Old Fashioned

About a year ago I started what has become almost an obsession with doing things from "scratch."  No more cake mixes, making my own jam, learning to sew, starting to knit again, I even made bread.  All of this led to what we named our "homemade Christmas" last year.  Now you know that sense of accomplishment you feel when you make a really good dinner for your family or the flowers that you planted in the spring are still thriving come fall?  Well all of this homemade goodness has led me to some pretty cool feelings of "heck yeah! Check out what I made!"
 
Today I took this to a new level (well, for me anyways!)  I canned.  Yep, I preserved food for the winter.  I know I have talked about how much I love making and eating homemade jam before, but this preserving food thing was new to me.  So why not jump in with both feet!  Yesterday we hit up the farmers market and today I canned peaches and homemade salsa.  Imagine my kitchen as one big sticky, steam filled, sweaty mess, and me an even bigger sticky and sweaty mess.  But I must say, the salsa tastes great and the peaches look beautiful.  I will have to let you know how everyhting tastes in the upcoming months because right now I can't bring myself to open any of the jars, all I can do is look at them with love in my eyes and that cool feeling of accomplishment. 

Why canning? Maybe it's the "earth-mother" side of me (as my great friend S would say) or maybe I'm just old fashioned.  Who knows, I know my mother never did it and I don't recall my Grandma's ever doing it, but I'm sure my Great-Grandmas canned a thing or two!  I can assure you, I will do it again. 

The salsa going in for a "bath."

My peaches, almost ready to go in.

Do you have any canning experience?  What should I try next?  I'm thinking about canning tomatoes, definitely some apple butter this fall or maybe jalapeno jelly...