SO, Easter got in the way of my gardening, but I KNEW it would.
Saturday I was tasked with making a lemon meringue pie and mint sauce. DH always made the mint sauce but I never thought the mint sauce stewing in old jars was as good as fresh.
I decided to also make mint jelly, since Eldest DD had asked me to find some at the grocery store, and I couldn't.
Made the 15 minute trek to the local small grocery store in the next town for supplies. Started on all, realized that I only had 1 1/2 cups of sugar, so I had to go back. I also bought extra lemons, and coconut. SIL loves coconut cream pie and I thought to make that, Too.
Started with the mint. With the purchase plant I added mint from my mint patch that is just emerging, ended up with 2 cups, enough, I thought for both. Mint jelly recipe suggested using the stems--nope.
Made and baked 2 pie crusts, made the lemon meringue, which turned out perfect--I have made this pie for years...
Started the coconut cream filling, and I didn't watch it, so it scalded. Still, I thought I'd finish it and apologize later.
I put the coconut cream pie on my porch table--it's fully enclosed and cold as a fridge most nights in the Spring.
Finished the lemon meringue and stored in the microwave.
I have 4 cats who would have loved to snack on these things.
Made the mint sauce, did not can and seal it, ready on the dining room table for Easter.
Mixed the mint jelly sans pectin, to finish last. It made almost three 1/2 pints. Recipe suggested canning in a large stock pot. I crossed my fingers and did that. When I pulled them out of the boiling water and put them on a rack, pop, pop...pop, all sealed. I didn't taste it.
Go out to the porch Sunday morning. I turned my back and found that Tegan had eaten Half of the coconut cream pie! THEN she went to my bedroom and threw it all up, along with a few pieces of her dog food.
SIL said he Would have tried it, even burnt, but nobody got any.
Mint sauce was pretty good.
Mint Jelly got an A+!!!!
NEXT time I need a better way to strain off the mint. It was a 30 minute job trying to get all of the little pieces out of the sugared liquid.
Funny, I didn't have any green food coloring so it looks like glue, but there are orders for more of it.
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