Well we have officially started a new adventure, canning!! It is something I have always wanted to try, but just never had the money to get started with it. Well, my sister started learning some pressure canning with a friend and that got us all wanting to learn more. So my mom gave us some money for the initial investment in a hot water bath canner, some utensils & jars, and we were on our way. One of the first things I had to do was make some room in my kitchen for the jars. So I moved an old microwave cart out to the garage, and brought it a shelving unit we had in the garage. I did that Thursday, and it was a tiring job. I had to move everything around, and scrub it clean. I like it a lot in our kitchen, and want to eventually make some curtains or something for the front of it so it's not so open. It's like another pantry for us, and I'd like to be able to 'close' it if it gets messy. But that will be another project.
My sister learned pressure canning for peaches on Thursday, but we both wanted to learn hot water bath canning, so she came out on Friday and we decided to learn together. Between what she had been taught by her friend, info. I found online and tips and directions from one of my friends who canned, we started the adventure of canning. It was a great day Friday and lots of fun. We decided to can a box of peaches & try some strawberry jam. I 'hardest' thing, which really wasn't hard, just not really fun, was pealing the peaches. I discovered part way through my box that not all my peaches were ripe enough. Though I did the hot water/cold water thing, they didn't just peel right off. And then I had never eaten a peach before (shocking I know), so I wasn't really sure how to get the pit out. So the first hour I was on my own until my sis showed up. That was my hard time, but I was determined not to let it turn me off of canning all together.
After lunch and my sister showing up, things went a bit smoother, and I finally got them all peeled and sliced. We decided to make a light syrup since this was our first time, didn't want them too sugary. I really enjoyed the actual canning part, that was a lot of fun. Carrie (my sister) put the peaches in the jar, I put the sauce in and put the lids on. I had lots of fun picking up the lids with my magnet. We had just enough peaches to fill 9 jars, which is what my new canner holds. We decided to buy the 33 qt. canner, oh my goodness that thing is huge. But it was nice to have 9 cans done at once.
Since that went pretty well, we decided to try our hand at strawberry jam. I got the recipe online, and the only thing we did different than the recipe was we put the strawberries in a food processor instead of hand mashing them. Now the strawberry jam was LOTS of fun, and so easy to make. We got 7 jars out of 6 cups of mashed strawberries, again, plenty to do all at once. The only thing is that after the processing time our jam separated. Not quite sure why, but I'm sure once we open a jar, we will stir it up, and it will be fine. I can't wait to taste it tonight. The only bummer is we realized we never had pictures taken of us making the jam. Oh well, next time.
So what are my thoughts of canning? Right now I love it, and can't wait to do it again. It was tiring, but so much fun. Of course having my sister here was great, and lots of the fun. I think if I HAD to do it every year, and I HAD to do tons of batches, it would be hard. But as another 'craft' I do, as another 'hobby', I think it's great. I want to try some more jam, maybe raspberry. The only bummer out here is you can't find jam grapes to make grape jam. Something I miss from the midwest.
So here is a picture show of our day, hope you enjoy it. I'm off to relax some more and continue to get better from my sinus cold. It hit me hard last night, think I over did myself the last few days this week. I was really busy, and pushed myself hard Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. By last night, I new I had a bad sinus cold, which I'm still dealing with today. So today has been a lazy, relaxing day. I won't go to church tonight, so I can try and get better. I need to get better soon, so I can do some more canning.
Looks like a good day's work. We haven't tried canning yet, but have been wanting to for a while. Maybe a year when we haven't had a new baby and a move would be better.
Sorry this took me a while to post a comment I had been trying to get on HSB for a day with no prevail until now.
YEA I love the ingenuity of your idea with the microwave cart... so smart to be able to use what you already got with out fretting about having to build a canning supply area... Great Idea is to shop your local thrift stores and post on freecycle for your canning jars.. make sure they are canning jars that have no cracks and what not... Yard Sales or Estate sales are great places to get things like this too cheap.... :) and heck who isnt for cheap..... But hey I am so excited for you... was hopping to be my canning day today of jams and preserves turned into more chicken coop work..lol but alas I pray that sometime here soon I will get to it.
Yeah! What a blast! I LOVE canning and can't get enough of it in the fall. So glad you tried it out and liked it. Our favorite jam around here is mixed 1/2 raspberries 1/2 blackberries. Try it sometime.
That's awesome! Looks like hard work, but one with a reward at the end. And I like that cabinet in the kitchen. The bright color goes well in your kitchen.
Jenn
Wahoo !! It looks like you all did a GREAT job !! (((patting you on the back))) My hubby is the one who taught me to can. LOL I suggest you get Company's Coming Preserves book. I use that one the most. [0=
Been missing you ! Call when ever you want. I will make the time.((hugs))
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It is something I have always wanted to try, but just never had the money to get started with it. Well, my sister started learning some pressure canning with a friend and that got us all wanting to learn more. So my mom gave us some money for the initial investment in a hot water bath canner, some utensils & jars, and we were on our way. One of the first things I had to do was make some room in my kitchen for the jars. So I moved an old microwave cart out to the garage, and brought it a shelving unit we had in the garage. I did that Thursday, and it was a tiring job. I had to move everything around, and scrub it clean. I like it a lot in our kitchen, and want to eventually make some curtains or something for the front of it so it's not so open. It's like another pantry for us, and I'd like to be able to 'close' it if it gets messy. 
But that will be another project.
And then I had never eaten a peach before 
