FOOD I started canning today after a 40-year break

[hammerhead]

I grew up eating home-canned from the garden.

Now, with the kids all gone and the grandkids many/many miles away, the raspberry patch was lonely and the raised beds produce far too much for two people to eat fresh. Downsize the garden, or... ? The missus agreed that a pressure canner would be a nice addition.

Made some raspberry jam and applesauce today, simple hot-water method. I'm happy.

 

[Macgyver]

Nice

 

[Murt]

congratulations
it will be worth it

 

[summerthyme]

Wonderful! It IS worth it!

Summerthyme

 

[Scrapman]

Pickles are easy.

 

[Sicario]

congratulations
it will be worth it

My aching back disagrees, but my stomach says, "Shut up, back!"

 

[sssarawolf]

Always worth it, I agree.

 

[AlfaMan]

Both the jam and the applesauce sound delicious. And I'd bet the kids and grandkids would love some too. It would be a perfect time to bake up some bread and call them all home for some quality time.

 

[Murt]

My aching back disagrees, but my stomach says, "Shut up, back!"

I feel your pain
as long as your back stops hurting before you run out of canned things it is worth it.
we thought that we were finished canning for the year BUT we were gifted a bushel of late peas
SO
the canning equipment is coming out of storage for one last canning session

 

[hammerhead]

Pickles are easy.

Looking forward to them next year. I've been doing refrigerator pickles for the crunch, but next year I'll throw more trellises up and put away a bunch of different pickles. Everybody eats pickles.

 

[KFhunter]

took me 3 days to can spaghetti sauce, sometimes I wonder if it's worth it...until I pop the lid on one of them jars!


I cook it down for like 3 days until I figured out a hack, now I put the pureed tomatoes in a turkey cooker and leave the lid off, but cover with a bath towel instead. The towel grabs all the steam and evaporates it way quicker than otherwise, and keeps fly's and bugs out.

 

[energy_wave]

I put up 34 quarts of pickles, 11 pints of beets and a few pints of dilly beans within the last few weeks. Just one more batch of beets to can in about 3 to 4 weeks and I'll be done for the year.

 

[summerthyme]

took me 3 days to can spaghetti sauce, sometimes I wonder if it's worth it...until I pop the lid on one of them jars!


I cook it down for like 3 days until I figured out a hack, now I put the pureed tomatoes in a turkey cooker and leave the lid off, but cover with a bath towel instead. The towel grabs all the steam and evaporates it way quicker than otherwise, and keeps fly's and bugs out.

If you've got freezer space, pop the ripe tomatoes in (just long enough to freeze solid- or as long as you want). Defrost them in a sieve. You won't believe the water that runs out! (And it is water, not a tinge of red unless you squeeze them-dont squeeze them!)

It makes a puree almost thick enough to be sauce by itself. Add some chopped vegetables and you can pop it into jars and can it for a fresh tasting marinara.

Summerthyme

 

[Millwright]

If you've got freezer space, pop the ripe tomatoes in (just long enough to freeze solid- or as long as you want). Defrost them in a sieve. You won't believe the water that runs out! (And it is water, not a tinge of red unless you squeeze them-dont squeeze them!)

It makes a puree almost thick enough to be sauce by itself. Add some chopped vegetables and you can pop it into jars and can it for a fresh tasting marinara.

Summerthyme

Interesting.

I have several bags of tomatoes in the freezer from my folk's garden,

They sound like pool balls when you move the bag.

 

[ShadowMan]

Congrats!!

I have one of the several people (contractors) that has really helped us get our neglected mountain home up to snuff these last two years and is really interested in learning how to can. It's not hard, but just takes attention to detail. He (single dad with 4 boys to raise) has asked me to teach him, which I'm more than happy to do. I think we'll start out with something easy like Apple Sauce and Tomato Sauce. He's also interested in learning about prepping.

 

[Millwright]

Congrats!!

I have one of the several people (contractors) that has really helped us get our neglected mountain home up to snuff these last two years and is really interested in learning how to can. It's not hard, but just takes attention to detail. He (single dad with 4 boys to raise) has asked me to teach him, which I'm more than happy to do. I think we'll start out with something easy like Apple Sauce and Tomato Sauce. He's also interested in learning about prepping.

That's great to hear.

Pay if forward.

 

[anna43]

I've canned since I got married which was a LONG time ago. This year I've canned quite a bit but it seems such a small amount compared how much I used to can each year, Its only me now so in comparison its probably excess to my needs. Its a comfort and a blessing to see all those jars of food lined up on my pantry shelves.

Have you tried to buy a pressure canner? They are very hard to find the last couple of years. Sort of like other canning supplies. Water bath canning is always a good place to start learning how to can and the Ball Blue Book is essential guide.

 

[hammerhead]

i happened to be visiting the Logan area in Utah. A short drive down to Smith and Edwards in Ogden scored me a good pressure canner at a price far under any quote on Amazon. And I got a couple cases of some jars -- like the half-gallons -- I can't find around here at all.

 

[Fairwillows]

I used 2 pressure canners until the handles fell off....was wondering if I could afford a new one....at the Goodwill one day, I scored a brand new one, 7 quarts, with 2 new rings, for $8....win win!!!