What are you canning now?

[chicken stalker]

I offer 25 cents off next purchase for returned jars. Works great! Friends and family I just tell them if they return the jar I will fill it with something (jar exchange). If they don't return it I'll think they didn't like it. It works everytime

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[Dragonfly Ranch]

#1California Chick :

Quote:
Do you ask for the jars back?? I am VERY reluctant to give jars of stuff away if I have to buy NEW jars next year. The price for new jars/lids/rings in CA is out of sight!! If the price of the jars/lids is more than I can buy stuff at the grocery store, I have to give serious pause - even if I grow the produce myself. If I have to BUY the produce TOO, it is a very expensive proposition!

What do you do??

Cindy

PS I search for jars on Freecycle, craigslist, etc.

I ask for the jars back. Same as others - let friends and family know that if they give back I'll re-fill. Also, not sure where you are in the Bay Area but if there is a WinCo anywhere around you they have the best prices on jars $5.86 for a case of 1/2 pint and just over $6.00 for pint. Cheaper than WalMart or any other place I have found.

I agree that is a grey line of when the cost of canning verses store bought is the best deal. Even though canning can be a push or more I can for the idea of knowing where and how my food was growth and handled. Helps me justify the $$ spent.

Sandee​

 

[Catalina]

Quote:
Our Wal-mart sold out the last week of August. They didn't even put anything on sale!
I thought I might be able to get something cheap, but noooooo everyone is canning around here.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I have made it clear to anyone that asks for one of my canned goods, "Please bring me the jar back or you will not get anymore if available." It is jelly jars I have to buy.

I usually get everything else back.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
I didn't make orange but a lemon and it took a while and still not completely set. I have learned with some jellies I need to add 1 extra teaspoon of pectin.

Sandee

 

[Kim_NC]

Hi Everyone! I've been off the board for 4-5 weeks. First sick, then computer problems - and after 3 weeks of all that, been trying to catch-up. BUT DH & I did manage to get some canning done as well.

Our pears ripened, we made...

14 half pints pear preserves
12 half pints pear butter
18 pints pears in light syrup

we sold a bunch of them at the farmers markets as well

Other things...

11 quarts Sauerkraut

We have cabbages totaling about 20 lbs to slice/shred and start more this evening.

A girlfriend from the farmers markets with a large pick-your-own orchard offered us a bushel & half of small mixed apples for $5. Although small, they're perfect fuji, braeburn, red delicious and granny smiths. We gladly took those and have been working on eating them, LOL, plus...

12 half pints apple preserves
16 quarts applesauce - cooked up yesterday, refrigerated ovenight, will can today, probably in pints.

Also froze 2 qts apple juice (made from the peelings) that will become jelly or something later. Still have about 1/2 bushel to go. They will most likely become pie filling.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Finished up another batch of Apple Butter (12 pints) and tried the Caramel Apple Jam recipe and made 9 pints.

Canned 15 quarts of chicken broth, 12 quarts of chicken and vegetables and a few quarts of black eyed peas and ham.

I've been making huge batches of whatever we are eating for supper with the idea that I will can a few jars of this and that to put on the shelf. Though, like with the chicken and veggies, I added the cooked noodles to the bowl and not to the pot.

I am anxious to get to canning pumpkins......

 

[Kim_NC]

Quote:
Thanks! And how nice to see a photo of you! I still look like a chicken in my photo.

Well, my applesauce ended up making 25 pints - not quite as much as it looked in the pot. That's a lot for just DH & I though.

 

[juliebee]

I posted a question about bread in a jar the other day. I got a response
that said not to eat them or send them to the troops because of
botulism. I have searched and have not found this to be true anywhere else.
A nurse serving in Iraq posted a note saying how much she loved it.
So not sure where the botulism theory got started. Anyone else?

 

[Patchesnposies]

Quote:
Juliebee-I googled Bread In A Jar recipes and found that a lot of the extension offices were advising folks not to can breads because they "go bad" easily. I didn't bookmark them or anything.

From what I have read I think the biggest problems come when someone puts up sweet bread and then thinks the jars can sit on the shelf for a year.

I plan to make some for gift baskets to give to friends and family for Christmas, only I am waiting until the beginning of December to start baking them.

I don't know if this helps or not.