What are you canning now?

[sparkles2307]

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Another with the prickly pear!! Help me!!
What's the best way to get them prepped? Take a torch to the spines or a pair of scissors? I have 380 acres to go picking, the lady who owns the place wants to make some too and they are looking about ripe now!

its been years since I had prickly pear jelly! Can I talk anyone into a swap or just selling me a jar?

 

[LindsayB]

I just used heavy duty leather gloves and rubbed the hairy spines off, then rinsed them under running water. they come off alot easier that way. Just be careful when you take off the gloves bc they will be covered in them lol.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I'm back in the game! Restocked on jars at WM today along with 10 lbs of sugar and 4 packs of pectin. I should start buying bulk. This won't last me long, but it's a start. Also my mother brought me a new case of jelly jars on Monday and a case of the stubby jars. I gave her 7 jars of jam and a bushel of summer squash. We were both happy

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

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Hi - That is what I get for taking along weekend - I'm so far behind on BYC so working my way through about 10 pages of all the stuff everyone has been doing. Are you putting new jars through the dishwasher? I read in one of canning books - either the Ball or National Food Preservation from University of Georgia - that if the jars are new there is no need to sterilize them first just rinse for dust residue. I mention this as a tip to see if it would save you any time since you are a true power canner!!

Sandee

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

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Wow, I checked out your website but didn't see any prices. How much do you charge for you jellies?

I sell them for $5 at the local farmers market. I brought 110 total to the market saturday....95 which I canned friday. I sold 97 jars which is an all time record. I think people were gearing up for back to school and Labor Day.

BTW I sold my thousandth jar yeaterday!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You win the prize in my book.
Sandee

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

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In California - I find them rarely and only in Hardware stores and only one grocery store. I use them for storing all my dry goods and have for years. It's nice to get the white plastic lids for them.

Sandee

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

OK finally got through all the pages. Everyone here is so azaming and YES we should all pat oursleves on the back for every single jar that we do since we do juggle the rest of our busy lives and manage to get it all done!! I'm fortunate that when my husband is home (only 10 more weeks until he gets back

still miss him so much) he is a real help. We have it down to where we can do 24 1/2 pints jars at a time. I make whatever needs to be canned and fill the jars, he checks the head space, wipes the rims and put on the lids and bands. Helps with getting the jars to the outside stove that we use and watches the timer for when they are done.

But none the less, it is a lot of work and in the winter months or at gift giving time we are truly rewarded for our efforts.

This pass long weekend got done

13 1/2 pints Jalapeno Apricot
8 Frog Jam
8 Hot as HE double Hockey Sticks - Habanero Zucchini Jam.
5 loaves of bread

Tonight I need to start on the 85 pears that have been getting ripe in my guest bathroom bathtub!! The places that we use to store/ripen things! I have a large closet in that same bathroom that is the only cool dark place to store stuff. Oh wait! I store home made vinegar in 5 gallon jugs in the closet with the vacuum cleaner!!

Well, hopefully I can read every day now and keep up.

Sandee

 

[RockyToggRanch]

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In California - I find them rarely and only in Hardware stores and only one grocery store. I use them for storing all my dry goods and have for years. It's nice to get the white plastic lids for them.

Sandee

Yes! I love the white lids for my milk jars

 

[KDbeads]

Quote:
Another with the prickly pear!! Help me!!
What's the best way to get them prepped? Take a torch to the spines or a pair of scissors? I have 380 acres to go picking, the lady who owns the place wants to make some too and they are looking about ripe now!

its been years since I had prickly pear jelly! Can I talk anyone into a swap or just selling me a jar?

If I can manage making any I won't mind sending you a jar. Pm me and we can figure out the details....

 

[KDbeads]

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Hmmmm, have to keep that in mind!

Do you split open and scrape out the flesh only or just hack them up and cook out the juice? I have 2 different recipes, they mention both ways