My first foray into canning was five years ago. My sister was working on her culinary degree and during a visit had been relating to me the benefits of fresh and non-processed food. I decided I was going to make some changes to our families diet for the better and I was on board. I was very, ok Ill admit, over ambitious and excited about the possibilities of the great healthy food I was going to lovingly prepare in my kitchen for my family.
I read the Ball canning book that I borrowed from Gramma cover to cover along with a few library cookbooks all devoted to the subject of canning. I plotted and planned my list and then after my father in-law's generous loan of all of my mother in laws old canning equipment and jars, I was almost ready. I drove all the way to Block's (my most favorite greenhouse), for the freshet, crispest fruits and veggies I could find. I chose snap green beans, peppers, assorted berries for jelly, apples for applesauce and tomatoes. All the way home I had congratulated myself for thinking of my families health and I was sure that all this work I was going to do was going to be worth it. Plus I so naively decided that since women have been canning for centuries I could certainly manage. How hard could it be right?
======> Fast forward to reality and to me, The Mrs., spending an entire day in the dead heat of August, in a kitchen that was 100 degrees past hell on the thermostat, even though the air was on, trying my best to peel, snap, chop, dice, stir and ladle all of this healthy food into these small glass jars, that were impossibly slippery, wet and hot from the sterilization process. It was a hot mess, I tell you. There were several drips and spatters all over the place from the apple and tomato sauces. They jelly did not set, none of the green bean jars sealed properly and I believe I also remember a glass jar of tomato sauce exploding on the counter, but I digress. Right then and there The Mr. came home from work in just enough time to find a house that felt like a tropical rain forest, looked like a bomb had gone off in a farmers market and to his Mrs. covered in glass shards, tomato sauce and tears.
I decided at midnight, after the tears were wiped, the glass swept up, pizza ordered, the bottle of wine emptied and order restored to the kitchen that I The Mrs., was hereby swearing off canning for good. I would not be making that mistake again.
Well ya'll that swear only lasted for a few years. I was shopping one day in late July when I ran smack dab into a display of Ball canning products. I almost turned around and ran from my old nemesis but I was momentarily intrigued by the new designs and plastic jars. There neatly stacked in front of me were freezer storage jars, contemporary half pint and pint jars, pickling season packets and salsa mixes. After a trip to their newly spiffed up web site http://www.freshpreserving.com/home.aspx I decided I was going to try it again. The website was loaded with instructional videos, a list of canning classes by state, discussion boards, a question and answer section and useful links to things like local farmers markets, the USDA, gardening ideas and tips. It was all the information I needed to regroup. I learned what I had done wrong the first time around and learned how to remedy it.
The Mr. just lifted his eyebrow when I came home, bag full of new canning equipment. "Really, again, after last time?" was the look all over his face. I assured him that I was not going to be so adventurous this time and I was going to just try one simple jam. I needed to try one more time to see it I could master the art of canning. I was redeeming myself. I bought some strawberries for some jam and it was on.
The second time around proved so much better. The new information and products had made a world of difference. I had produced jam that was sweet, delicious and gone in 2 weeks. Since then I have gradually learned season by season what works and what doesn't. When done right it truly is a rewarding experience to serve my family preservative free, tastes like farm fresh goodies. Its cost effective too, we save on our monthly grocery bill and since I control what goes in, we can control our salt and sugar intake and are guaranteed flavor combos we like that are not necessarily available at the store.
August 13 is National Can-It-Forward day and Capricious Whimsy will be linking up to Canning Across America to celebrate the "lost art of canning" http://www.canningacrossamerica.com/ This is you opportunity to learn all you ever wanted to know to start canning your own delicious creations. Dont be intimidated and give it a try wont you please join us for some canning fun?
Join me tomorrow as I show you how to make a simply delicioso White Peach and Blackberry Jam perfect for ice cream topping, cookies or just plain toast.
xoxoxo
The Mrs.
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