Canning & Preserving
Pickles require specific measures. To create a great batch of pickles, make sure you use the proper ingredients and tools. Though vinegar and salt are used, pickles still must be boiled in an open water bath to kill the enzymes that cause spoilage. Earmark hollow or odd-shaped cucumbers for relish and use only pickling cucumbers.
It used to be that the home canning process was the only way to preserve meats, fruits and vegetables, and jams and jellies. But even though modern conveniences have made preserving food a choice rather than a necessity, home canning remains a satisfying way to reap the bounty from your garden. Home canning isn't difficult to learn, but you do need to adhere to some strict safety guidelines to ensure that what you preserve can be safely eaten.
Few things say summer as readily as the delicious scent of strawberry jam or jelly, even in the dead of winter. The tantalizing aroma of sun-warmed strawberries, bursting with flavor, is enough to send you back for seconds, thirds and more. The secret to successful homemade jams and jellies is knowing exactly what steps to take and to avoid. It is a skill that is learned from many years of practice and countless trials with plenty of error.
The dictionary definition of relish, which is "to savor, take delight in and enjoy," says it all. Sweet and spicy relishes are perfect before dinner, during dinner and after dinner. Relishes are also great go-betweens for snacking and on target when tucked into a festive jar and given as a gift.
If you want to make homemade pickles, you’ll want to check out this refrigerator pickle recipe for details on how to make crisp, delicious pickles without bothering with canning.
Plum jam recipes can be created with or without added pectin. Without added pectin, less sugar is needed, but less sugar also means more cooking. With pectin, the jam has a better chance of setting. Here's tips for getting the right balance.
Dill pickles are a fabulous snack, easy to eat and fun to make. If you’ve got a little room in your garden, you can easily grow enough cucumbers to make jars and jars of dill pickles.
Keep the results of your garden tasty during the cold winter months. Canning green beans is a relatively simple process — once you know the proper procedure.
Dill pickle relish is the most common of relishes. Because relish has a bite to it, it is intended to be consumed in small increments, such as in a spread or as a garnish. Making fresh dill pickle relish is a task that can be accomplished easily, and because the most important ingredient is a jar of dill pickles, it can also be made at any time of the year.
Because apricots are so mild, most apricot jam recipes jazz up the flavor a bit by incorporating additional fruit, spices and even hot peppers for a more tantalizing taste. Apricot jams are excellent when peaches are added, like this apricot jam recipe.
If you plan on canning pears, it’s important to understand how to determine the best time and types of pears to pick. Though pears ripen across the United States from August through October, few commercially grown pears are ever allowed to ripen on the trees. Instead, pears are picked early to prevent disease and insect infestation.
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