How many times have you received an unexpected blessing? Well, I did yesterday and wasn’t expecting it plus it was out of season. Some of you know I enjoy gardening, canning and freezing vegetables. My sister in love said she was giving me some butterbeans which are out of season. This truly was a miracle because it is my favorite bean in the world! She assured me that it was nothing I needed to do to them, they would be in a box from IGA grocery store. I basically needed to let them sit at room temperature to thaw out. She removed two-quart bag size amounts for herself and gave the remaining 20lb box to me. She reminded me that there was no shelling or anything for me to do, nothing too major. My biggest challenge was to determine how I would preserve them. Would they go in the freezer or be placed in jars for canning?
My first thought was to wash them up well and place them in quart bags for the freezer. How quick and easy would that method be? The next choice I considered was believed to be the most beneficial for me, especially if the power goes out. Although we have a generator, extended time without electricity may not be profitable for freezing more vegetables long term. So, I decided to place the jars in the dishwasher with other dishes to be cleaned and sterilized for canning.
Now, my decision has been made to pressure can the butterbeans, but I am lacking the lids and rings, so I traveled to our local Wal Mart and purchased a couple boxes of them to prepare for my extraordinaire blessing. The beans have been washed and prepared for the clean jars. Lids and rings are sterilizing; water is boiling and placed inside the salt-filled jars with lids tightened and the pressure cooker ready to do its thing, fifty minutes I wait!
The canning process has finished. The first set of butter beans yielded six-quart jars, the second batch was nine-pint jars, and the freezer method produced two overstuffed quart bags. My extraordinary blessing, even out of season, was magnificent. I am so thankful and blessed to have received this unexpected blessing. When we give unto others, they will reciprocate with amazing gifts when we are not expecting them. How can you give unto others today? It may not always be tangible items, but your time is priceless.
DRWANDA VANESSAS GOODIES BOOKS BLOG & LIFE COACH INITIATIVE 