Here’s a quick post to answer a question my sister had: How can you tell the difference between used and new canning lids? There are a few ways to tell. First, the new ones are in a box and second, the used ones have the date sharpied on them :) However, if you used lids […]
The Prepper Yard Sale or Thrift Store Shopping List
I love shopping at yard sales and thrift stores, and when I find one, I’m on the lookout for gear to help my preparedness efforts. Because most of the items you’ll find are used, always check the item’s condition well before buying. A $3.00 backpacking stove is useless if it doesn’t work. You never know […]
Finished the Elk and Other Stuff
I know you all are laughing, but it seriously took me until the 27th to be totally finished with that crazy elk! We kept it cold in a cooler outside (well, mostly frozen actually) for a while, then moved a leg or sack of meat in at a time and worked on it. It usually […]
Still Going
Okay, it’s been over a week and I’m still not done with the elk–as much as I love the meat I really just want to snuggle up in a blanket, watch a Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. Yeah, with mini marshmallows in it . . . the real ones, not the crispy little dried […]
Applesauce
I’ll be honest with you all here. I’m no applesauce expert. I once made applesauce that was really good with jonathan and gala apples, and I’ve used golden delicious also and it’s not bad, but there was more flavor with the gala/jonathan mix. In my life now, I’ve made a whole 3 batches of applesauce. […]
Storing Jars
When I’ve eaten the fantastic food (well, most of the time it’s fantastic) out of my canning jars and washed them out, it’s time to store them until I need to can something else. I like to wash the used lid and ring along with the jar and then put the clean lid UPSIDE DOWN […]
Home Canning Meat–Bottled Meat
Bottled meat is one of my favorite ways to preserve game meat. You can also bottle non-game meats like beef, pork, chicken, and even fish. It takes a long time to make it (mostly processing time in the canner), but when you need to use it, it is already cooked and ready to throw in […]
Bottled Butter
Also see Bottled Butter Part 2 here. Update 11/24: word from our local extension agent that bottling butter is not safe due to it not getting hot enough to kill botulism . . . guess I won’t be doing more unless I figure out another way to do it or find out otherwise. We got […]
Canning Tools
If you’re going to can your own food, you’ll need some tools. Don’t worry, the list isn’t long and I’ll put in pictures also so you know what you’re looking for. First a canner. High acid foods like fruits, jams/jellies and tomatoes can be bottled in a Water Bath Canner or Boiling Water Canner (both […]
More Apples . . . Apple Pie Filling
I had some more apples and thought I’d try making canned apple pie filling. I’ve never done this before, so I got online and looked up recipes and here’s the one I ended up using: 10 Cups Water 4 1/2 Cups Sugar 1 Cup Cornstarch 2 tsp. Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Nutmeg 1 tsp. Salt 2 […]
