Monday 10 June 2013

And then I discovered Pressure Canning !!!

I had ordered some of my Fowlers Vacola  jars from my supplier and when they arrived they had sent me a "new " type of bottle to try in the preserver. It was a Ball Mason jar, I had never seen one before. My girlfriend who hails from Wisconsin in the USA had told me about them  and her type of preserving she had done with the 4H group and with her Mum and Grandma.
I started using these jars to water bath and  also did some research online only to be introduced to the big wide world of Pressure Canning.
We decided to purchase a pressure canner and my kids all put together and bought me my big baby, a big All American .
It is amazing, it holds 19 pint jars or 14 quarts. I just love the large loads it can do, and I can accomplish so much in a day.
How wonderful to be able to do, vegetables, soups,stocks, stews,and meats and store away for  later meals. I especially love the ready meals and meats.
Above we have curried sausages in quarts, then Chicken stock and raw packed chicken breasts and finally below we have chicken and vegetable soup.
I am so addicted to canning, I am sure many of my friends who have never heard of it think it is a little odd, but to us it is just the most practical, sensible normal thing to do  with what we produce and can buy cheaply.At least I know that we will always have food and know what's in it..
Anyway I am sure I will be posting many more canning exploits in the future,so hopefully you all don't tire of them.
Cheers from Aus,
Jane

9 comments:

  1. Love your blog and this post. Would you mind if I shared it on my facebook page, Earth to Glass Canning? Thank you for sharing it with me! I also have a blog but haven't written on it for a while.. It really is just a gathering of thoughts, pictures, gardening things, ironically I wrote the blog without any canning things on it.. One day... It is called, Tranquil Acres of Alexandria.. Thanks again, Leslie from Earth to Glass Canning in NJ.

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    1. Hi Leslie, glad you liked it...You are the very first person to comment. Am happy for you to share,
      will look up your too,
      Cheers
      Jane

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  2. Hi Jane! - Aussie expat in US :) I'm just finding your blog thank's to Leslie at ETGC! Love the site and I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Canned Curried Snag Recipe if you would be so kind as to share?

    Thanks,
    Felicity

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    1. Hi Felicity,
      Where in Aus were you from.?
      Will get out my book and send you the curried snag recipe..(not really a set recipe just an old family favourite..That I have adapted (hopefully correctly) to canning.
      Cheers
      Jane

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    2. Hi Felicity,
      As I said, really don't follow a true recipe for the curried sausages, but this is roughly what I do.
      Canned Curried Sausages.
      I par boil the thick sausages(just ordinary butchers shop thick beef sausages) then then slice them into thick rings and set aside.
      Then in a large stock pot I place Chopped onions,potatoes,celery and carrots along with a few cans of chopped tomatoes,peas,Stock or water to cover completely,mixed herbs,garlic,curry powder and a few squirts of any of my standard pantry sauces(I often keep my just empty sauce bottles and wash out with a little water just for this purpose.)
      I then cook until all the vegies are just tender and then mix in the sausage rings.
      Then I prepare my bottles, fill, leaving required head space, de-bubble, and cap with simmered lids and bands. I then process in the pressure canner at 10lbs(for my altitude) for 90 minutes quarts and 75 minutes pints.When ready to use..
      I then thicken with a roux of plain flour,curry powder and water- while reheating and simmering for the 10 min prior to serving.
      ( I think that's it(have realized I left my book up the farm, and doing it from memory.)
      If i find anything different on my next trip will let you know.
      Cheers,
      Jane.

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    3. Hi Jane! Army brat, but lived most of my childhood in CBR. Born an Eel!
      Been in states since Nov 97

      Thank you so much! I am going to try this! Dad is coming next April and he'll get a treat!

      Sorry it took me so long to respond, I didn't get a notification.

      Felicity!

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  3. I love my All American canner, its just too small for what I want to do though, so looking for the large size.

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    1. Hi Kahne,
      We bought ours through Amazon,saved heaps by getting it direct from the US rather than locally. I think it's brilliant but I haven't had any other to compare to.
      Cheers,
      Jane




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