Coffee anyone ?

[AmberLops]

Open your freezer and stand in front of it. If you want a winter storm, set the fan to blowing.

I know, I know, I deserve it, I'll even do it for you.

Ha ha! I actually did that today...took a few freezer breaks

 

[farmerjan]

If you want to learn how to can, I will teach you.

Start with the Ball Book of Canning.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/th...ing-test-kitchen/1127589900?ean=9780848746780

I have this version, the one above is a little newer.
https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Complete-Book-Home-Preserving/dp/0778801314

I will be happy to exchange phone numbers with you, you can call me and I will walk you through the steps. The easiest to start with is jelly. You can waterbath that without a pressure canner.

I learned to can, freeze, make bread, because older women mentored me and taught me. I pass it on every chance I get. The first thing I ever canned was my great grandmothers spicy sweet pickles, when I was in high school. My Daddy brought in a 5 gallon bucket of cucumbers, so I called my grandmother and got the recipe over the phone. I wrote it down and followed her directions. I still make them.

Have to put in my 2 cents here. In the older ball canning books, you will see that jelly does not need to be "finished" in a boiling water bath. I don't do it, did it once and said PHOOEY ON THIS. When I do my jelly, after pouring into the jar, screw on the lid fairly (hand) tight, INVERT on a dish towel on the counter so the lid gets hot, and then when you have finished all the jars in that batch, turn them back over in the same order you inverted them so they all have a chance to get the lid hot, and you will hear the little pings as the vacuum forms and the lids seal.

This will tell you how "ANCIENT" I am. I learned to make jelly with using PARAFFIN; In other words, HOT WAX, on the top of the jelly. Yes, it sealed the air out which is the whole purpose of preserving.....sealing out the air and not allowing any kind of mold growth or enzymes to cause spoilage.
.
I find that the easiest things to start with canning are tomatoes, that do need the hot water bath, but are VERY SIMPLE. And all my fruits that are canned, are hot water bath. Most do not need to be pressure canned. Apples, peaches, pears.... all can very easy. Peaches probably the easiest because the hot water you dip them in to loosen the skins is very quick and easy, then you just halve or quarter or slice, a light syrup or just juice and water, and then in a hot water bath. I freeze all the smaller fruits...strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries.... freeze on a cookie tray, then I vacuum bag in 1 or 2 cup sizes for recipes, and they keep great til I want to use them. They don't get smushed if you freeze them first then vacuum pack or just bag.

If you don't want to make jelly, but "butters", use a crock pot to cook the "sauce down" and it won't burn, and you don't have to watch and stir constantly, just occasionally until it is as thick as you want....most of them I don't add any sugar either so it is pure "fruit puree" but cooked to a thicker consistency......add a few spices to the applesauce as is cooks down to make homemade apple butter. Spreadable and easy to use on a sandwich instead of jelly or jam.

The directions on the Mrs. Wages packages that you can find in the canning aisles are pretty self explanatory, and they make small batches so if you make a mistake...(and oh how many I have made over the years....) you aren't losing a whole big batch at a time.

 

[Alaskan]

I learned to make jelly with using PARAFFIN; In other words, HOT WAX, on the top of the jelly.

I did too... but we did the wax on top and THEN also sealed them in a bath...a double seal.

But my grandmother was super careful about such things.

She only used the wax on the jelly.... not the tomatoes or other canned goods.

 

[promiseacres]

Coffee is on.
Lots of fog this morning. Apt with the attorney went well. Going back in a couple weeks to finalize everything.

 

[Baymule]

That sounds like good news. Get the paperwork straight so y’all can move forward.

My mom used paraffin too. When she opened a jar of jelly, I got to lick the paraffin before throwing it away.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

i am actually jealous neither my mother or either grandmothers canned, or baked. my grandmother on my mother side knitts and sews but never taught my mother and never taught me. i been having to teach my self in alot of areas i plan teach all my kids the ones i have learned. the older two have been practicing sewing using needle point looms. its part of out homeschooling. along with teaching them how to grow and take ccare of animals. i been told i am old fashioned lol i am ok with that atleast they be able to save money later on by using these skills my husband also plans to teach all of them how to take care of the vechicals and such. its funny my father doesnt know how to do that either. when it comes to my family it seems like they forgot to pass down what they knew or didnt care to depends on the relationship. anyways moving on so i am going to have too look up all the stuff yall were discussing lol. buts thats ok i like to research lol. i have gotten alot better at alot of things.i remember after my husband and i bought my first sewing machine i kept breaking needles and i cpuldnt sew a straight line i finished a quilt this year and did not break any needles and i sewed straight lines lol.

 

[Bruce]

Open your freezer and stand in front of it. If you want a winter storm, set the fan to blowing.

That only works if you also have a bunch of shaved ice for the fan to blow in your face.

I got to lick the paraffin before throwing it away.

WASTING the paraffin?

 

[promiseacres]

@Jesusfreak101 my mom canned but didn't really teach us... so I am self taught also. One thing about "homestead" type of people is they usually are very willing to share their knowledge. I am impressed a quilt is definitely something to be proud of. I made stocking and a tree skirt... a few other things... but never a quilt.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

i still have one to finish but i will admit the first scared me when i washed it wi was worried it wouldnt survive but it did so far bewn wash three or four times. i got the plans off pintrest it was for new quilters but i will say for one of the first thing i every made it was a bit to bit off.
https://pin.it/vl6ex5hrugp5ud

 

[AmberLops]

Coffee is on!
Today is shopping day in the 'big city'...a few hours away but no stores around here to get all the things I need.
I always feel like i'm shopping for the end of the world
Supposed to storm today, hopefully the bunnies will be okay while i'm out.
Who knows? I might come home to a nestbox full of healthy happy babies from my doe Pepper...I though she was due yesterday but I looked again and it's today
Have a great day everyone