Yes... I did just ask if you were getting ready for winter. What I mean is... if you are (especially) on abudget or not, you should start getting ready for winter, even though the summer months have just begun.
I have been looking into canning to save money for some time now. Last year I canned applesauce.. I opened my first can this year and it was just as good if not better than last year when I made it! One thing Thomas and I eat a lot of is beans. I will give you some simple instructions on canning beans:
1- Buy some dried beans from your (local) grocery store.
2- For every pound of dried beans, soak them in 6-8 cups of water for 12-18 hours (I prefer 18).
3- After 18 hours, I place them in a pot on the stove with 6 cups of NEW water.
4- I bring it to a boil/
5- Once at a boil I let it boil (rolling) for 1-2 minutes.
6- Cover, let sit for 1-3 hours.
7- Then, I turn the stove back on and let it cook on medium for 30 mintues.
8- Once 30 minutes is up, I pour the beans into a collender and rinse.
9- Using a scoop, I fill my canning jars (which have been sanitized by boiling-- I use the Ball Brand) until they are about a half inch or less from the top.
10- Fill with fresh, clean water for until to the top.
11- Place lid on and screw it on.
12- Once you have filled your jars, Fill a large canning pot with water.
13- Bring it to a rolling boil.
14- Once at a rolling boil, put the cans into a canning cradle and then put it into the boiling water.
15- I always set my timer for 15 minutes.
16- Once the timer is up, I pull the cans out with a special grippy thing, and place them on a dish towel.
17- When the cans are finished they will "pop" or be dented inward.
18- Then store on a shelf and eat them once winter comes along, or the beans (or veggies) aren't as cheap or readily available.
Currently I have canned black beans, northern beans, red beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, baby lima beans, lentils, salsa, strawberry-rhubarb jam, granola, macraoni and tomatoe sauce (thomas is italian lol), and 15 bean soup.
Among other things I have canned: applesauce (with no sugar- if you want the recipe--just comment), strawberry applesauce, mixed berry applesauce, sweet potatoes, chicken soup, pickles and 15 bean soup-finished product.
I plan on canning from my garden: summer squash, zucchini squash, onions, other forms of squash.
I plan on canning from neighbors and local farmer's market: strawberries (which I usually preserve by freezing along with blueberries), carrots, potatoes, jalapenos, Large lima beans, split peas, etc.
Here are the photos: (Everything in MASON JARS is Canned by me-- if you want recipes please comment and I will give you the recipe or message me on facebook-- just search for Healthy by Choice.)
