Dorito was up on Saturday. She arrived at the house around seven and we headed over to Lindsay. After a lovely breakfast, we went to St Andrews church for a canning and preserving class. I've got the water bath canning and dehydrating down but have long wanted to learn to pressure can - this was the day.
We started with a quick run down on how a pressure canner works and then went to the kitchen, washed and snapped beans, prepared jars and lids and then watched as the pressure canner was put to use. No vinegar. No worrying about acidity and botulism. Just beans, boiling water, and ultra-high temperatures to make everything safe.
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| Jars of prepared beans going into the canner for processing |
We also were shown how to make strawberry jam in a water bath, dehydrate apples and tomatoes and, best of all, use the canner for beef stew. How great would it be to come home after a busy day, pull a jar or two of stew from the shelf, warm it up and eat a truly homemade meal in no time flat?
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| Beef stew just about ready to be canned. |
9 comments:
I am SO jealous. I too want to pressure can, but I too am scared of the big thing that can go boom.
Also, I've been using my jar lifter upside down. I thought the red parts were the handles. Sigh.
I think I should just slink away in shame now...
Meh. Everybody in the class said the same thing. All of them were using those tongs upside down.
K - don't tell anyone but I've been using them upside down too. Maybe Dorito's right - they're the ones who are wrong.
Dorito - we rock.
What a great class to take. My mother used to do lots of canning but as my older siblings grew up she stopped. By the time I was a teenager there was no more canning and now I haven't got a clue how to do it. I could really use a class like that to get me going. Cans of stew, what a great dinner!
Ya. Good ole reliable rock. Nothing beats rock.
Marguerite - I'm so glad I took it. I can't wait to get my hands on one and give it a go.
Dorito - nuthin'.
This is inspiring! I still haven't ventured down the pressure canner path, even though there's a perfectly good one sitting in the cellar, just waiting (and collecting dust). And now my mom has learned to do the pressure canned stew thing- it is sooo good- I really must get over it.
At least it sounds like I have my tongs right side up! ;)
Hi Liz
I know long time no visit! Mes bad! I got a pressure canner a couple of summers ago. I scoured garage/yard sales, especially those of the older generation. The canner I bought wasn't even used.
And just to add my two cents worth, I have always used my tongs the proper way. Not braggin--cuz I don't do that.
Canned chicken is yummy. I have never tried it in a pressure canner, just a water bath. It takes 3 hours to process.
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl! Glad to see you! This is interesting about using a water bath to process chicken. I'll have to do some research.
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