recipe to grease the pan. It wanted to stick and break apart in my attempt to extricate it from the pan. Nevertheless, it looked pretty when we cut into it last night and topped it with whipped cream.


For ease and deliciousness, this recipe is a real winner. It's a very thick batter that has to be spread, rather than poured, into the pan. Then you simply dot the top of it with plum halves, bake it for an hour, and then try your best to get it out of the pan. I'm really hoping the butter will help with that. In any case...it's delicious. It has the texture of an upside-down cake, without the nail-biting anxiety of having to actually turn it upside down. If you have access to plums, you must try it.

After that, I went to pick-up the tomatoes. I couldn't wait to get home for a nap, and then the rest of the afternoon was spent slow-stitching the Baby Birds quilt. By the end of the day, I'd turned three corners.


This morning, it was finished. 



So it's questionable whether there will be any more sewing done during the month of August. I'm tackling tomato tonnage today. (Awesome alliteration.) Yesterday's crop came in four bags of 10 lbs. each.


Add that 40 pounds to the five we've harvest from our own plants, and you can see I have my work cut out for me.


It's a big job, but so gratifying both in the way it tastes, and in having those pretty jars of sauce lined up on the pantry shelf.


The jars are lined up. My game face and canning apron are on. 


Time to gratify my inner slasher.

20 comments:

Teresa in Music City said...

The baby quilt turned out sooooo cute!!! Love the green stripe binding :*). Have to say, I don't envy you all that tomato tonnage travail (how's that for a lame attempt at alliteration?). LOL!!! Although I know I will be drooling when you are eating the fruits of your labor this winter. It has to be so very satisfying to see all those lovely jars on the shelf and know that you did that 😎

gpc said...

Beautiful tomatoes -- making my mouth water! I LOVE the way the heart quilting turned out!

Pamela said...

Love that binding! So pretty! Hey, no cats today? They must be sleeping in ;)

Karen L. said...

Somehow I found your blog while doing a McKenna Ryan search and I am so glad I did. After reading a number of your posts about Ryan patterns, I was laughing so hard I had to stop looking at my computer screen and find a tissue. I have worked on some of her patterns and also some Bigfork Bay Cotton patterns. Yes, another glutton for punishment like you. And then I started at the beginning of your blog to read more recent general posts. I will be back for more for sure. I actually feel like I am sitting in your living room (or perhaps sewing room if you would allow me?) and listening to a friend talk. Love the cats and your words. And as Arnie said: "I'll be back"!

quiltzyx said...

Oh myyyy does that torte look great with whipped cream on top. Nice job.
Fabulous corners on the Birdie quilt, I am jealous!
I'm tackling Mt. Laundry today. Wish me luck.

Brown Family said...

Sweet baby quilt. I am sure the baby will enjoy it as much as Sadie has!

Dana Gaffney said...

The torte is making my mouth water, I'm glad you got to enjoy your plums this year. Yeah for the finish, it looks great. 40 pounds of tomatoes sounds like so much, of course I just eat them like apples not put them in jars for later.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

The torte looks delish! You made me go check my stash - did she steal my favorite green stripe binding fabric? Enjoy those tomatoes/

Laura said...

Enjoying your posts Barbara. I'd try buttering and flouring the pan to avoid the dreaded can't get it out of the pan. Will make that beautiful cake the next time I need to take a potluck dish (coming up very soon).

Val's Quilting Studio said...

YEs love the baby quilts...the birdies really finish it. Also...the apron is fun!

Deb A said...

That looks yummy! I really need to find some local tomato's and can some again this year. I really miss having home canned ones in the pantry. Enjoy your day. Your birding quilt is very pretty.

Auntiepatch said...

That binding is purrfect! Great choice!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Oh home canned tomatoes are the best Love your bird quilt it reminds me of Easter!

Gretchen Weaver said...

This year is the best tomato crop I've ever had. I've been canning tomatoes for several weeks and the end isn't in sight yet! But they taste so good in the winter. Happy canning and hope you can sneak in some stitching. Blessings, Gretchen villacrestfarm@gmail.com

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Karen you have said it perfectly; reading Barb is exactly like being there in the home and out on the catio with her next to us, telling great stories and sharing delectable foodstuffs.

QuilterinMotion said...

I wish I was right there canning beside you. I too love the process of putting up the tomatoes but living in an RV doesn't really allow me much space for storing my canned goods. I am enjoying the tomatoes from my daughter's garden, though.

Miaismine said...

Your quilt is so beautiful! The pattern is fun and the colors are soothing. Wow! You have a ton of tomatoes! They look delicious! I have a few plants, and my grandbabies make short work of the crop! Happy canning!

Susan said...

Great choice on the binding. The quilt looks nice. Love the apron. I wish I could can, but the house I live in has the oven above the stove top which means my big canner pot won't fit.

CathieJ said...

I have never canned that many tomatoes, then again I have only ever canned some preserves and that was many years ago. I have a very similar plum cake that was handed down in my family. I have yet to figure out how to get it to not stick. It is delicious, but rarely pretty. Your quilt came out wonderfully. It is so pretty, whimsical and colorful.

Kate said...

That's a lot of tomatoes. Hopefully those are all canned and put safely away now.