What I have been doing in August

A very busy summer

While I have been busy and not able to post anything new on here in a long time. I have plenty to share with all.
This year we put in a very large garden and it has kept us all busy. Between picking weeds ( a never ending battle) and picking the produce (the amount has been amazing despite a drought) we have done little else. I have been canning this year and I have not done that in a long time. I seemed to have lost the passion for it (yes, it can be a passion for some). However, this year I was not planning on any canning but honestly felt that I 'needed' to do that this year. It has been such a blessing for me to try so many new recipes and not just do the 'standard' canning recipes.
I have branched out on what I want to share with my family and have found some really great recipes online and my MIL gave me 2 new canning books. I have been wowing my children with all kinds of things that they would have never tried before. I have a couple of children not fond of any squash but they love an eggplant salsa I made and a zucchini salsa. I want to share the links I have found and maybe inspire some of you other keepers at home to try some new things if you are getting bored with canning.
List of awesome recipes:
Eggplant Salsa
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/11/different-kind-of-salsa-eggplant.html

Balsamic Cherry Tomato Caramelized Onion Conserve
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/06/balsamic-cherry-tomato-caramelized.html

Zucchini Salsa
http://www.sbcanning.com/2010/09/double-canning-night-fig-jam-and.html

Cowboy Jam
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/03/tomato-jam-its-just-so-good-looking.html

Tomato Basil Jam
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/07/more-canning-from-better-homes-and.html

Chow down pickled cabbage
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/03/diners-drive-ins-and-dives-inspiration.html

Taco Sauce
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/04/better-homes-and-garden-can-it-taco.html

Bread and Butter pickles
http://www.sbcanning.com/2010/07/bread-and-butter-pickles.html

Sweet pickles and Dill pickles
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/07/pickles-sweet-and-dill-taste-of-summer.html

Salsa Jam
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/11/canning-pepper-jam-salsa-for-breakfast.html

Cowboy Candy
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/10/jars-of-color-cowboy-candy-more.html

Pickled cherry tomatoes
http://www.sbcanning.com/2010/10/busy-night-canning-water-bath-full-and.html

Roasted garlic pasta sauce
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/05/roasted-garlic-pasta-sauce-your-pasta.html

Blender ketchup
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/07/condiment-canning-ketchup-mustard.html

Italian tomato relish
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/07/tomato-time-for-love-of-garden.html

Watermelon pickles
http://032ad8a.netsolhost.com/madmad/2012/07/11/watermelon_pickles/

Caponata
http://www.sbcanning.com/2010/08/eggplant-appetizer-caponata.html

Tomato Salsa
http://www.sbcanning.com/2011/05/lindseys-jars-of-tomato-salsa.html

Pickled Eggplant with mint and garlic
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/11/pickled-eggplant-with-mint-and-garlic.html

Amazing Pickled and Marinated Vegetables
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jamie-oliver/amazing-pickled-and-marinated-vegetables-recipe/index.html
All of these have been tasted while i made them by me, my hubs and our kiddoes. Everyone loves them. I will make a quick note though. This year all hot peppers are really hot and if you do not like spicy foods, replace the amount with one of your favorite peppers. The ones missing pictures I either forgot to take a picture of or have not gotten to it just yet.
Enjoy and have fun with canning this year!
My Thirsting Soul