canning..

Anyone into this?

I started with a few jams last year. I made:
Blueberry
Strawberry

I was using my aunts (actually my great-grandma's canner)

But, recently I bought a waterbath canner on zulily.

So far, I have made:
Strawberry jam
Peach-Raspberry Jam
Raspberry-Vanilla Jam
Dill Pickles
Peaches canned in light syrup.


I can't wait to try more stuff. Any recipes you want share? Tips? I can't do most veggies because most of them are in a pressure canner. As are most tomato sauces.

I found a tomato sauce mix that I can make in a waterbath canner. I would love to know if anyone has any good recipes for tomato sauce in a waterbath canner.

Also, where do you get supplies? I can't find pickle salt anywhere. I think I can get it online. I caved and just bought the Ball dill pickle mix but, it didn't feel authentic enough. I really wanted to do it the "real" way. I find ACE on Hemp. tpk in levittown has the biggest variety.

canning..

I just started canning!! I've done about a million jars of whole peeled Roma tomatoes (well, not a million, but like 15), tons of strawberry jam, and I just did garlic dill pickles (but I didn't can them in the water bath, I just put them in the refrigerator because we are going to blast through 4 quarts of pickles in a short amount of time!)

You don't need special pickling/canning salt. Just get coarse Kosher salt at the grocery store, it's the same thing. Just check the Pick Your Own website to make sure you're using the right amount. Also, the salt is optional for most canning recipes. You only use it for pickles if you're brining them first, which I didn't do.

My first time doing pickles I used the Ball mix, and added garlic. Since then, I've made my own spice infusion in the cheesecloth, but honestly? I like the Ball mix with the extra garlic better than anything else I've done so far on my own!!

I think I'm going to do pineapple in light syrup this week, since pineapple is pretty much on sale everywhere. I'm also doing applesauce in September since my SIL has a huge apple tree and has promised me 90 pounds of apples!!

Re: canning..

canning..

I used water bath, and I used the hot pack method.

Also, if you don't already know about it, try the Lehmans website! I love their catalogue and i bought all my canning stuff from them. Love them!!