Update On Canning At Minnetrista
WELCOME SPRING!!! I think I can say that for real now. I mean, it can’t snow in May, right…Oh my, I hope that’s right! Anyway, back to the point. Welcome to springtime. I’m super excited seeing all of the plants pop out of the ground. I’m looking forward to planting my tomatoes soon. And Farmers Market at Minnetrista opened outdoors last week! This is a wonderful time when all these items to can are so plentiful.
Best Places To Store Canned Goods
Before we all get too heavily invested in canning wonderful goodies this season, we should first consider where we’ll store the foods that we preserve. If you are only going to preserve a couple items, perhaps this isn’t a big question for you. You can just store them with your other store-bought canned and dried goods. However, if you’d like to get more heavily involved with canning, you probably should consider storage beforehand.
Is your canned food still decent?
One of the main concerns about canning is the safety of the food. Will it have mold? Bacteria? How will I know? The concern is understandable, but if you follow instructions, use clean surfaces, and use fresh foods, then the risks are minimal.
Have you become a pro at canning? Get started with a different food preservation technique!
Have you become a pro at canning and are now looking into other methods of food preservation as options? Did you never think canning was for you, but would like to get into food preservation somehow? Well, perhaps I’ve got just the thing for you! Dehydrating is a great method of food preservation that results in delicious foods.
Give The Gift of Yummy Canned Goods This Holiday Season!
“Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! While the merry bells keep ringing May your every wish come true!”
Yes, that’s right. It’s time to start thinking about the holidays. I’m sure many of you have begun to be bombarded by all of the Christmas gifts, decorations, and music in the stores already. For some of you, this time of the year is so exciting and wonderful. Others are less than enthused by all of the hype.
Don’t throw in the kitchen towel. There’s still time for great canning this fall!
It’s time to get geared up for canning! The season is about to begin, and I’m super excited to get started with preserving another year’s worth of fresh garden deliciousness. Wait. What’s the date? Is it October already? I’m sure many of you are finding yourself in the same situation. The summer has flown by and perhaps, like me, you haven’t found the time to preserve all of the foods you wanted. Maybe you’ve recently looked at your shelf, noticed that winter is coming, and realized that you still have a lot of empty Ball jars. Fear not, as there are still quite a few things that can be deliciously preserved!
Afraid of Pressure Canning? Don’t Be!
When I talk about pressure canning, some people look at me as if I’m crazy for even thinking about using this method to preserve food. This reaction is just proof that pressure canning, or more specifically pressure canners, have a bad reputation. Yes, in order for a pressure canner to work it requires building up a lot of pressure inside the canner. However, as long as you keep your canner in good condition and follow the directions, it is a perfectly safe canning method. It allows you to broaden the scope of what you can can!
Not enough time or kitchen space? Not a problem.
Garden season is now coming into full bloom. We’re seeing a lot of zucchini, cucumbers, and peaches at Farmers Market at Minnetrista—which is so exciting! This also means that canning season is in full swing. For many seasoned canners, this is a highly anticipated time, but it also means that there’s a lot of work ahead.
Two Accessories to Add to Your Canning Toolbox
Have you ever noticed when you start investing in a hobby that there is any number of nifty gadgets and tools to choose from? Canning is just the same. And, just like other hobby accessories, some of the tools are much more helpful that others! Are you having trouble figuring out which canning accessories are worth the money? Here is an overview of two tools Jarden released in the past few years that aren’t included in the basic Ball® Utensil Set but have made canning a little bit easier for me!
Jump Start Your Canning Season With Some Tasty Freezer Jam!
People often ask me, “What is the easiest way to preserve my foods?” Or, “If I want to get into food preservation, what recipe should I begin with?” Honestly, most canning is pretty simple once you begin, but if you just want to dip your toes in the water—so to speak—then freezer jam is the best way to get started. For those of you who are seasoned veterans of food preservation, you know that freezer jam is a quick, delicious way to preserve your bounty and try new recipes!
Pros and Cons of the Ball FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker
Check out the video below of the Ball FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker whipping up some pepper jelly! So, I forgot to put my hair up in this for this demonstation. OOPS! Let’s use that as a teaching moment—you should always put long hair up when you are canning. Learn from my forgetfulness!
Three Steps To Get Prepared for the Canning Season
Canning season is fast approaching! Have you looked in your canned good cabinet, your cellar, or on your shelves to find those few remaining jars from last year? Perhaps you’ve noticed a dwindling number of total jars. If you are anything like me, and I suspect many of you are, you may have some pickles, tomatoes, jellies, and applesauce left. You may also notice that your shelf of empty jars has fewer occupants than in the past. You might be wondering if it’s time to get a new canning rack or other basic supplies. It is time to think about what foods you want to can this year and a good time check all of your supplies to make sure you are ready for the canning season.
Ashley Introduces Herself and The Food Preservation Blog
Welcome to my blog! “Who are you?” you may ask? Well, I’m Ashley Lichtenbarger, Minnetrista’s education manager, here to bring canning tips and techniques straight to you. I am also a crafter, canner, walker, and owner of an adorable dog. She’s a Heinz 57—a new breed I came up with just for her! Now, as much as I’d love this blog to be all about my dog, we have other things to talk about…