LindaLou, the NCHFP Pepper Onion Relish has 6 c onions 6 c peppers 6 c vinegar and yields 9 half pints. the UCalDavis has 16 c peppers 4 1/2 cup onion 3 c vinegar and yields 4-5 pints. sure it's straight vinegar, but there's a heck of a lot more in the NCHFP recipe. The Uga Vidalia Onion also uses straight vinegar, but it calls for 1 quart (4C) vinegar) to 1 1/2 gallon (24cups) onion and yields about 8 pints. There has to be some correlation between amount of vinegar and amount of low acid food and yields. Several years back, I was trying to update or replace a recipe for Pepper-Onion Relish that didn't call for processing. I was referred to the NCHFP recipe, but I knew I wouldn't like that much vinegar so I just forgot about it. Sometime later I found the UCalDavis recipe and it was close enough to mine that I used it. As for the Vidalia Onion, I questioned the amount of vinegar and was told on this forum that it is a safe tested recipe. It still seems a bit out of sync with so many of the NCHFP relishes, which are very heavy on the vinegar...but it has been tested. It's also pretty old. If I'm missing something here, please tell me. But it truly seems that when you compare tested recipes there is a huge variance of acceptable acidification. kay

Thanks all for your suggestions. I have almost finished up my ''basket'', which turned out to be one of those small dishpans (blueberry colored) from the dollar store (because you know, cleanup is part of the deal.) Everything just fits in, it's packed tight and looks really interesting because there are all kinds of primary colors peeking through. While I was out, I found a ''quick draw'' pepper holster which I had to have. Fortunately for me, there was a kid sized pepper mill to put in it, so he can wear it on his belt and give everything an little spice. I also found a silicone trivet which will grip his pots/bowls, and double as lid for all three pieces on the stove. The apron came from the craft store and Arley, I saw the chef's hat there, but decided to save it for next year, along with the springform pan. (The kid should have something to look forward to...or maybe that's really me who needs to, and I can't fit anymore in!) I tucked in some paper liners for the little muffin tin, so cleanup won't be a chore, some dry/liquid measuring cups. The only thing I'm really missing is a timer, which I'll be sure to include. After all, we need to know how long to cook/bake things! I also picked up a colorful popcorn bucket which is the right size for all the utensils, so they have their own ''storage'' container. This will give him a good start, and he'll have most everything he needs to measure and stir, cook and bake. Deanna, I hear you about the carb thing! For the two year old, I found a toy cordless phone that included a handset/base. You can record your own messages on it, so I thought that would be fun for all of us to do. He can hear from all of us anytime he wants, and learn his numbers at the same time. Doesn't every kid need to know how to dial his own phone number/911 (on his own phone of course?) I will say...two years old is kind of hard to figure out!

amberley - sorry I didn't check in sooner. I love your layout - what a great 1st try! I spent an hour writing a post two nights ago an then managed to delete it just before I submitted it. I don't know if you've moved on from the drawing you posted, but I'm going to put in a couple of thoughts and hope at least one or two are helpful. Please bear in mind I'm not a "layout guru", but since this is a Chef's table I'm jumping in. 1. Would you consider switching the dishwasher and the trash pullout so the dishwasher is on the left? That would give much better clearance for walking behind the person unloading dishes. You could simply move the sink to the right 6" (the sink would be a little more behind the island, but 42" clearance should be enough for passing anyone washing dishes). Or you could also steal a few inches from the pantry to the left. This might make the hall/LR entryway a little tight. I don't know how much traffic this entryway gets, but there is another entry way just on the other side of the fridge. Stealing a little from the pantry could move your range a little to the left and give you a little more counter space on the right (it looks like you have only 15-17") for ingredients/utensils/mise en place and "on deck" pots/pans" 2. Also for better dishwasher clearance, would you consider shortening the marble area 6", getting rid of the mixer cab, putting your mixer underneath the butcher block and expanding your baking drawers from 30" to 36"? (don't know if this would cramp your "rolling" style) I'm biased against the mixer cabinets which have a shelf that positions up to the counter, because the ones I've seen tend to shake a lot once the mixer really gets going. 3. If you're doing volume baking, would you consider leaving space for a 18"x18" rolling cart w/5-6 shelves underneath the area labeled "bookcase or open for stools"? I made a 6 shelf one for myself out of Metro shelving. It has a cutting board insert top. It acts both as a cooling and loading rack for baked items (when kids are little allow pans to cool on counter for 15 min before putting on cart). It can store all sorts of baking and cookie pans & parchment paper/silpats. And it can be rolled to wherever it is needed in the kitchen. Just an idea! 4. Also for sheet & baking pan storage, have you considered using the cabinet above your fridge. I went with a 24"d x 36"w cab and put vertical inserts in it to keep the pans sorted and standing up. That way you only have to be able to reach the bottom corner to pull them out. It's a great use of an area that's normally "hard to reach" storage (unless of course you're really tall which I'm not). 5. I like having the microwave by the fridge as a lot of what I use it for is heating up leftovers. Would it be possible to add a shelf above the "Micro T.O. Stack" and put the microwave on it? (I know for some the unenclosed microwave is an "aesthetics violation"). If you can go with a smaller microwave that's only 18" wide, you get a little counter right by the fridge. This also keeps the microwave out of reach from little ones (Although now that DD just turned 11 and is allowed to use microwave, she's complaining it's hard to reach). You could also put plastic wraps and bags in the top drawer stack and use this station for wrapping/putting away food that goes into the fridge. I like having the plastic wrap by the microwave because I'm always using it to cover containers and bowls I'm putting into it. Again, I hope at least one of these is helpful. Congratulations on your fine start.

I loved Marbree! Very nice win! I won a NO ID in the silent auction and two that I bid on. The first one was a dwarf hybrid musk? Jet Spray. It looked and sounded delightful in the PowerPoint presentation. I got it for only $10! Does anyone know bout Jet Spray? There are no blooms on it right now. The second bid is a brand new intro by John Bagnasco. A darling raspberry pink polyantha with tiny blooms. It has an Heirloom roses tag, so I assume it will be released next year. I did pay a bit more for Kendyl Marie. Here’s her picture. Opps, upside down! She’s very pretty and I think those tiny blooms will be wonderful in the vase. There were many great roses that either I didn’t have the space for, or were out of my price range. One thing I did learn, is that it doesn’t do any good to place a bunch of low bids early in the silent auction. Many went for very reasonable prices, but they were placed the last few minutes of the silent auction. I just left my bids stand and only won one rose in the silent auction. I know for next time, but I really didn’t “need” anything. I just wanted:) I arrived on Sunday just as the silent auction closed, and apparently I should have arrived about 15 minutes earlier. That’s ok, less holes to dig. Here’s a few rose pictures from the auction. Great Speckled Bird, below.I would have liked Pink Intuition. This one went a little too high for me in the live auction, while Red Intuition went for about $20. Wish I liked reds! Red Intuition belowRed Intuition This one was very much the hot item in the silent auction. I believe Bob Martin took it home. I enjoyed speaking with him again on Sunday. Surprised to find out that he lives about 5 miles from me. More to follow. I need a minute. Lisa