While I am trying to take it easy nursing my sprained ankle I decided to check out my home can food storage. It is that time of the year that home grown vegetables and fruits from local orchards are available. My garden didn't do so well this year so I have to rely on the farmers market and local fruit stands to get my supplies. I wanted to see what I need to add to our food storage before I jump into canning this year.
Here are few reasons why I practice home canning.
1. I am trying to be obedient. Our church leaders counselled us to be self reliant, grow a garden, and have a food storage.
2. I know what goes into my food. I try to avoid highly processed food whenever possible and growing my own food and home canning help me to do that.
3. It just tastes better. I will never go back to store bought canned pineapples.
4. It gives me an opportunity to teach my daughters homemaking skills but more importantly I love spending time with them in the kitchen. (Now they are all grown and busy with their own life I don't get to do that very often)
5. I get a sense of accomplishment, joy and satisfaction from knowing that we have food to eat.
Last year I bought some pineapples for $1.00 each. It was a really good deal and this is our last jar. I will definitely watch out for sales like that again. It was absolutely delicious.
This is sweet pickle relish. I have been canning this for about 10 years. I still have four jars left so not making them this year.
Apple sauce. I make this for my daughter who is an extremely picky eater. I am surprised that we still have some left because she can eat the whole jar in a few days. I use mixed apple for this with touch of cinnamon and no sugar.
BBQ beans. Oh my goodness this is one of our family's favorite. Very easy recipe and if you are looking for good side dish to go with your meat this is it.
Candy carrot. This here is the proof that I love my husband. No one in our family eats this other than my husband.
Peaches, we love them. We make peach milk shakes, use them in crepes, and eat them with cottage cheese.
Pears, I canned them for the first time last year and we only used few jars so I am crossing this out from our list of thing to restock.
Salsa, we have plenty of them.
Spicy pickle beans, we used to like them and I made them every year.. maybe need to take a break from it.
These are unwanted... I think I made too much of them and flavor are bit too strong for my liking. It is about 3 years old and I don't see them getting used anytime soon. Time to make room for other goodies. So with a heavy heart, good bye pickled green tomatoes.
The things I learned from canning
1. Can what your family will eat.
2. Study and follow the instruction very carefully.
3. When in doubt discard the canned food, safety first.
This year I am going to make some pie fillings. I am dreaming of warm apple pies in cold winter days. I hope my husband agrees to this plan because he is the one who is going to make the pie crust.
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