It's my new pressure canner, and this weekend my little family is heading to my husband's hometown in southeastern AZ for the women to have a "canning" weekend. So excited! I used it one time last week, so I am excited to try it out again! Everything I made last weekend turned out fabulous. I know that it can be potentially dangerous (although, they are made much, much safer now, than when our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used to pressure can--there are a lot of safety mechanisms in place before it will just blow up), but I feel much more comfortable with it now. We are going to can chicken and beans this weekend! Both staples around this house. Best part is, both of those items are put in the jar raw, thrown in the canner, and come out cooked, tender, and preserved until needed! There was a sale for chicken $1.69/pound, and so I offered to bring down a ton for everyone to use (since that small town doesn't get many great deals like that). My parent's extra freezer is filled to the brim with chicken, because they said I could borrow space for a few weeks (well chicken, a bunch of meat from a cow they had butchered, and more Blue Bell ice cream cartons than you'd ever think of!).
Brett and I are slightly worried about how we will take all of the chicken down with us in our tiny car...but I am sure we will figure it out!
I have been scouring Craigslist and price checking for canning jars at all the stores. I have a pretty decent collection. Now to start filling them!
I have a long list of things I'd eventually like to can, but I am glad to be starting with these basics. Have you ever canned or preserved anything? What was your favorite? Ever done tomatoes? They interest me, but seem like a lot of work. Tell me your thoughts!
Tia, you are an inspiration! I love canning, but have not done much since I lost my canning buddy. My friends used to grow mountains of tomatoes every summer and their system was very simple. They just washed the tomatoes and popped them into the jars. When it was time to use them, they'd put the whole tomatoes (skins and all) in the blender for a couple seconds -- just long enough to chop them a bit. They used them all the time and they were absolutely delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt will be a fun weekend! Thanks for doing all of the legwork with getting the meat, etc. See you soon! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've done tomatoes before and dried them, too. It's been a long time, but I don't remember them being any harder than the peaches and pears I have done.
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