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Garden Update and How to Freeze Corn

August 2, 2010 By 8 Comments

I didn’t exactly intend to take a week and a half break from blogging, but my kitchen re-do had to take precedence.  I am not quite ready to show you everything I did, but I will soon.  Let’s just say that I saw 2:00 a.m. more times than I hope to in the near future. 

Anyway, in addition to all of the painting and stripping of wallpaper, my garden has been producing a harvest that has needed preserving. 

My garden is looking rather sad in this picture, but it has been giving us some wonderful vegetables.  My mom helped me pick the last of my green beans on Friday.  I have canned a total of 42 quarts and have frozen 3 1/2 gallons of green beans.  I am very pleased with our green bean harvest. 

The zucchini plants finally fizzled out and the last of the cucumbers won’t be far behind.  My tomato plants are not doing very well this year and I am not sure why.  My husband’s step-mom has been sharing her bountiful harvest and for that I am thankful.

We picked a total of 24 butternut squash and will probably have another 8 or 9 when all is said and done. 

Last week we picked the last of our corn.  We had a really good harvest with a total of 14 dozen ears of corn.  We have been enjoying lots of corn-on-the-cob, and I have frozen quite a bit.

Last year was the first year I tried freezing corn in a slightly different manner than in years past.  I used to wash, boil, and then cool the ears before cutting the corn off of them.  However, this new method is much easier.

Simply wash each ear of corn and then cut the corn off of it.  I use an electric knife and an angel food cake pan (or bundt pan). 

Then I place the corn into a large pan and cover with water.  I boil it for at least five minutes. Next, I drain the corn in a colander and run some cold water over it. 

I put it in 2 cup increments in zip-top baggies and put it in the freezer.  I had a total of 30 bags which meant I froze 60 cups of corn. 

I am still hoping to get some more tomatoes out of the garden as well as green peppers and sweet potatoes. Even though the garden is a lot of hard work and I am no expert at it, it is still a wonderful blessing when the produce is ready.

Do you have a garden?  How have your harvests been?

Filed Under: canning/preserving, gardening
  • Debbie’s L’Bri

    Looks like your garden has done well. I like you way of freezing corn. I might try it.

  • Holly

    I love the idea of using your angel food cake pan to cut the corn off the cob. I'm so going to do that this year. Great idea! God bless - Holly

  • Sara D

    I can't wait to see pictures of your "new" kitchen! Sounds like you've been working so hard- I'm impressed you stayed up so late to get it done. I'm really hoping you got some naps in after those late nights, but my guess is that you didn't. Here's to you, super-mom! :)

  • Jackie

    Thanks everyone.

    Holly, my husband is the one who taught me the angel food cake pan trick years ago. I think his grandma used to use one for cutting corn.

    Sara, if I didn't wait until the kids were asleep who knows what things might have looked like. I have had them help me paint before, but for this project I chose to go it alone. :-) I think I am finally catching up on my sleep this week.

  • rose sterling

    Making your corn freeze is a great idea! I can’t wait to do this in my corn. I just hope that I can borrow an electric knife in my neighbor. I love your butternut squash!

  • Jackie

    Rose, I hope it works out for you.

  • melanie toy

    It’s really a great idea of freezing your corns. I’ll try it when I harvested some corns this week. Your butternut squash looks great and healthy. I always make some squash soup when I harvest some of that and it is really delicious.

  • Isabella Boy

    That is a big harvest you had. I also need to commend your corn packaging process. I think not all people know it that even though the corn or any vegetable is taken out from the heat already, it is still cooking. So to stop the cooking process within the vegetable, dipping it in cold water should be done. hmm.. that is what I learned when I watch food channels everyday! LOL