by Julia Schrenkler
Member since:
August 31, 2005

Open discussion: Do you do any canning?

September 24, 2008 11:49 AM EDT (Updated: September 24, 2008 01:28 PM EDT)
views: 392 | comments: 29
Do you do any canning?

If you don't, would you like to? If you do, would you share recipes and tips? Do you have a garden chock-full of harvesty goodness just waiting to be preserved?

I've noticed a trend towards canning, even if that's only talking about it and not actually doing it. It might be a return to frugality or deliciousness or both. A recent search turned up these items:
Handy as well as thought-provoking. This is an open discussion so your Gather post / image / video / blog links are more than welcome! Your related articles or comments may be quoted as part of http://www.mpr.org/your_voice

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Comments: 29

Peter Joseph Swanson Sep 24, 2008, 11:54am EDT
I don't ... but if somebody wants to give me a jar of pickles, I'll take it !!!
Winston Smith Sep 24, 2008, 12:35pm EDT
Me neither!
But if someone wants to give me a jar of salsa, I take one! Or some tomato juice for my beer!
Winston Smith Sep 24, 2008, 12:36pm EDT
Spicy green beans! or Aspargas! great for Bloody Mary's!
Winston Smith Sep 24, 2008, 12:37pm EDT
We gave up on growing the basics and just do flowers. It's alot of work. And when they are in season, there are plenty of free tomatoes, cukes, green beans that someone brings to work to give away.
Samantha H. Sep 24, 2008, 12:51pm EDT
I wish I could, but in a tiny apartment, I dont' have enough room to do it and nowhere to store the stuff afterward. It's probably not worth it to do a small batch.
Samantha H. Sep 24, 2008, 12:52pm EDT
my mom always used to can tomatoes. We'd use them in practically everything. She'd do smaller cans of fruit, too, with apples and peaches and pears and we'd use them in desserts. She always made veggies, too, like green beans and stuff. We'd open a jar for dinner almost every night.
Samantha H. Sep 24, 2008, 12:53pm EDT
Oh, but when she was canning, watch out! She was one busy lady for hours on end and she was NOT happy about it...
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:18pm EDT
I used to do a lot of canning in my younger days. I still do a little, mainly stuff that does not need the water bath method.

Refrigerator pickles and freezer jams are favorites to do now.

But I do prepare a lot of food for the freezer, such as my favorite since a couple of years ago roasted tomato sauce
Julia Schrenkler Sep 24, 2008, 1:18pm EDT
Wow, lots of volunteer gift recipients here! (Quietly raising my hand as well...) We're all into eating, aren't we *wry grin*

Canning really is work intensive. That said, I think it was Amanda Hesser, author of "The Cook and the Gardener" who wrote about doing small batches of canning at a time, as if it were the most simple thing in the world to put up a few pints of this or that during the day. Of course she was employed to be the cook at the time, but don't take that note as snark. I really found it quite charming. Makes me want to pick up that book again and double check my memory.
Julia Schrenkler Sep 24, 2008, 1:19pm EDT
Oh Sonia, sorry for the simul-post because I missed your links! Can you repost the refrigerator pickles one?
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:21pm EDT
I also like to make fruit syrups which I then use to make salad dressings and such. when I have too much of it, I freeze it in baggies until I need it.
I make my own vanilla extract and also vanilla sugar.
I make my own pesto and freeze that also.
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:22pm EDT
Julia, I can see the two links I posted in my comment above.... You can't see it?
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Sep 24, 2008, 1:23pm EDT
No canning here -- although I'd like to, sparingly as needed to make use of nature's bounty. I'm a freezing fan myself, but for those who do can (or otherwise preserve their fruits and vegetables) feel free to post your recipes/instructions to the Frugal Eats and Frugal Living groups. Thank you for introducing this discussion Julia.
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Sep 24, 2008, 1:25pm EDT
I'm loving your refrigerator pickles and freezer jam ideas Sonia. Those are great projects for "beginner" canners (those who want to preserve food but don't want to face hours over a pressure cooker like Samantha's mom had to ; ) such as myself.
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:26pm EDT
Here they are

Refrigerator pickles

Tomato Confit
Julia Schrenkler Sep 24, 2008, 1:26pm EDT
Sonia, I can see them but they both go to the roasted tomato sauce recipe for me.

Thanks for the invite, Ms. Meacham!
Julia Schrenkler Sep 24, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
*laughing* Sonia, we must type in sync in some parallel world.
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
oooops, one didn't show up
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:29pm EDT
;-)))
We are typing in sync, Julia

I don't know why I can't get the tomato sauce one to show....

Ms M:MM, I too love my freezer and wrote an article some time ago that I published in Gather.......will have to hunt it down.
Lynn R. Sep 24, 2008, 1:31pm EDT
I use to every summer. Haven't for a long time. The way things are going through, looks like there's a huge garden in our future.

Hey I've got a wonderful recipe for Sweet Pickles (like bread and butter pickles) if anyone wants it, email and let me know. DELICIOUS!!! We had friends begging for jars of them every summer.
Sonia M. Sep 24, 2008, 1:31pm EDT
OK, there should be 3 different links above now.... Hope they all work ok
;-)
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Sep 24, 2008, 1:34pm EDT
Re: Thanks for the invite, Ms. Meacham!

My pleasure Julia. Thank you SOOO much for the post!
Prima Donna Sep 24, 2008, 2:49pm EDT
Yes, I can spaghetti sauce, apple sauce, and peaches. You should see my pantry. Used to do a lot more when my kids were little. Pickles, green tomatoes, green beans, vegetable juice, grape juice ...
Dusty Hubbard Sep 24, 2008, 2:52pm EDT
I don't can. I'm always afraid of not doing it right and getting sick.
Liz H. Sep 24, 2008, 9:32pm EDT
My Ex, before he was "X" taught me how to can garlic-dill green beans, with tiny red-hot peppers. The beans and peppers came from our garden out behind the garage, and they were great mid-winter, layered into a grilled-cheese sandwich. MMmmmm...makes me hungry!
Dana H. Sep 24, 2008, 11:10pm EDT
I canned a batch of cowboy candy. It makes great gifts!
Liz H. Sep 25, 2008, 12:48pm EDT
What's Cowoy candy? We only have Vikings up here...
Liz H. Sep 25, 2008, 12:48pm EDT
Sorry Dana...Cowboy candy...
Dana H. Sep 25, 2008, 2:36pm EDT
Cowboy Candy is sort of candied Jalapenos. I found a recipe online. It isn't hot like you'd think. Here is the link if you want to try. We eat it on crackers with cream cheese.
http://boards.texascooking.com/index.php?showtopic=82

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