What are you canning now?

[coffeemama]

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How do you do the cream of chicken soup? I use a lot of cream of mushroom soup-maybe I could make my own and can it!

 

[farmerlor]

Cream of Mushroom soup is easy. I make that, Cream of Chicken and a combo Cream of Chicken and mushroom soup. I used to use flour to thicken the soup though it's a USDA approved way to can and it came out just fine. These days I use clearjel so I'll tell you how to do it that way. I saute the mushrooms (sometimes I throw in some celery or onion depending on my mood) and then let the mushrooms cook in some vegetable or chicken stock. Add whatever seasonings you want (remember that garlic gets stronger when it's canned) and then add however much clearjel you need for the amount of liquid you have. Pressure can at 50 min if it's just plain mushroom, 60 min if it's really chunky or really thick and 75 minutes if it's chicken for pints.

 

[PAzoo]

Hey - I am new to this...and grateful for your experiences...

please tell me more about cooking with pressure canned meat... Do you cut back on the cooking time? does the meat loose texture? I see on the forum that some spices like garlic get stronger..
Any Best practices or Recipes? Do noodles in soup hold up?

You all make me miss and remember fondly my Grand Mother who Knew how to feed her family! Thank you.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

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I use mine for pot pies, burritos, and beef and noodles. The beef is already cooked so cooking time is shortened. You do want to cook the beef to kill any bacteria that may be lurking in the jars. If it smells fine it should be okay. As far as the texture goes, it is on the shredded side. It is wonderful! I hope this helps with your questions.

 

[farmerlor]

When I can meat I always cook the beef, make a really nice stock and can it in that. Great for beef gravy to put over noodles or bbq beef or whatever. Oddly, when I can chicken I raw pack the chicken and use leftover chicken broth. I think it's an appearance thing. I know that you CAN raw pack beef but it's not visually appealing though it shouldn't affect the taste but for the chicken....it just looks like chicken.
Everyone has always told me not to try to can soup with noodles so that's one thing I haven't tried yet.....or rice. I can a LOT of soups though and just add noodles when I heat it up to eat.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Last weekend I made some orange/lemon/grapefruit marmalade!

It only took about an hour for me to figure out how to get the photos from my camera to here! I'm kind of a slow study, I guess.

 

[coffeemama]

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Thanks! I will have to try this-never even heard of clearjel though

 

[dddCT]

I would love to start canning but haven't got a clue. I have several books on canning but would love to take a class or buddy up with someone the fist time. I just worry about making my family sick. Anyone know where I could take a canning class?

 

[Scrambled Egg]

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You know that's true!! I figure I'll run out of steam one day so I better cram it all in now before that happens!!

I would love to start canning but haven't got a clue. I have several books on canning but would love to take a class or buddy up with someone the fist time. I just worry about making my family sick. Anyone know where I could take a canning class?

You'll be so hooked! It's pretty easy, it makes the very best gifts and there is nothing quite like opening that cabinet door to an array of jars filled with food you actually made yourself!!! It is really incredible!!! We ate salsa yesterday I canned last year, I just love being able to do that!! I hope like crazy that the muscadine seeds I put out from those incredible grapes given to me make about a hundred vines in my yard, lol!!!! I know it'll be about three years before grapes will be n them, but that will just give me time to buy JARS, JARS, and MORE JARS!!!!! LOL!!!! Those dollar general and family dollar jars that always the best priced ones should be hitting the stores in March...I will not wait this year, I had to buy them at Foodlion last year and they were very pricey!!

 

[dddCT]

great another addiction. Like being a chicken addict isn't enough. I am so anxious to start canning. I like the idea of canning what we produce ourselves. Would love to find a group and spend a weekend all canning and sharing. Do people do that?