OT: Canning? « Back to Group Discussions

[parsley]

And, more on the food theme but totally not baby related.  I just tried making jam and canning it for the first time.  I'm hooked.  That is the most delicious jam on earth and suddenly I can think of dozens of other things I just have to can.  Anyone else do any canning?  Anyone have any tips, advice, recipes? 

So far I made strawberry rhubarb jam.  I need to make a second batch since I decided to give jars away in a fit of deliciousness inspired generosity! 

I also am planning to can some cherries, strawberries and blueberries soaked in amaretto.  And, then there's pickled asparagus. 

[1blueheron]

I love to can spicy pickles!  Also I love cardamom in strawberry rhubarb jam.

This summer I am getting into drying food...jerky, strawberries, rhubarb fruit leather etc.

[parsley]

What do you put in your spicy pickles? I love spicy and I love pickles! Yum!

[hildare]

dh and his dad do a preserve/jelly thing where they use flavored jello and figs.  they will make "strawberry jam" with strawberry jello and figs.  i think it's quite disgusting but everyone else sure does love it. 

we're doing good to keep beer/cider in the kegerator.  or dh is.  we did make a lower alcohol cider, which is wonderful with the heat.  i mixed it with cherry juice last night & did not tell him. 

as far as preserving things go, we've lapsed in to simply freezing everything.  less concern about doing it properly and so much easier.  one day we'll have built in helpers and more time, sigh.

[Ramzubo]

I'm a canning fool! This weekend is strawberry picking time for us so I'll be making some jams and I'm going to try strawberry syrup this year.

Mostly I do spaghetti sauces and beans and the normal pickling stuff. I hope I can get some okra to pickle later this summer.

[1blueheron]

parsley, we just add chilis and ginger to the standard low-temp pasteurization pickle method (which I've found works better than high temp).

ramzubo, you should try dehydrating strawberries!  We just did it for the first time this year and they are AMAZING.  So much better than any dried strawberry I've ever bought in a store.

[Ramzubo]

Originally Posted by 1blueheron 

ramzubo, you should try dehydrating strawberries!  We just did it for the first time this year and they are AMAZING.  So much better than any dried strawberry I've ever bought in a store.

Do you have a dehydrator or did you just use the old sun/oven method? I think we could really use dried ones for our oatmeal.

[1blueheron]

dehydrator