What are you canning?

[lcertuche]

If I was making it to gift I would definitely strain better. When I give someone jam or jelly I always look for the prettiest looking.

Every time someone says they don't care for strawberry preserves and then taste mine they always want a jar (or two). I don't think it's because mine is better than anyone else but because it's not the sugar water taste of commercial jelly.

 

[w_r_ranch]

No canning today... although I did sliced & blanched a 5 gallon bucket of potatoes before putting them in the dehydrator. I got to try out the ripple blade on my new mandolin slicer in the process.

 

[ducks4you]

Pickled beets!!!
I had to buy more vinegar this week in preparation, and nobody had AC vinegar, so I thought a high quality white distilled would do. Check the recipe and it Calls for white vinegar, so that was good.
I harvested over 20 pounds of beets:

It took 5 pots to simmer them down and then my biggest bowl:

The coffee maker is there to show you the softball sized beets. I didn't mean to let them get so large, but time crunches AND extra rain contributed.

I lost 6 from the harvest. 2 were mushy and went to the chickens. Two were eaten (quality control) and two were consumed with our steaks last night. All told, I ended up with 11 1/2 quarts and I got it done in ONE day!

 

[ducks4you]

I also harvested carrots, but they are now in the fridge until I get the time this weekend to process. This was my first PLANNED attempt to grow carrots. I never thinned them out and several were very small. Still I consider it a success and I plan to replant today before tonight's rain, just like I will be replanting beets as well.

I separated them and left the tiniest ones in the mass of greens, which were fed to the horses last night.

One of the carrots was flowering and I discovered a swallowtail caterpiller, but I didn't have my camera.

 

[Nyboy]

Roasted Beets

 

[ducks4you]

If I was making it to gift I would definitely strain better. When I give someone jam or jelly I always look for the prettiest looking.

Every time someone says they don't care for strawberry preserves and then taste mine they always want a jar (or two). I don't think it's because mine is better than anyone else but because it's not the sugar water taste of commercial jelly.

Those make the nicest gifts!!

 

[lcertuche]

Oh my those beets are going to be so good.

I saw on YouTube canning carrots with a spoonful of dry onion soup mix. Has anyone tried that. It sounds good. If I get a good price on carrots I might try a canner full. I usually cook my carrots candied though but this would taste like ones in pot roast possibly(?).

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think the carrots would be worth a try.

I tried something for the first time today, Purple Hull Jelly. I made a tea from the pods of purple hull peas and made jelly, using a recipe I found online from Kraft. I think it turned out pretty good. I'm kind of undecided on what it tastes like, it's supposed to taste like grape but my wife thought more like honey.

 

[digitS']

@Ridgerunner , when I first ventured onto the internet an "important" knowledge I was looking for was how to make wine from garden produce.

I'd been through several stages, I guess beginning with using fruits other than grapes. After a few more years exploring the garden wine idea, I essentially gave up.

About the most ardent wine makers using something from their gardens were people making pea pod wine. I found the entire idea rather horrible! I never tried it despite having lots of peas some years. Maybe you should give it a whirl ... recipe

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

Steve, I once made dandelion wine. It turned out pretty good, but that was probably my only excursion I'll ever make into wine making. Once was enough, I can do it. After tasting that jelly I can see where pea pods could make a good wine.