Snap, snap, snap

[gwyneth]

And gyneth, yes I have had to help shell beans and peas. We kids had to do them manually and the grown-ups got to use the sheller (wringer washer)

It's always hard for me to tell whether something is an eccentric thing practiced by our eccentric family, or whether it's more normal. This one could have gone either way.

Ed62, Ken and I are talking about using the wringer part of the washer to pop the shells--are you pulling our legs about actually washing beans in one?

[Ed62]

Ed62, Ken and I are talking about using the wringer part of the washer to pop the shells--are you pulling our legs about actually washing beans in one?

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. But I wasn't joking about washing them in the washer. We've been doing it that way for quite a few years. That's the way to go.

Finally done! Wound up with 44 quarts of beans.

Ed

[Uncle Cracker]

And I'd take the home-canned veggies anytime over that processed store-bought crap. Some things can't be improved upon with technology. Of course, nothing beats fresh from the garden, and I get spoiled living in a place with a 365-day growing season (except when I'm mowing my lawn in January)...

[tedkitch]

you could use the miter saw for that job.

That is hilarious! I told my wife that next time we get beans that I'll cut them down for her. I got one of those "you are dumber than a box of rocks" looks.

Good one, Loring!

[gwyneth]

That is hilarious! I told my wife that next time we get beans that I'll cut them down for her. I got one of those "you are dumber than a box of rocks" looks.

Good one, Loring!

You could make a jig for the tablesaw by drilling a line of holes in a 2x4 or smaller, then ripping it through the line of holes so that you have a top and bottom. Then, put a bean in each of the now semi-circular depressions, cover with the other piece (hinging the top of the bean jig is a nice touch), and 'gang-cut' the line of bean ends.

Actually, you could use the jig for more stream-lined, uniform cuts with a knife.

You could make it a mass bean guillotine by hinging a blade on it to drop on the bean ends.

[mater]

That is hilarious! I told my wife that next time we get beans that I'll cut them down for her. I got one of those "you are dumber than a box of rocks" looks.

Good one, Loring!

I get those looks quite often myself.

[ironhat]

Oh, yes I do. I actually clean the tub of our (automatic) clothes washer, then dump in a bushel of beans for washing (no soap). Of course, you want to make sure there is no soap residue left in the tub, and it is nice and clean. I run the machine through the complete cycle, with the beans in it. This effectively gives me three very good rinses, and the beans come out clean as a whistle. We've been doing it for years, and never had a problem. I sometimes wonder if the original purpose of the machine was to wash beans, and someone thought it might be able to wash clothes too.

Ed

We do something similar with peaches. We perform the cleaning/ de-fuzzing process in the dishwasher, hot water and no soap. Some of the skins slip right off and other have to be scalded. Other people look at the wife with the 'bag of rocks' look and I tell her that she now knows how I feel most of the time - LOL!

We always had the kids doing the canning with us and although they complained at the time they now recall those as some of the most fun times we had as a family. When they went off to college they were the some of the few who knew ow to take care of themselves (done bragging - sorry!).

[LCHIEN]

Originally Posted by LCHIEN
you could use the miter saw for that job.

That is hilarious! I told my wife that next time we get beans that I'll cut them down for her. I got one of those "you are dumber than a box of rocks" looks.

Good one, Loring!

With a CMS, you could miter and bevel those things and call them "French cut green beans".
and you could thumb your nose at the wife for that the dumber than a box of rox look she shot you.

And imagine the joy and wonderment the kids would experience when they eat precisely mitered grean beans. (for the first and probably last time in their lives).