When friends decide they want to start canning, they do not want to put much money into it incase they do not enjoy it. They often ask me what equipment they really need. I decided to put together a list of items I always have ready in my Rubbermaid canning containers. I keep most everything in…
Canning
Canning Tips & Tricks
Here are a few tips & tricks for making jam, jelly, marmalade, conserves, pickles, vegetables or anything else you want to “put up”. This is by no means a complete volume but questions that I get asked all the time when a friend is trying to can. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate…
The difference between Jam, Jelly, Marmalade, & Conserves
When I first started canning, I often wondered what the difference between jelly, jam, marmalade was. Then, I was introduced to the term conserve and could not figure out what the heck that was and how it fit into my sweet biscuit topping world! I searched the internet and found most information to be less…
How do I get rid of the seeds in jam?
Many people love jam, but hate the seeds associated with blackberry and raspberry jam. I feel the same way and if you are making any in the near future, I have a trick that will help you out. Let’s take blackberries: That jam tastes so good…….but the seeds involved will get stuck in your teeth…
Apricot Jam and Jelly Recipe
After I finished the marmalade, I used 6 cups of apricot puree I prepared yesterday and made some great apricot jam. Oddly, it looks a great deal like the apricot orange marmalade I made earlier unless you look closely. I wasn’t able to discern it very well with the camera, sorry. Then, with the juice I poured…
Orange and Apricot Marmalade Recipe
Whew! The weekend is finally winding down. I’ve had a roast and potatoes in the slow cooker all day and I’m looking forward to eating and watching the next-to-the-last football game of the year. This weekend, I had 4 quart bags of frozen summer apricots, 7 oranges, and 2 lemons to make as much jam/jelly/marmalade as I…
What to do with all the Jam????
Have you been thinking of canning some of summer’s bounty but just cannot imagine trying to eat it all before 2020? Or, did you really get into the groove of canning, making all kinds of jam/jelly/marmalade then gave it to ALL your friends, family and neighbors as presents and STILL have cases of it left? …
My jam/jelly/marmalade did not set!!!
My jelly did not set up, what did I do wrong? Has this ever happened to you? You’ve followed a recipe exactly and then after the jelly cooled; it looks like pretty colored syrup. It could be any number things and here are a few reasons why. Some of the citrus or soft fruits take…
How is your canning holding out?
How is your canning holding out this year? Mine is not doing too well. I canned case after case of jam, jelly, pickles, peppers, salsa, and spaghetti sauce and we are down to one small shelf that is 12 inches wide, 8 inches deep and about 14 inches high. My husband did not think he…
Small Sweet Peppers
Last week, I was at Sam’s and saw a bag of very small red and yellow sweet peppers in the produce section. I bought a bag for $2.88. I wasn’t expecting much but when I opened the bag, the peppers were so sweet and tasty I couldn’t resist going back for more! They are about…