Things I learned while canning strawberries on Monday:
You can never have too many pots on hand
My dishwasher doesn’t just sanitize
Boiling water is hot, yeouch.
Jam gets everywhere and it is very sticky (I felt like Paddington)
I’m not the best at measuring
You should measure after crushing the berries
Whoops – those jars are 12 oz. not 8 oz.
I’d make a terrible nurse – there’s no way I could maintain a sterile field
You can never have too many washcloths, towels, and hot pads on hand (and they all get to be a sticky mess.)
Popping lids after you pull them out of the water bath is the most amazing sound
And, jam on fresh bread is a perfectly acceptable dinner.
Thanks for all the hand holding and patience as I chronicled every minute part of my canning adventure. And, a special thank you to my aunt for giving me her canning supplies.
Blueberries are next!
posted by Mimi @ 7/15/2009 03:45:00 PM
21 Comments
21 Comments:
I've never canned strawberries, but it sounds delightful! I could even hear the sounds of the lids popping as you described them :)
Nice! Yeah... if I ever did this, everything would also be sticky! :)
Good for you! Yes, it is an acceptable dinner and a very good one!
I have some very fond memories of my folks canning fruits and vegetables when i was a kid. To this day I love the smell of dill
Big lessons. But sounds like a great experience. Enjoy the blueberries!
I used to make strawberry, apricot and blueberry. It is fun - but a BIG mess! You will enjoy the fruits of your labor (har har) through the winter - if the family doesnt eat it all up before then!
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When you make jam sometimes it even gets on the ceiling:) Dont know how, but I think it boils so hard.....there are few things in life that give me more pleasure! And the bonus is you get to eat it all winter mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Petros has called it Yiayias special jelly. My grandkids think thats what its called!
Oh, that WOULD make everything sticky! Hot, and sticky.
My favorite part of canning has to be watching the stuff still boiling in the jar after you pull it out of the canner. That is just the coolest thing ever. Lids popping is a really close second.
My kitchen is a sauna right now - found chicken on sale, so it's canning time here too!
I've never canned, but enjoyed reading about your experience. I have made strawberry freezer jam before, and I agree -- jam can be quite messy.
yeah.
I am going to attempt to make my own salsa this summer.
*imagines Mimi in a duffle coat* Did you make osborne biscuits too?
Good grief, I got a real word for my word verification! 'Stowe', old English for 'holy place' :)
I too love dill but in my folks' case it was involved with pickling herring.
My favorite way to have dill is with sour cream and cucumbers. Yum.
I agree, Rosemary, definitely an acceptable dinner.
Grin! I love these memories. It is odd, I have eaten my grandmother's jam, so clearly she does can, but I have no memories of her actually canning.
Jam on the ceiling! Wow, that's fun to look forward to :) My Dh will be impressed, he already mopped after I canned.
Kat - I'm definitely looking forward to enjoying the fruits of my labor.
And, grin! I could enjoy some osborne biscuits too!
RW - Yes! Salsa!
Goodness, after all that you're still going to try blueberries? It must've tasted really good!
Oh, it's awesome, AE!
Totally impressed. Are you shipping some down now?
--Please post your recipe for dill, sour cream, and cucumbers. I lost mine. Thanks.
--Yep, jam on the ceiling and walls and everywhere. FUN!
--Did you make jelly, jam, or preserves?
Jelly = made with juice only; no parts of the fruit in it, only juice.
Jam = fruit is pureed and skins/peels removed so you have a nice, thick spread.
Preserves = you can see some whole fruit in the preserves.
I'm sure you had a lot of fun, and I'm glad you are going on to can more. :D
well done :)
oh my! please eat a slice of toast with jam for me!
I made jam, but I'd like to do blueberry preserves.
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