Sweet Pickle and Bell Pepper Relish

What You Need:

6 cucumbers
2 green bell peppers
2 red bell peppers
3 onions
1/4 C of pickling salt
5 qts of cold water
3 C of sugar
2 C of cider vinegar
2 1/2 tsp celery seed
2 1/2 tsp mustard seed
1/2 tsp turmeric

How to Make It:

Peel the cucumbers, cut them in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and chop very fine to measure 6 C.
Remove the stems and seeds from the bell peppers and chop very fine, measuring out 3 C.
Peel the onions and chop very fine to measure 3 C.
Place the cucumbers, peppers and onions into a 5 qt. bowl and sprinkle with the salt.
Add enough cold water to completely cover the vegetables.
Let the covered vegetables stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
Run the vegetables under cold water to rinse and allow them to thoroughly drain.
Place the sugar, vinegar, celery and mustard seeds and turmeric into a 5 qt. pot.
Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Place the vegetables into the pot and return to a brisk boil.
Reduce the heat to medium high and cook the vegetables for 25 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated.
Prepare the canning jars and two piece caps as directed by the manufacturer.
Lightly compact the hot relish into the jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release the air bubbles and add more relish if necessary to preserve the correct head space.
Wipe the jar rims and hand tighten the lids.
Process the relish in a water bath canner for 10 minutes from the point of boiling.
Cool in a draft free area and check the seals before storing.
Any jars that are not sealed correct should be refrigerated and used within 2 months.

Makes 7 half pints

There’s nothing like a good relish to liven up burgers, hot dogs or your favorite salads. Try adding a little of this relish to tuna salad, macaroni salad or even to salad dressing. Make your own Thousand Island dressing and add a little of this sweet delight to give it a special touch.
This relish is ready to eat as soon as it has been processed and cooled. Hold one back to try on your family that very night. You all will be happy you did.

Preparation Time: approximately 30 minutes
Standing Time: approximately 2 hours
Cooking Time: approximately 25 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 2 hours 05 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 2 tbsp serving)
Calories 51; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 13g; Fiber 0g; Protein 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 499mg

No Peel Canned Summer Squash

What You Need:

18 lbs. of summer squash
2 gals of water
7 tsp canning salt

How to Make It:

Prepare the jars and lids according the manufacturer’s directions keeping them hot.
Pour the water into a 12 qt pot and place over high heat to bring it to a boil.
Cut the squash into 1 in cubes and gently place the cubes into the boiling water.
Return them to a boil and cook for 5 minutes or until just softened.
Loosely pack the squash into the jars using a canning funnel.
Add enough hot cooking liquid to maintain a 1/2 in headspace.
Release any air bubbles and add more liquid if necessary to maintain the correct headspace.
Wipe the jar rims and tighten the lids by hand.
Place the jars into the pressure canner and process at 10 lbs of pressure for 40 minutes.
Let the pressure drop to 0 and leave the jars in the closed canner for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove the jars and place in a draft free area to cool.
Check the seals before storing and use any jars that must be refrigerated within 2 weeks.
Boil the squash for 10 minutes before eating or tasting.

Makes 7 quarts

There is always an over abundance of summer squash in the garden. Whether it is zucchini, crookneck or any of the other types of summer squash available there’s always more than we can use or give away. Because the skins are thin and edible there is no need to peel your squash before you can it. That makes canning summer squash one of the easiest things to can out of the garden.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 40 minutes
Standing Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 1 hour 05 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 28; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 6g; Fiber 3g; Protein 2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 294mg

Canned Freshwater Chowder Fish

What You Need:

25 lbs. freshwater fish
12 tsp canning salt

How to Make It:

Prepare the canning jars and two piece screw cap lids as directed by the manufacturer.
Keep the jars and lids hot while filling.
Remove the entrails, scales, head, tail and fins off the fish.
Cut the pieces of fish with the skin intact small enough to fit in the jar leaving a 1 inch headspace.
Place the fish inside out into the jars and sprinkle 1 tsp of salt into each jar.
Wipe the jar rims clean and tighten the lids with your hand.
Process the fish in a pressure canner at 10 lbs. of pressure for 1 hour 40 minutes.
Allow the pressure to fall to 0 and leave the jars in the canner undisturbed for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove the jars and cool completely in a draft free area.
Check the seals and refrigerate any jars that did not seal correctly using within 1 week.
Boil the contents of each jar for 15 minutes before tasting or eating.

Makes 12 pints

If you have an avid fisherman in your home and love fish chowder this recipe is perfect for you. It’s a great way to keep all that fish out of the freezer. It makes a great base for chowder or any other soup or stew you make using your fish. Always follow a fish can recipe exactly and use care when packing and processing your fish because fish are very delicate and can fall apart or go bad very easily.

Preparation Time: approximately 1 hour
Processing Time: approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
Standing Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 1 hour 50 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 4 oz. serving)
Calories 212; Fat 9g; Saturated Fat 2g; Carbohydrates 0g; Fiber 0g; Protein 30g; Cholesterol 83mg; Sodium 788mg

Canned Summer Tomatoes

What You Need:

12 lbs. whole tomatoes
Bottled lemon juice
Canning salt
Boiling water

How to Make It:

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for preparing your jars and two piece lids.
Wash and peal the tomatoes and cut any large ones in half or in quarters.
Fill the jars with the tomatoes then press them down to release their juices.
Add 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of salt to each jar.
If the tomatoes didn’t produce enough juice to maintain a 1/2 inch headspace add enough boiling water to allow for the necessary headspace.
Release any air bubbles and add more tomatoes and water to achieve the correct headspace.
Wipe the rims and seal the jars.
Process the tomatoes in a water bath canner for 45 minutes from the point of boiling.
Allow the jars to cool in a draft free area and then check the seals.

Makes 4 quarts

Anyone who has a garden knows that tomatoes multiply quickly in the summer. This is a great way to savor those tomatoes during the long winter months. Use them in all your favorite soup, casserole or pasta recipes. Adding lemon juice will increase the acidity level of the tomatoes. This ensure a nice fresh tomato taste every time.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 45 minutes
Total Time: approximately 1 hour

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 44; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 10g; Fiber 2g; Protein 2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 19mg

Sweet Packed Canned Pears

What You Need:

12 lbs. of pears
5 1/4 C of water
2 1/4 C of sugar

How to Make It:

Prepare the canning jars according to the manufacturer’s instruments.
Wash, peel and core the pears then cut them into even size chunks.
Place the water and sugar into a saucepan over medium high heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly so the sugar dissolves.
Pack the pear chunks into the jars tightly then add enough syrup to maintain a 1/2 inch headspace.
Remove the air bubbles adding more pears and syrup if necessary to maintain the correct headspace.
Clean the jar rims and tighten the seals by hand.
Process the pears in a water bath canner from the point of boiling for 25 minutes.
Cool completely and check the seals.

Makes 4 quarts

Canned pears are great to have on hand over the long winter months. Eat them as they are or add them into pies and other baked goods. They make a great replacement for apples in all your favorite dishes. Pears hold up well to canning so use any or all of your favorite variety. Always check the seals after your jars cool down. If the jars did not seal correctly store the jars in the refrigerator and use them within two weeks. This recipe will also make 8 pints of pears. Just process them for 20 minutes instead of 25 minutes like the quarts.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 25 minutes
Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 79; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 21g; Fiber 1g; Protein 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 2mg

Homemade Fall Apple Butter

What You Need:

3 1/2 C of apple cider
8 large sweet apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 1/2 C of sugar
1/4 tsp pickling salt
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 (3 in.) cinnamon stick

How to Make It:

Pour the cider into a 5 qt. pot, place of high heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the apple slices and simmer for 45 minutes.
Stir the fruit every 10 minutes or so to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Add the remaining ingredient and reduce the heat to medium low.
Simmer the mixture, stirring intermittently, for 25 minutes or until the sauce thickens to the consistency of applesauce.
Remove the cinnamon stick and throw it away.
Prepare the canning jars and two piece lids according the manufacturer’s instructions keeping them hot.
Spoon the fruit into the jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release any air bubbles and add more fruit if necessary to retain the correct head space.
Process the jars in a water bath for 15 minutes from the point of boiling.
Cool in a draft free area the check to be sure all the lids sealed correctly.
Any jars that did not seal correctly can be refrigerated and used within two months.

6 half pints

Yummy apple butter there’s nothing like it when it comes to topping our toast on a chilly fall morning. When canning, always stick to the recipe. Experimenting with different ingredient amounts or adding extra ingredients will only cause you food safety problems. Different adjustments can change the acid or pH levels causing your canned goods to spoil. Always complete the process from start to finish without any interruptions. Interruptions can cause low-grade quality and make for an unsafe product.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 23; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 6g; Fiber 0g; Protein 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 7mg

Canned Sweet Diced Carrots

What You Need:

12 lbs of carrots, peeled and tops removed
3 tsp canning salt

How to Make It:

Prepare the canning jars according the manufacturer’s instructions and keep them hot.
Dice the cleaned carrots trying to keep all them as close to the same size as possible.
Place the carrots into a 12 qt. pot and cover them with water.
Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes or until tender on the outside but still firm in the middle.
Fill each jar with the hot carrots and with enough of cooking liquid to leave a 1 in headspace.
Add 1/2 tsp of salt to each jar and release the air bubbles.
Add more carrots and liquid if necessary to retain the recommended headspace.
Wipe the rims and seal the jars.
Place the jars in the pressure canner and bring the pressure to 10 lbs.
Process the jars for 25 minutes then allow the pressure to drop to 0.
Let the carrots stand in the unopened canner for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove and cool in a draft free area then check the seals.
Boil your carrots for 10 minutes before eating or tasting.

Makes 6 pints

Use carrots that are 1 to 1 1/2 in diameter for best results. Canned carrots will retain their sweet flavor and the texture will be perfect for any dish you use them in. To check the seals to ensure the jars have sealed correctly wait until the jars have cooled completely which can take up to 24 hours. Push the center of lid and if it doesn’t indent the jar has sealed correctly. If the lid does indent after applying pressure then the seal did not take and you need to refrigerate the jar. Most unsealed canned foods will stay fresh when chilled for up to 2 weeks. Always refer to your recipe for the period of time the food will remain safe to eat. These carrots may also be sliced in 1/4 in slices before canning if you prefer.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 25 minutes
Standing Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 50 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 94; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 22g; Fiber 7g; Protein 2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 424mg

Sassy Tomato Salsa

What You Need:

3 C of tomatoes, peeled and chopped
12 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and chopped fine
1 onion, peeled and chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped fine
2 tsp ground oregano
1 1/2 tsp pickling salt
1/3tsp ground cumin
1 C of cider vinegar

How to Make It:

Prepare the canning jars and two part lids according the manufacturer’s instructions and keep them hot.
Place all the above ingredients into a 5 qt. pot.
Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring often to blend the ingredients together.
Simmer over low heat to 10 minutes.
Pour the salsa into the jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release the air bubbles and add more salsa if necessary to retain the correct head space.
Wipe the rims and tighten the seals.
Process the salsa in a water bath canner for 15 minutes from the point of boiling.
Remove the jars carefully and cool in a draft free area.
Check the seals and promptly refrigerate any jars that did not seal correctly.

Makes 3 pints

As this salsa cools and then sets the heat of the jalapeno’s will get stronger. Use less jalapeno’s if you prefer a milder salsa. This salsa will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Use it on all of your favorite Mexican foods or as a dip with tortilla chips.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately10 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 2 tbsp serving)
Calories 6; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 2g; Fiber 0g; Protein 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 99mg

Rise and Shine Raspberry Syrup

What You Need:

5 C of fresh raspberries, hulled and cut in half
3 C of water, divided
1 tbsp lemon zest, grated
2 1/2 C of sugar
3 1/2 C of corn syrup
2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice

How to Make It:

Put the raspberries into a 5 qt. pot and mash the with a potato masher.
Pour 1 1/2 C of water over the berries and add the lemon zest.
Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer the berries for 5 minutes.
Strain the berries through a mesh strainer.
Prepare the canning jars as directed by the manufacturer of the jars and keep them hot.
Stir the remaining water and the sugar together in a large saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
Cook the mixture until the temperature reaches 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Stir in the strained raspberry mixture and corn syrup and bring back to a boil.
Boil the syrup for 4 minutes, remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
Remove any foam that has formed off the top and discard.
Pour the hot syrup into the canning jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release the air bubbles and add more syrup if necessary to maintain the head space.
Process the syrup in a water bath canner for 10 minutes from the point of boiling.
Remove and cool on towels in a dry draft free area then check the seals before storing.

Makes 6 half pints

Maple syrup might be your favorite but after you try this syrup you may never go back to maple syrup again. The flavor is outstanding and is perfect for all those breakfast goodies like French toast or pancakes. For other great flavors use different berries or a mixture of all your favorite kinds.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 9 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 39 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 2 tbsp serving)
Calories 114; Fat 0g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 0g; Fiber 1g; Protein 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 0mg

Home Canned Blueberries

blueberries

What You Need:

10 lbs. of blueberries
2 C of sugar
10 lbs. fresh blueberries, washed and stems removed
Water

How to Make It:

Prepare the jars, lids and screw bands according the manufacturer.
Place the clean blueberries into saucepan.
Pour the sugar over the top and bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
Fill another pot with water and bring it to a boil.
Ladle the berries through a funnel into the prepared jars.
Add enough boiling water to maintain a 1/2 inch headspace.
Release the bubbles and add more berries and water if necessary to maintain the correct headspace.
Wipe the rims and hand seal the jars.
Place them into a water bath canner and process for 20 minutes from the point of boiling.
Remove carefully with a jar lifter and cool in a draft free area.
Check the seals and refrigerate any jars that did not seal correctly.

Makes 4 quarts

Hard berries need to be cooked before canning to soften them just a little. It also helps to sweeten the berries by adding the sugar when cooking. Hard berries such as blueberries or cranberries hold up well when canned and are a great addition for all your winter baking ideas. The rule of thumb for adding the sugar is 1/2 C for each quart of berries.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 5 minutes
Processing Time: approximately 20 minutes
Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per 1/2 C serving)
Calories 124; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat0g; Carbohydrates 32g; Fiber 6g; Protein 1g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 2mg