Preserving

Well done Queenslanders. It was great to wake up this morning to find the effects of Cyclone Yasi, while terrifying and destructive, were not as bad as they might have been. Obviously good planning, intelligent population and proper standards (building etc) have helped enormously.

I have been following the commentary both on TV & radio while spending the day at home doing some preserving.
Given its a cool & cloudy day here in Melbourne (due to Cyclone Yasi effects no doubt) I thought I would spend the day picking my Nashi Pears from the tree and preserving them. So I hauled my youngest out of bed and together we have been picking, peeling, slicing and boiling.
I ran put of preserving jars after the plum preserves earlier in January so I have been looking for more large jars. The only place that I found is way out the edge of the city. It now only has 4 large jars left following my visit.
My eldest will no doubt say the time, effort and cost of doing home preserves is much greater than buying similar fruit at the local supermarket. And this is true.
But at least the family know the methods used to preserve home grown produce. Something many city dwelling youngsters have never encountered. You never  know when these skills  may prove useful. If we ever have to stay inside like the good folk of North Queensland we may have these preserves to keep us going. Any one for Pears in red wine & cinnamon?