PAMBA DAY!

This was the turn out for PAMBA Day (Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association).  Members from young kids to adults came out for group rides, potluck and endured the storm that rolled in during the afternoon.  It was a HOT day and I had to bail early on my ride because I got overheated. 
Great day, good food & beer and awesome friends!

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

More canning.  Yesterday Amy McG and I made Strawberry Rhubarb Jam and a few sauces.  Long process for such a small yield, but that's what I'm learning from canning.  We made the jam then had left over strawberries and rhubarb but not enough for another batch so we made some sauce and it's delicious warmed up over vanilla ice cream.  Amazing!

Onions, Blueberries, Peppers and more Tomatoes

Mike & I ventured into canning by ourselves this time.  We used the pressure cooker this time but we learned a few things and probably will be attempting the cold pack method next time.  Oh, the adventures in canning.  Other than more tomatoes, we now have 10lbs of Blueberries in the freezer thanks to my mom.  She has a girl trip every year to Michigan and brings home a car full of blueberries and peaches.  The crop wasn't very large this year so I didn't get any peaches.  However, the blueberries are portioned out and are now frozen in our new deep freezer.  Mike harvested the onion crop last week and they are beautiful.  I was home sick yesterday and decided it was time to cut up our pepper harvest and freeze them too.

And we are Canning!

My mom and dad came over to Mike's house yesterday to help with canning tomatoes.  Mike & I haven't canned in our adult life, so dad was there leading the way.  We didn't have mass amounts of tomatoes but there will be more coming which makes more canning coming too. Looking forward to eating these tomatoes when there's a blizzard outside this winter!

More from the Kitchen

More pizza on the grill.  This is so delicious.  We use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust along with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, black olives (on my half), onions, yellow peppers and cheese.  I hate to brag, but it's some of the best pizza ever!

My first attempt at making Gluten Free Sandwich Bread.  Didn't rise as high as I would have liked but it tasted good as far as GF Bread goes. 

Strawberry Protein Shakes!  Delicious on a hot day.

Tomatoes, Potatoes & Basil

Tomatoes

Basil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potatoes

Pesto Cubes

 

 

Roadie for a Day

Yes, I took the visor off my bike helmet and I was magically transformed into a Road Biker.  Three of my mountain bike girlfriends traded in the dirt trails for a road ride last Saturday.  There was a benefit for an organization in Peoria call Metec.  https://metecresourcecenter.org/.  It started at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard and ended there with brunch and wine tasting.  Betsy & I did the 40 mile ride and Carrie & Lori did the 60 mile ride. It was a delightful morning, even if I did get up at 5:45am. 

(LtoR) Lori, Betsy, Chris & Carrie

Playing with the Fat Tire Trikes

MTB chicks as roadies for a day.