Anyone do lots of home canning/food preserving?

[brandytab]

Found the one I use!!

This jam is nice and quick to make!

Banana Jam

Prep Time: 45 min
Total Time: 2 hr min
Makes: about 8 (1-cup) jars.

4 cups bananas
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 box Fruit Pectin
1/2 tsp. butter or margarine
6 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl

Prepare canner. Mash bananas and put them in a saucepot. Stir in lemon and pectin. Add butter, if desired (I do). Bring to a full rolling boil (and boy is that messy! LOL)
Stir in all sugar QUICKLY. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water if needed. Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 minutes. Cool.

 

[brandytab]

Quote:
Alright, now *I* need that Kale/sausage recipe! We are BIG soup eaters here and I make a sausage/spinach soup. Never though of canning it though

BTW - the only warning is that the banana jam is SWEET. This year I'm going to play with it and see if I can back off on the sugar.

 

[Scoop]

Oh that sounds good, that recipe. I'll be cutting down on the sugar but it really looks easy.

Okay, here's the Kale Soup recipe:

In a really really large pot (like 5 or 6 qt) saute:

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery

Then add:

4 beef bouillon cubes
4 chicken bouillon cubes
8 cups water
1 lb. cut up potatoes

Let simmer 20 minutes. Then add:

1 lb. smoked sausage, cut up
1 can red kidney beans
8 cups of cut up kale

You can play around with the amounts if you want. I usually put in way more carrots. Add more water as needed. When I canned it I believe I pressure canned this at 10 lbs. of pressure for 90 minutes. That really is long, but you'd never want to reduce that time. This soup is so tasty, I always say it's way better than Campbell's! Even if you don't can this you'll want to try it.

Thanks for the banana jam recipe! I'm getting extra bananas tomorrow!

 

[chellebyerly]

Quote:
Did you can the squash? If so, what type of squash?

I just blanched them and then threw them in ice water and put them in ziplock bags. nothing special. and it was just plain old yeller squash... Did Zuchini (sp) too. same way.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
Scoop
Try Pomona's. They sell in individual boxes too if you just want to try it. If you put up a lot of jams/jellies the sell in larger quantities. (I store mine in canning jar)

Best thing is .... low sugar jelling!! (And you can double and triple your recipes and still have them turn out right!!!!)

No fooling ... I've done it


http://www.pomonapectin.com/

 

[RuffTuffCreampuff]

Quote:
Scoop
Try Pomona's. They sell in individual boxes too if you just want to try it. If you put up a lot of jams/jellies the sell in larger quantities. (I store mine in canning jar)

Best thing is .... low sugar jelling!! (And you can double and triple your recipes and still have them turn out right!!!!)

No fooling ... I've done it


http://www.pomonapectin.com/

Thanks...I just ordered some.

Pam

 

[Shanay235]

I just wiped Family Dollar out of pint and jelly size jars. Went in there looking for a small stryofoam cooler and found the jars, $6.00 a dozen. I think I ended up with 16 cases of pints and 10 cases of jelly jars.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

i've been doing jams and jellies for a few years now. been doing pickles for about 10 years.

i got the dh into making his own 'sweet hot fire' pepper jelly last year. he uses habanero peppers and it was too hot for me to be in the kitchen with him while he was making it.

i'd like to get into using the pressure cooker this year. i received 2 from my grandmother at the end of last season after most of my veggies were already eaten or frozen.

i've used the Sure-Gel and had an occasional problem, but i use it for making jelly only.

 

[tobyshuman]

I just started baking,canning,preserving last year when I lost my job and found myself when a lot of time on my hands. I found out I actually like it so I will be doing more of it this year. I have already made strawberry preserves and jam. I make homemade yeast bread (1st place NC State Fair 2008) and Pound Cake (1st place NC State Fair 2008). Any hints will be welcome.

 

[brandytab]

Quote:
That's great about your awards! I never thought of entering breads.

I love baking, and I also make a whole lot of yeast bread. I started on a diet though a few months ago, and no breads, so I've stopped. I miss it! I think that baking bread is a wonderful stress reliever