Canning Essentials

If yesterday's apple butter post inspired you to hop aboard the canning train, let me tell you about a few of my favorite things that make the whole process easier.

There are two different types of canning and I use the water bath method so this is what I use for processing and cooking...

Canning Utensil Set

This comes with a funnel (essential as it fits onto the jars perfectly), a jar lifter (boiling water is hot, y'all), a magnetic lid lifter for pulling the lids and rims out of their pot of water and a bubble remover/headspace tool to make sure you're filling the jar properly.

 

Fresh Preserving Kit

A 21 qt. water bath canning system. I tried to use a large pot I had on hand for my first batch of jam and, although it got the job done, it was very difficult and not ideal for larger or more cans. This kit actually comes with not only the pot, but the 4 pieces listed above and a canning rack that fits in the pot to make it easy to place jars in and remove jars from the hot water!

 

The Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving

Not only recipes but instructions and how-to guides for all levels of canners.

 

You Can Can book

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was first attracted to this book because of the title. So witty. I went to the bookstore and perused lots of different instruction books on canning and I felt this one had a great variety of how to prepare your veggies/fruit/etc., how to process your cans, how to prepare your supplies for canning and a plethora of recipes. The Gingered Cranberry Pear Chutney? Delish over cream cheese with crackers.

 

I use Ball Jars that I pick up at our grocery store but you can also get them at any craft store.

These 8 oz. Quilted Jelly Jars are my favorite.

I only buy regular mouth size jars so that I'm only buying one size of replacement lids (they can only be used once!).

And how cute are these 4 oz. quilted jars? Love.

 

Oh, and if you're planning on quadrupling the apple butter and peeling, coring and slicing 10 lbs. of apples, I HIGHLY recommend one of these.



 

There are so many online resources available, as well. Which come in handy when you're in the middle of canning something and you have no idea what's going on....trust me, that's normal.

 

Also, if you live in Colorado or high altitude (ie: not Oklahoma), this website is key for modifying your processing time because of the altitude.

 

All of the titles of the items are links to purchasing them, too, if you're interested!

 

You CAN can!

Laura

 



Slow Cooked Apple Butter

When we first moved to Colorado, it took an extremely long time for my teaching license to transfer over from Texas. So, in that time, I picked up a lot of new hobbies, one being canning!

I first tried canning a small batch of jam and, although it was extremely frustrating because I had no idea what I was doing, it became something that I really look forward to doing!

Now every Autumn, I load up on fresh, scrumptious apples and make apple butter! It is a perfect introduction recipe to canning and I love that come December, the apple butter flavors are still perfectly canned and I have a load of stocking stuffers and small gifts to pass out to neighbors, family and friends!

But don't let the canning aspect deter you from this recipe- you absolutely don't have to can this! Just make it and keep it in the fridge for a delicious spread for your bread, a stir-in for your yogurt (delicious!!) or make it extra decadent and make a batch of my Apple Butter Rolls!

And- wouldn't you know- this recipe is from Skinnytaste! So it's guilt-free, too!



I quadrupled this recipe (10 lbs. of apples!) and picked up organic Gala apples from our local farmer's market grocery store at 99 cents a pound! What a deal.





Oh, did I mention that this is made in the SLOW COOKER? And makes your house smell amazing? Now you have to make it.

Slow Cooked Apple Butter

Recipe from Skinnytaste

Yield: 2 cups

 

Ingredients:
2.5 lbs (6 large) apples, peeled, cored, finely chopped (I used gala but honeycrisp or a mix of the two works well, too)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Place the apples in a slow cooker. Top with sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg and mix well.

Cover and cook on low 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.

Uncover and puree with an immersion blender. Cook on high uncovered 1-2 hours.

Spoon into sterile jars for canning, or containers and refrigerate.


Enjoy!
Laura

An Ode to Bacon

...I mean, my brother.

Today is my brother's birthday and in honor of his bacon-loving self, here is a round up of some scrumptious looking recipes, all using bacon as the centerpiece!

Bacon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Bacon and Beer Cookies

Bacon Bread

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Maple Bourbon Bacon Jam

Happy Birthday to a loving, protective and bacon-loving older brother!

What if you put bacon jam on bacon bread? Hmmm...

Laura