Canning

Is there a more satisfying meal on a cold winter day than a slice of warm bread and a bowl of hot soup? Growing up, we had a wood stove for central heat and some of the best days were when my parents would cook up a large pot of soup on the woodstove. I’ve … Read more

Ok, this is not your mom’s corned beef… Quick story. My dad always has corned beef hash the night before hunting season opens as a good luck charm. He cooks up corned beef and potatoes, stories are told, and the tradition remains alive for another year. For decades, he cooked Hormel Corned Beef. Then, one … Read more

Protein is one of the most difficult foods to put up in volume. They are expensive when purchased commercially, don’t last as long as other prepper foods such as grains, and the selection is often limited. There are several options to rack and stack your protein. First, you can purchase cans of pork, beef, and … Read more

Hot peppers are literally the spice of life. Left with the decision of leaving my mother-in-law or my hot peppers behind at the end of the world…. Well, I’d at least ask her to carry a case of peppers on her lap. I love fresh hot peppers, but what is the best way to enjoy … Read more

Canned foods are a staple in my household. We eat a can of sweetcorn or baked beans often. They’re quick, convenient, easy to make; you can’t really go wrong with them. With that said, sometimes you don’t feel like standing in front of the stove and cooking so here’s the question: Can you eat canned … Read more

Learning how to can seems daunting at first, but water bath canning is easy! Once you get the hang of the steps, you will be able to can so many different things to store in your pantry. Jams, jellies, sauces, and salsas are at your fingertips. Before you get started, you have to learn how … Read more

Milk is a staple for every kitchen, it is used for so many different things from drinking to cooking many different foods. Milk needs to be kept in a refrigerator unless it has been canned to be shelf stable. You can process any type of milk that you have be it store bought, raw cow’s … Read more

As a little kid, I was not fond of trying new vegetables – a reluctance that I believe many of us share. However, parsnips were never even an item on our dinner table because they weren’t part of our standard rotation of vegetables. We pretty much stuck to the classics – green beans, carrots, corn, … Read more

Is there anything better than the sweet taste of fresh carrots? I don’t think so. Except, perhaps, the taste of fresh carrots that you’ve just harvested from your own garden. This year, I harvested over a hundred pounds of carrots grown in just two small raised beds in my backyard. I’ve never grown that many … Read more

True confession – this year is the first year I’ve grown enough peppers to preserve. Usually, our peppers end up being stringy, tough, and bitter – something that I have learned is the side effect of too little fertilizer, poor soil, and cold weather that doesn’t allow the plants to mature properly. However, this year … Read more

It is the time of the year that the race is on to beat the birds and the blistering sun. It is blackberry season. There are lots of things to do with all of them blackberries, from eating fresh, to cobblers, smoothies, and blackberry jam. My family likes to divide into teams and see who … Read more

There is nothing better than homemade spaghetti sauce! Whether you’re keeping an eye on your health – homemade spaghetti sauce has far less sugar and sodium than the storebought varieties – or you simply prefer the taste of fresh sauce, making and canning your own sauce is a great way to make the most of … Read more

Nothing says summer quite like sweet, homemade canned tomatoes. Canning tomatoes always makes me feel a little bit bittersweet. On one hand, I love being able to enjoy the delicious bounty of a summer’s hard work in the garden. On the other hand, the time in which it is time to can tomatoes marks the … Read more

I’m pretty sure salsa was invented by someone who had no idea what to do with all the extra tomatoes, peppers, onions, and jalapenos in his garden. Throw a few ingredients in here, a couple more there, add some spices, and voila! Tasty salsa. I’m just kidding, of course. But when it comes right down … Read more

As a little girl, I used to visit my grandma and grandpa’s farm on the weekends. The place was very picturesque complete with cows grazing in the pasture and an old tire hanging from a tree limb that served as a joyous swing for my siblings and I. Grandma was always cooking yummy things up … Read more