What did you can today?

**fixer** · 06-27-2009, 12:10 AM

With canning season upon us, I thought it would be interesting to hear about every one's progress.

Today we canned beets. Not as many as I would have liked, but they will be tasty this winter.

**Ceashels** · 06-27-2009, 08:19 AM

Does it count if I didn't "can?"

I made a half gallon jar of bread and butter pickles but I don't have skills to "preserve" them for shelf life yet. And to be honest, these won't last a month with me. LOL I'll have to figure out how to can the next batch of cukes.

**fixer** · 06-27-2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Does it count if I didn't "can?"

I made a half gallon jar of bread and butter pickles but I don't have skills to "preserve" them for shelf life yet. And to be honest, these won't last a month with me. LOL I'll have to figure out how to can the next batch of cukes.

We make bread and butter pickles. We have to can them since, like you, they don't last long and we need a large supply.

**starsapphire** · 06-27-2009, 12:46 PM

Not exactly canning, but I'm thinking about making a batch of strawberry freezer jam this weekend. I dunno if I will actually get around to it because its very hot this weekend and I have other things planned for the cooler hours of the day but I have high hopes LOL.

**jantana** · 06-27-2009, 04:06 PM

I made plum jelly (11 --- 1/2 pints) I'm taking a break and have about the same amount to do again. I have some peaches that I need to make jelly out of.

**danni** · 06-29-2009, 06:31 PM

I canned 22 jars of stewed rhubarb.

**Ceashels** · 06-30-2009, 08:42 AM

I just made another 2x 1/2 gal jars of Shaker Pickles they are also sweet and sour but don't have pickling spices, just mustard and celery seed. So I cut back on the sugar and doubled up on the spices...so far, I think I really like them.

I am having difficulty finding pickling salt in the grocery store or the Ace Hardware that sells canning jars and canners. Does anyone have an idea of where I should look? I'll be out in the "rural" part of northern Md. tomorrow and will take a look in some of the stores there. But I would hate to order it online and pay shipping. I would really like to make dill pickles with my next batch of cukes.

**CrazyCat** · 06-30-2009, 08:51 AM

Ceashells,

Would you mind posting the recipe you use? I'd love to try pickles...I've never made them where they turn out right.

I brought some peaches back from vacation. I will be making some Peach Jam hopefully this weekend.

**Ceashels** · 06-30-2009, 09:33 AM

http://www.abbys-kitchen.com/recipe_...SHAKER+PICKLES

Shaker Pickles

3 1/2 c. sugar
3 c. vinegar
1/3 c. salt
1 tsp. alum
1 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. mustard seed
1 tsp. turmeric

Fill gallon jar with sliced cucumbers and onions (about 6 cucumbers and 3 onions fill jar) layers. Mix and pour over cucumbers and onions. Place in refrigerator. Shake once a day for 6 days. Then ready to eat; must be kept in refrigerator.

I cut back on the sugar by 1 cup and heated the vinegar in the microwave to help dissolve the sugar and salt. Oh and I didn't add onions, just more cucumbers.

Abby's kitchen is the website I found yesterday. It looks like some nice easy and frugal recipes are on it.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/a...ipe/index.html

Alton Brown's B&Bs

* 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
* 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
* 1 cup water
* 1 cup cider vinegar
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* Pinch kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
* 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
* 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
* 1/2 teaspoon pickling spice

Directions

Combine onion and cucumber slices in a clean spring-top jar.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a non-reactive saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 4 full minutes to wake up the flavors of the spices.

Slowly pour the hot pickling liquid over the onion and cucumber slice, completely filling the jar. Allow the pickles to cool to room temperature before topping off with any remaining pickling liquid. Refrigerate.

The brine from either pickle is very refreshing and i remember in his show he adds it to a splash of soda/seltzer as a summer time drink.

**Luckybustert** · 06-30-2009, 10:20 AM

I canned 24 half pints of strawberry jam Sunday afternoon. I started taking canning classes last week (Thursday and Friday nights), and I figured the best way for me to retain what I'm learning was to put it to good use right away. It turned out really well and I had a lot of fun doing it!

**fixer** · 06-30-2009, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Luckybustert

I canned 24 half pints of strawberry jam Sunday afternoon. I started taking canning classes last week (Thursday and Friday nights), and I figured the best way for me to retain what I'm learning was to put it to good use right away. It turned out really well and I had a lot of fun doing it!

It sounds like you have caught the canning bug. Once you do it, it really is not that hard.

**marjorie** · 06-30-2009, 06:05 PM

I only made strawberry jam so far. I went away for the weekend, and my daughter ate an entire jar all by herself! Guess I need to make more next year

**starsapphire** · 06-30-2009, 10:09 PM

I made another small batch of strawberry freezer jam - 7 cups. I am giving some to neighbors and friends.

**Luckybustert** · 07-03-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by fixer

It sounds like you have caught the canning bug. Once you do it, it really is not that hard.

I sure have! I'm going to do some more canning today and tomorrow - this time some salsa and some cherry jam. I wanted to make both earlier in the week but that work thing kept getting in my way. Now that I have a day off I'm going to get back out in the kitchen and have me some fun