Preserving

Before it frosts, preserve the fresh herbs from your garden. Here's how.

From Bon Appetit

Treat fresh herbs just like fresh flowers.

Trim the stems at a 45-degree angle, and place in a glass with two inches of water. Refrigerate for up to two weeks (cover the leaves with an unsealed plastic bag to minimize odor absorption), replacing the water if it gets cloudy.

Dry hardy-leaf herbs like thyme, oregano, rosemary, and bay leaves.
Working with one herb variety at a time, wash thoroughly, blot dry, and spread the leaves in a single layer on a paper towel. Microwave in 30-second intervals, turning leaves over for even drying, until crisp and brittle. Microwave times will vary, but the whole process should take no more than two to three minutes total.

Freeze soft-leaf herbs like dill, mint, parsley, basil, and chives.
Place whole sprigs, chopped leaves, or whole leaves in a tightly sealed plastic bag for up to six months. When cooking, defrosting is unnecessary--just break off leaves and add them to the skillet.

Update:  I have found my oven to be the best dehydrator for herbs.  I have a dehydrator option which puts the temperature at 140 F.  If you don't have this just set the to lowest temperature (probably 180 F).  I spread my herbs out on cookie sheets and place in oven.  You just have to watch to determine when they are dry enough.  If I need to leave the house and they aren't finished, I just turn off the oven and let them sit in the oven.  I assess them when I get back and turn back on the oven if needed.  

Preserving Peaches

This year I preserved peaches differently in addition to my old way.

Freezing Peaches/Pears Whole

This is the easiest thing ever. Place 4 unwashed peaches in a freezer quart bag and freeze. Be sure to label the bag as unwashed. When ready to use, simple run the peach under lukewarm water until the skin peels off easily. The peach will not be brown. Let sit for a couple of minutes and slice to use/eat. This works great with pears as well!


Freezing Sliced Peaches/Pears

Wash, peel and slice fruit into large bowl. Sprinkle generously with Fruit Fresh and gently mix so as to coat the fruit. Turn onto large cooking sheet layered with freezer paper, parchment paper, or wax paper (doesn't work as well) making sure there is space between each piece of fruit. Freeze until hard. Place in freezer bags. Press out air and seal. Freeze. Great for smoothies, fruit salads, and pies.

Freezing Peach Slices in Orange Juice
Wash, peel and slice peaches. Measure out 4 cups and place in freezer quart bag. Cover peaches with orange juice. Press out air and seal. Freeze. Thaw overnight in freezer or place frozen peaches in microwave and heat for 2-3 min, depending on microwave. Smoothie in a bag! Or just eat as is.


Frozen Peach Pie Filling
From Paula Deen
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 9-inch pie, top crust
1/2 stick of butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca
3 1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoon Fruit Fresh, fruit preservative
9 lb fresh peaches
1 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg

Directions

To peel the peaches, first bring a pot of water to a boil. Using a paring knife, score the peaches with an X into the skins only. Gently drop the peaches in the boiling water for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches and place them in iced water for a minute. The skins should slip off easily. If not, place back into the boiling water for another 30 seconds.
Slice the peaches and put them in a bowl. Sprinkle Fresh Fruit and sugar, and stir into peaches. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.
Line 4 pie pans with heavy foil or freezer paper, placing a piece of plastic wrap over foil. Put 4 to 5 cups filling each pan. Loosely fold wrapping around pie and freeze until firm. When filling is frozen solid, remove from pans and wrap tightly. Return to freezer until ready to use.
On pie baking day, simply place frozen pie filling in pie shell, add half a stick of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg. Top pie with an additional pastry crust, seal well, and bake for 50 to 60 minutes in preheated 375 degree oven.

Canning Peaches/Pears

Adapted from Heavenly Homemaker
Make sure your jars have no nicks or scratches in them, especially the tops. Sanitize jars by washing them in the dishwasher. Boil the lids and bands/rings for 2 minutes to sterilize and keep in hot water until ready to use.
In a large pot or canner, fill with water and heat, keeping water warm until ready to use. The water level does not have to be enough to cover the jars completely. Two-thirds of the jars can be covered by water and the steam will seal the jars. To clarify, fill the pot with enough water to cover 2/3 of the jars or more. The jars can be covered with water.
Spoon 1 T. Fruit Fresh into each jar.
Make honey syrup:
Ratio:
2 T. honey
5 c. water
Heat to mix honey into water and keep warm until ready to use.
Prepare peaches. Wash, peel and slice into jars leaving 1/2 inch head space.
(Boiling water technique from Paula Deen: To peel the peaches, first bring a pot of water to a boil. Using a paring knife, score the peaches with an X into the skins only. Gently drop the peaches in the boiling water for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches and place them in iced water for a minute. The skins should slip off easily. If not, place back into the boiling water for another 30 seconds.)
Can press down on peaches slightly to pack more into jars.
Using a canning funnel, pour syrup into jars over peaches leaving 1/2 inch head space. Remove bubbles by using the handle of a wooden spoon and gently pushing it along the sides of the jar to the bottom of the jar. Wiggle slightly. Work it down all sides of the jar. Do not use metal as this will scratch the jar and compromise its integrity.
Wipe jar tops and place lids on then the band/rings and screw on tightly (not man tight).
Place jars with peaches in them in warm water bath. Cover. Bring to a boil and boil for 25 minutes. Turn off heat. Carefully lift rack with hot jars out of water if using a canner. Otherwise, lift jars out with a jar lifter or hot pad. Place on counter on some so as not to burn your counter. Let stand in draft free place for 12-24 hours undisturbed. Check seals by pressing middle of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

Peach Applesauce

When making applesauce, add peaches in a 1:4 ratio, peaches to apples.