Canning Pics, Feel free to post yours!

[cheekysaver]

oh cheekysaver one other thing... I don't know the price of the bernardin snaplid in other province in Canada, but here the lowest price for regular lid is 1.50$+tx at the dollar store.

I now use tattler lids that are fully reusable and bpa free. They are more expensive at the biggining, but after 3-4 use of the lid you have equal you initial cost. And for me doing alot of jars in one year this is the best because I'm not living close to a dollars store and we all know when this is time to can, this is time!

I give you the link of tattler if you want to look at this info. Maybe you are not ready now for that, but this is good to know I think

http://www.reusablecanninglids.com

I have purchased about 12- 20 regular snap lid boxes and about the same in gem and wide mouth. I purchased when they were getting cleared out of the stores so I do not have to pay full price later. I know to some it seems like a tone of lids but we really go through them. I have heard of the tattler lids and I must admit I love the reusable nature of these. They will also be on my list of items to purchase in the upcoming year. I know from youtube vids that you tighten them then back them off a 1/4 turn and process them and tighten them up as soon as they come out of the canner.

By the way... LOL Mom and Dad and I all ordered the weighted pressure regulators! I didn't realize they were so inexpensive. I also didn't realize that the pressure gauge goes off over time so on so many levels they are really the best choice. Thanks so much.

[sharkie]

[hollyquaiscer]

great job, got any extra dills you want to share? I love putting a thai chili and garlic in with my dills. Do you do the red pepper jelly, it's also a favorite of mine, and I still have room in the 5th wheel for a few jars of each if you don't mind

[NickiB]

Ok, so I'm pretty much sold on the Presto 23L canner now.. I just have to decide to I order it myself off Amazon, or put it on my Xmas list and hope the BF takes the hint? (I'm thinking to just buy it for myself!) Next question, for those of you who dehydrate, what brand or kind of dehydrator do you use? I was reading some reviews and they are pretty mixed... I dont' think I'll be doing TONS at this point, but likely some dried fruit, tomatoes and jerky would be on my first attempt list...

[kris32]

i am so jealous to,want to get into doing that. Do they stay good for a long time

[cheekysaver]

Ok, so I'm pretty much sold on the Presto 23L canner now.. I just have to decide to I order it myself off Amazon, or put it on my Xmas list and hope the BF takes the hint? (I'm thinking to just buy it for myself!) Next question, for those of you who dehydrate, what brand or kind of dehydrator do you use? I was reading some reviews and they are pretty mixed... I dont' think I'll be doing TONS at this point, but likely some dried fruit, tomatoes and jerky would be on my first attempt list...

If you are going to purchase a dehydrater it needs two things to ensure you can dehydrate foods safe and fast... one is a fan inside the unit and the second is a temperature control. If it has just a on off switch it has no temp control and it may not be safe to put meat on... if it is safe to put meat on it will not be good for your fruit. Sometimes you can pick them up at yard sales and on kijiji or even a thrift store. Many get them and have no idea how useful they really are lol.

[cheekysaver]

great job, got any extra dills you want to share? I love putting a thai chili and garlic in with my dills. Do you do the red pepper jelly, it's also a favorite of mine, and I still have room in the 5th wheel for a few jars of each if you don't mind

Dang we are in the same city and my dills are... Bicks! Laughing here! I need a big huge garden so I can get the dills cheap enough to can them... they are so costly in the store I refused to do my own. I have never made or had red pepper jelly... honestly I am not sure how it would be used LOL. I only canned some jams 20 years ago and I just kind of jumped right into canning this year. One day I looked at my stock pile and realized it had almost no food in it and I decided to change it.

[snipandsave]

What is the advantage of this over buying cans of stuff? I'm guessing less preservatives etc.... because I cannot see it being that much cheaper to justify the labour involved.

It is significantly cheaper if you are growing your own fruits and veggies otherwise only a modest price difference but at least you know what you are getting and it tastes great. I know some people pressure can chicken breast when it goes on sale and it stores well in its cooked state for use right out of the jar. Handy to have less going into the freezer, especially if you don't have a deep freezer.

I haven't started preserving yet because I am looking for a larger property so that I can grow everything myself and stock up on a yearly basis. Seems like fun especially if you are saving money.

Cheers,

Snip.

[aderalem]

Sounds like we may have some preppers in our midst!!

[NickiB]

Dang we are in the same city and my dills are... Bicks! Laughing here! I need a big huge garden so I can get the dills cheap enough to can them... they are so costly in the store I refused to do my own. I have never made or had red pepper jelly... honestly I am not sure how it would be used LOL. I only canned some jams 20 years ago and I just kind of jumped right into canning this year. One day I looked at my stock pile and realized it had almost no food in it and I decided to change it.

If we're talking hot pepper jelly, I do a habanero and jalepeno jelly, and LOVE them! Just warm a bit of the jelly in the microwave and pour it over some softened cream cheese. Dip with crackers.. I could, and probably have, ate a whole block myself!

[cheekysaver]

Sounds like we may have some preppers in our midst!!

I am very sure we do... but I will say the reason I can and I am building a food storage is because when I got sick I had trouble cooking and trouble making ends meet. I can at any point have a hip or shoulder or ankle or knee dislocate or just get sprained and put me out of commision. It is far better to be ready for this to happen and plan ahead. It is not a "if" I will get hurt or sick ... it is a matter of when for me. This next time when I get hurt I will not have to be visiting a food bank... and if I don't get hurt for 6 months or a year... it doesn't matter because my food won't spoil or get frost bite... am I a prepper? Sure... I am not preparing for the end of the world with a 3 year food supply... just lifes definate realities of having EDS.

[cheekysaver]

If we're talking hot pepper jelly, I do a habanero and jalepeno jelly, and LOVE them! Just warm a bit of the jelly in the microwave and pour it over some softened cream cheese. Dip with crackers.. I could, and probably have, ate a whole block myself!

Well that explains why I have never had it... Cream cheese is for cakes! *laughing here* That is the only way I eat it. Thanks so much for letting me know how it is used!

[kidsteph]

What a great thread!. Most folks I know don't even cook, never mind can and bake - good to see this skill is alive and well. Can we post pics of our gardens too?

Here are mine - most of the raspberries came from my garden (40 x 35 feet); I did some Pick Your Own too for the strawberries and got some at the St. Jacobs Mennonite Market.

My daughter and I made the tart pastry - these were excellent.

I did make more jams (see next pic below) peach and cherry (used canned cherries); I thought the berry jams were the best. And they are so darn fruity they are great as cheesecake topping.

[kidsteph]

These are freezer jams and are very fruity and fresh tasting...I use Bernardin or Club House brand pectin mix and use 4 cups crushed fruit (= 7 cups raspberries or 5.5 cups whole strawberries) with only 1.5 cups of sugar - gets you 5 cups of jam.

[lizardqueen78]

Ok, question - what are you canning with your pressure canners?

I asked for one for my bday, DH has searched high and low (so he says) and the one store that he found them at told him they were mostly for meats! He is grossed out by the idea of canned meat, and asked for another idea for my bday gift lol

Can I use a water canner for soups? They wouldn't have meat in them, but will have dairy - I'm thinking potato leek, broccoli cheddar etc.

I'm trying to plan ahead for next season, as we missed out on most fruits this year This thread makes me want to preserve everything lol the pie fillings that cheekysaver posted look awesome!