Canning

The other night I hit upon a mecca of cheap and free produce. We spent the evening and into the early morning (2 AM) canning it all. Between therapy appointments for Makenzie and errands that had to be done we did not get started until after supper. With the wonderful help of Chuck and Mary and Makenzie in front of a movie we did it assembly line style. 30 jars of jam, 4 quarts and 1 pint of peaches, 8 quarts of spaghetti sauce and 6 bags of blueberries later we finally finished it all. We will definitely enjoy our hard work later this winter.

I tried a new jam combination in the process of all of it, blueberry-peach. The reviews here at our house were overwhelmingly that it was a keeper. Mary was pretty skeptical at first but changed her mind quickly with the first taste.

Chuck came home last night teasing me that he had brought home 200 lbs of pears to do that night. I said sounds good. He just laughed. Although the work was hard doing this together as a family brings us closer together.

I am usually the canner around here with Mary's assistance but Chuck will pitch in when there is a big task ahead of us. I have always been appreciative of this. Sometimes we need the extra hand. I learned canning while helping my Mom and she learned canning from her Mom doing it the same way. This has been the process for generations. Even if Mary decides not to pursue canning after she leaves the house she will have the skills if she needs them someday.

Many people have lost the skill of preserving their own food. The good news is it is not that hard. Pick up a simple canning book that has the basics or find a friend that knows how to do it and help them can a couple of times. Most of all if you do can make sure your children help you so they can carry on the skills to the next generations.

what kind of things do you can? What are your favorites?

Happy Canning!