Adventures in Canning 2012!

I grew up on a farm in the mountains of northeast TN and putting up food (i.e. preserving and canning) is in my blood. As a teen and into my 20s, I had lost all interest in doing these things because I would spend every summer and fall stringing beans, canning fruits and making preserves with my family. I was over it. ;)

Well, when I hit my mid 30s, this all changed and now, I'm happily pursuing the very activities that I swore I would never do again. I sit in front of the tv and break green beans (surprisingly relaxing!) or I peel fruit while my daughter (6) stands beside me at the counter sneaking bites when she thinks I'm not looking. I started with apple butter which in my book, is a great place to jump into processing fruits.

In the last couple of years, I expanded into different fruit preserves and chutneys. However, this was the year of a BIG leap. I bought a pressure canner. :D

This past week, I've been a canning fool!

I've made blackberry jam.

I deseeded the blackberries the hard way (used fine sieve with a spatula) so that my parents could enjoy this jam. However, this convinced me that I really need a food mill. Talk about labor intensive!

Here's my peach preserves (a request from my dad)...

Finally,  my first batch of canned green beans!

I picked up a batch of beans from my local farmer's market earlier this week. They are so tasty! I've already made a second trip to the same farmer for more of his goodness.

I am so flippin' proud of myself. My husband already has all kinds of ideas for our new canner. Whee!

EDIT: I forgot to add that I used the recipes in the pectin box for my preserves and jams. The process for the beans came out of Canning for Dummies.

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