Anyone do any home canning?

[Scarecrow]

We have been canning for years. We just got a pressure canner hoping to can our own soups and other food.  We love idea of opening jar of our home made soup and knowing that the farmers who grew the vegetables and knowing what's in the and being able to control the sodium.

Anyone else ?

[Sunnylane]

Hi Scarecrow,  Tha t sounds like a great and healthy way to enjoy summer veggies during the winter.  Is this part of your fitbit healthy dieting.  I am curious as it may be something I'd like to try also. BTW,  I do not have an answer  about the sodium, but I would suggest, if the recipe  cooking down the veggies  require salt, just dont put it is or reduce it by 50%.   Happy Canning 🙂

[Scarecrow]

Over past few years we have been moving towards cooking everything, not using prepared foods. But that is difficult after working stressful day. Some days the thought of throwing frozen pizza in oven seems so easy as compared to making everything from scratch.  We are just looking for healthy alternatives to having quick easy healthy meals ready to eat.

We have cut down on salt so much. I swear I used to put a ton of salt in a big pot of soup. Now I don't use any. If our guests want salt they can add it.

Do you can, or preserve?

[Sunnylane]

Scarecrow,   I agree,  I dont put salt in any of my cooking. family ans friends can add thier own, however I dont even put salt on the table.   No,   I tried canning a few years back but it was a disaster.   The best I can do now is  par boil tomatoes in the summer and freeze them for the winter.  That and squeezing lots of fresh limes so I will have plenty for my homemade  guacamole.

[Scarecrow]

We freeze a lot too.  I just thought it would be nice to just open a jar and have my soup.  I have never used pressure canner just thought I would try.

Also after few power outages we lost everything in freezer few times. Broke my heart!

[Sunnylane]

That sounds like it could be a nice taste keeping all the flavors in.  I hate it when you loose food due to power outages. Where do you live?

[cinnamon033]

Hi, I am not sure what your question is but I can veggies, pastas, soups, poultry, beef, and pork. I like knowing what is in my foods and having control over what my family is eating. Plus its a great way to save money. When i make a pot of chilli soup, i make a lot so i can pressure can the left overs. It makes days when i dont want to cook or if we are just to busy much easier. If you have any questions about canning i will try to answer you to the best of my knowledge.

[Scarecrow]

That is exactly how I feel.  I am looking forward to making extra everything to save time and money and enjoy my own cooking. Cook once eat three or four times.

All my friends think I am crazy to waste my time when you can just buy can food.

So nice to know there are other people like me.

I also always dreamed of having my own spinning wheel.  My one girlfriend says why do you want a spinning wheel when you can buy yarn, my other girlfriend said why you want to buy yarn when you can buy sweaters lol.

Nice to find someone who thinks similar

[Sunnylane]

Ah   a spinning wheel, interesting. I always had a yearning to try my hand at pottery using a pottery wheel.  I'd try painting but I am afraid I am a stick figure type of artist and a bad one at that.  I did not inherit the "arts" gene from my mother. However  I was a very good singer in the past. So, I have settled in on good ole keep the family happy by cooking well.  I like to create new dishes.  And I do love tomatoes.

[Scarecrow]

I live in Ontario, Canada.  Love to cook. Love tomatoes. I found this recipe for roasted tomato soup, so we bought this pressure canner so I can put it in jar!  It should be delivered tomorrow. I'm going to go out pick tomatoes from my garden and make some. Hopefully I can figure out how to use it and not blow up the kitchen lol