Preserving Your Harvest

[WingItRanch]

I'm inheriting a kumquat tree this week! I've never tasted one but heard they're really good. The rind is sweet (and edible) and the pulp is tart so it makes for a nice combination. Anyone have experience with these?

If we get a nice yield, I'll be looking at canning recipes.

 

[Smokerbill]

Today was relish day. I canned 7 half pints of dill relish and 8 halves of sweet relish. I didn't have any bell peppers to add so I used Hatch and Jalapeno peppers from the garden, so the relishes might have a little heat. Pickling cukes and yellow onions were from the garden too.

 

[Smokerbill]

Today was relish day. I canned 7 half pints of dill relish and 8 halves of sweet relish. I didn't have any bell peppers to add so I used Hatch and Jalapeno peppers from the garden, so the relishes might have a little heat. Pickling cukes and yellow onions were from the garden too.

View attachment 4206617View attachment 4206616

Strange thing about the lids. For the first batch (dill) I used cheap Walmart Mainstays lids and they all popped as the jars cooled. I used new Ball lids for the sweet relish, and I don't think any of them popped, but it appears that they all sealed OK.

 

[tripletfeb]

I need to make salsa soon. Like, two days ago. School started yesterday and I've had to be head cook so the past few days have been a mess. My fault

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Strange thing about the lids. For the first batch (dill) I used cheap Walmart Mainstays lids and they all popped as the jars cooled. I used new Ball lids for the sweet relish, and I don't think any of them popped, but it appears that they all sealed OK.

I switched to Superb lids, the blue seals. I was having problems with Ball lids and when I contacted the Ball company they made it sound like it was my fault. So, I switched to Superb.
I believe they have to pop to be sealed. If you can use your fingers to take the lid off, they are not sealed.

 

[Smokerbill]

I switched to Superb lids, the blue seals. I was having problems with Ball lids and when I contacted the Ball company they made it sound like it was my fault. So, I switched to Superb.
I believe they have to pop to be sealed. If you can use your fingers to take the lid off, they are not sealed.

Yeah, I've read here that a lot have switched to Superb lids. I might do that.

I'll give the lids a pull tomorrow and see if any are loose. They all look like they're sucked down into the jar about the same amount as the ones that popped, and that tells me that there's a vacuum in the open space above the relish.

Guess I could lay a straight edge across the top of the lid and measure the gap at the center of the lids to see if they are pulled down as far as the lids that I know have sealed. If so, I'd say they're ok.