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11:55 am
July 14, 2011
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Well, chickens, it's up and going!! The summer kitchen that is! I used it this morning and one canner of beans and 3 recipes of sweet zucchini rellish are cooling as I type. It can use some tweaking (I plan to move some things around so that I have "counter space" where I need it.)
but it worked like a charm and my house is not heated up anymore than necessary. Gotta love a man that likes to eat enough to help me set this up. Thanks to DH!!! 
12:27 pm
February 10, 2009
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Hooray for your success LaurieJo and for such a great person to help the whole plan come together. A summer kitchen that allows for canning and special projects so a cook's kitchen be ready to use for every day meals and normal prep is a sure way to keep great food on the table year round, and the cook in a good mood and ready to make wonderful meals.
Your hubby deserves a huge reward! Some special pickles? Or jam? A special meal or maybe just a big ol' glass of his favorite beverage… and a hug and lots of thank yous. maybe lots of hugs!
1:08 pm
July 22, 2010
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Wow! That's great news . . . .now I have "summer kitchen envy"! Enjoy the DH AND the kitchen!
1:29 pm
April 3, 2011
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LaurieJo! Would you please post some photos? I have never seen a summer kitchen but think I know what it is and want one when we are working on our fixer upper soon. Just looking for ideas and a general format so to speak. Thank you.
2:06 pm
February 10, 2009
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The house I grew up in had an extra kitchen in the basement. It was a full kitchen though not at all fancy, and that's where canning got done and often where we lived in the summer! Traditional summer kitchens from days gone by were often just a shed in the back of the house so canning could be done without heating up the kitchen. Once hauling buckets of water was not unusual but now some rough plumbing could be installed that would need to be disconnected for the winter to avoid freezing etc.
A small concrete pad where a second hand propane stove could be installed, (leveling is very important with propane!!!) or even a small propane ring could be used, just making sure it's adjustable enough for canning and it would be Oh SO useful. A well built roof where a grill with a gas burner might be used? Just make sure it's safe, safe, safe!!!!!
Canning in this heat has been a struggle for our mothers and grandmothers, and great-gma's too. If you can find a way to do it safely and allow for more comfort for you and your family, DO IT!!! It doesn't have to be fancy, just be safe and offer good ventilation and protection from weather etc.
3:11 pm
December 14, 2010
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You need good ventilation and excellant insect control. That means screens on the windows and on the door. Level is important for the stove top. You don't want your pots leaning all awry. Propane doesn't care about level but kerosine surely does.
5:33 pm
May 3, 2010
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How wonderful! You are very blessed to have a summer kitchen to can in. I'd love to see some photos too. My DH is my "canning buddy" and we can outside using a propane turkey fryer burner… it's hot, but the time we spend together is pleasant. I've been trying to talk him into a canning kitchen for awhile.
6:51 pm
February 10, 2009
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Well, I was taught differently about the propane, it isn't as forgiving as natural gas, but check with a person who is more knowledgeable than us is my advice.
11:10 pm
December 14, 2010
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I use propane on my sailboat and can cook quite well when we are heeled at 10 to 15 degrees. There are clamps to keep the pots from sliding around on the top of the stove.
12:47 pm
May 23, 2010
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Has anyone heard of a sixteen brick rocket stove? I was wondering if one could use something like this for canning? I have a flat cooktop and learned here that you cannot/should not use them for canning. Going to CITR Retreat this year to learn how to can and this may be my only option. They are supposed to be very fuel efficient. I am just wondering if you can maintain the heat necessary to can.
1:10 pm
December 14, 2010
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For canning you need fairly fast burner responce and excellant heat transfer.
6:07 pm
July 14, 2011
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Well, you all might be thinking that my "summer kitchen" is far fancier than it really it. It is outdoors. No insect control but I don't really need it. I'm only doing the canning out there. I cold pack my green beans and cooked my zucchini relish for only 10 minutes in the house. I carried it the short distance to the "summer kitchen" to jar it and process it. My kitchen consists of an old kerosene three burner holder rigged up with three propane burners, a Colaman fuel camp stove and a table to use as a counter. It is under some trees and shaded all day. There is water available for a garden hose with a nozzle at this time. We are looking at an old kitchen sink for washing tomatoes, etc. but that's not installed at present. The water would have to be collected and used for other purposes such as watering my flowers but that would be a good thing. Rough as it is my "summer kitchen" is a real blessing. And yes, DH got many hugs and kisses and thanks via a delicious meal last evening. He is y knight in shining armor!
Hahahaha!
9:51 pm
December 14, 2010
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A couple of five gallon buckets under the sink drain will serve and you can get an adaptor for hose to pipe for the faucet. Someone is always throwing away an old sink cabinet or two saw horses and a sheet of plywood with a cutout for the sink will work.
2:08 am
May 5, 2011
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That sounds great, LaurieJo! I know you will be much happier taking all that heat outside where it belongs. :D That is similar to what I do. I bought two folding tables at a discount store and set up my Coleman camp stove out in the garage, with the garage door open for ventilation. I am going to get an adapter this year so I can use a 20 lb. propane tank and not have to worry about my flame going out at an inopportune time! I pack my stuff inside and just carry it out, no problem. When I am done canning, I like to dump the hot water on the weeds which kills them better than ol' Roundup.
3:49 am
June 1, 2010
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Even today, looking through some of the home for sale listings, I'm surprised at how many list a 'summer kitchen' as an asset.
9:22 am
December 14, 2010
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Many of the modern BBQ set ups would qualify as outdoor kitchens. I have seen grills with 4 burners, a built in smoker and the grill. On some decks these are served by a built in fridge and a hot and cold water sink all under a very nice roof.
10:08 am
June 1, 2011
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(off-topic)
Ross said:
I use propane on my sailboat and can cook quite well when we are heeled at 10 to 15 degrees. There are clamps to keep the pots from sliding around on the top of the stove.
Oh Ross, you are much braver soul than me!! When I moved to the mountains from the NC coast, friends always asked me about all the water activities down here. It was hard for them to believe I did not sail. I'm a certified diver, and would much rather be under the water than on top–no seasickness that way!
(back to your regularly scheduled topic…)
10:13 am
June 1, 2011
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LaurieJo said:
Well, you all might be thinking that my "summer kitchen" is far fancier than it really it…Rough as it is my "summer kitchen" is a real blessing.
Oh LaurieJo, it sounds like heaven! Many years ago when my girls were little and I did alot more canning than I do now, my "summer" kitchen was a single electric burner set up on a sturdy folding table under our lean-to. I was never so happy as for that little convenience!
4:48 pm
December 14, 2010
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Liz Pike said:
(off-topic)
Ross said:
I use propane on my sailboat and can cook quite well when we are heeled at 10 to 15 degrees. There are clamps to keep the pots from sliding around on the top of the stove.
Oh Ross, you are much braver soul than me!! When I moved to the mountains from the NC coast, friends always asked me about all the water activities down here. It was hard for them to believe I did not sail. I'm a certified diver, and would much rather be under the water than on top–no seasickness that way!
(back to your regularly scheduled topic…)
Can't bake a layer cake in those conditions but cupcakes work well enough.
11:56 pm
July 14, 2011
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My DH has really out done himself lately….makes me wonder what he's been up to?! He helped my put up two bushels of corn this evening. We shucked together, I processed outside in the "summer kitchen" while he cut it off the cob inside. It's all bagged and in the freezer in less than 4 hours. Record time for me! (And I think he might have enjoyed it a little bit.) I will have to come up with something special to make sure he knows his help is appreciated!
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