Kim in TN wanted to know what a good starter book on canning might be. I would recommend any of the Ball Jar canning books. My copy is from 1959 and works just fine. When I'm looking for a new recipe I usually Google it. Look at a bunch of them, figure out what ingredients my family will like and what they won't and go from there. Especially true of pickling recipes!
For simple canning (that's what I do- anything that can be water bathed) I follow the Sure Jell or Ball jam recipe. I prefer the Sure Jell Low Sugar, but I've not been able to get it so i use my same Sure Jell recipe, but substitute the Ball Pectin. Most jam takes about 8 cups of sugar! My recipe takes 4. You can really taste the fruit and it really seems sweet! If your following Weight Watchers it's 1 point for 2 tablespoons! (Nice when your having toast in the morning.)
Other simple canning is salsa, and fruits where you use a simple syrup, water or fruit juice as the liquid to pack the fruit in.
The Pick Your Own website has a free down loadable book on canning. Click here to go directly to their site. You can usually pick up the water bath canner at Walmart for between $19 and $29, but I would see about borrowing someones and returning it with a canned treat! You can also pick up the jars, pectin, and other canning equipment there. They are usually the cheapest (in this area).
Also enlisting the help of a friend gives you an extra pair of hands that will come in handy. Two canning together is a lot more fun! And you could make short work of it for both of your households ;)
I hope this is helpful. If we pick Blueberries this weekend I'll put up a tutorial on how to can them
For simple canning (that's what I do- anything that can be water bathed) I follow the Sure Jell or Ball jam recipe. I prefer the Sure Jell Low Sugar, but I've not been able to get it so i use my same Sure Jell recipe, but substitute the Ball Pectin. Most jam takes about 8 cups of sugar! My recipe takes 4. You can really taste the fruit and it really seems sweet! If your following Weight Watchers it's 1 point for 2 tablespoons! (Nice when your having toast in the morning.)
Other simple canning is salsa, and fruits where you use a simple syrup, water or fruit juice as the liquid to pack the fruit in.
The Pick Your Own website has a free down loadable book on canning. Click here to go directly to their site. You can usually pick up the water bath canner at Walmart for between $19 and $29, but I would see about borrowing someones and returning it with a canned treat! You can also pick up the jars, pectin, and other canning equipment there. They are usually the cheapest (in this area).
Also enlisting the help of a friend gives you an extra pair of hands that will come in handy. Two canning together is a lot more fun! And you could make short work of it for both of your households ;)
I hope this is helpful. If we pick Blueberries this weekend I'll put up a tutorial on how to can them
Comments
http://couponingincriticaltimes.blogspot.com/2009/05/strawberry-jam.html
Thanks!!
I have canned several things, but never blueberries! If I ever move somewhere cooler, I will grow them and can them.
Your pears look beautiful. We ate home canned pear today on homemade crepes.