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This morning I got up early and got everything ready to pick and can green beans. Yes, I am turning into Martha Stewart and I don't mind it too much. This is my second year for canning and I added pressure canning to my list of new things accomplished. I was very intimidated by my pressure canner even though I had read every bit of the instruction manual and every book ever written. I actually got over it by running my new canner through a test cycle. Not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. We picked for over an hour this morning and our yield was 28 pints. Not too shabby for the first harvest. I am sure most people with larger families would can quarts of green beans but it usually just the three of us at home on any given night and quarts are just too much.
I am taking a Home Preservation class online through our state university which I have thoroughly enjoyed so far. It was what spurred me to have my pressure gauge checked even though my canner was brand spanking new. It was horribly off. Thank goodness I had it checked. It was no big deal to get a new gauge and they did that for me right where I had it checked. Most extension offices will check them for free. I had to drive to a larger city in order to have mine done. It turned out to be well worth the trip. Just in case you're curious, a pressure canner gauge should be checked every year before canning season begins and anytime you purchase a new canner.
Just like last year when I learned to use the steamer/juicer, the pressure canner will likely turn out to be my newest fun play thing. I can see that it is going to be fun to watch my canned bounty stack up. I am a stock freak so home preservation suits my personality.
I love the feeling of having all the jars stacked up ready for winter. I haven't tried pressure canning yet, but i do remember helping to pressure can salmon as a kid, and the canner always seemed intimidating (someone was always on gauge watch!). You may yet help spur me on to do the pressure canning, after all, I have a regular pressure cooker I use all the time!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! And thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteYou are so inspiring me to do some canning. My mother-in-law has been canning for 40 years and I've never had her teach me. She's got the pressure canner too. I think this year I will give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI'm MOST impressed!
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great feeling, knowing they will be there to enjoy in the winter!
Way to go!
Rosey
Wow Heather, that is a lot of beans!! Good for you. I have done some canning, but not pressure canning. I do have a pressure cooker, not big enough for canning. Knowing the pressure that builds makes one wary of possible explosions! KABLOOEY!! Glad you got your gauge checked. I don't think our extension office checks gauges...hmmm. ?...??
ReplyDeleteOh, Heather! I am taking my hat off!
ReplyDeleteI've done my share when my Mom and I canned tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, strawberries, etc., long ago. So, I know what it takes and I can tell you that you are a hero! And taking a class... You are a double hero!
They look wonderful, and good for you. My Mom always canned beans, and they were one of our favorite winter foods.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gardening.
Jen
Great looking jars of beans. I don't can anymore, but when I did I always loved looking at all the colorful jars on the pantry shelves.
ReplyDeleteI started canning this year, too. Mostly jams, but also a few whole things, and I hope to do salsa. I love it... haven't tried a pressure canner yet, though. Maybe I"ll follow your lead and go that way in year 2!
ReplyDeleteTotally impressed by all those cans of beans. And you've read every book ever written? Wow!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteVery impressive. I have never tried canning and hadn't realised how involved it sounds. i will stick to freezing my beans.
ReplyDeleteHi Martha...er..Heather! When I was a kid, my grandparents served home-canned green beans and they were so delicious--much, much better than any factory could produce. Kudos to you. Your family is very lucky.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fellow Idaho gardener and I was wondering which university you were taking the online preservation from? U of I? Any info/links you could send me would be great!
ReplyDeleteJill
That's great! I remember helping my mom can pears from our tree when I was younger, and it's a lot of work. Won't it be fun opening those in the winter and having veggies from the garden then!
ReplyDeleteJillpete- If you email me privately via the link on my blog I will email you back with the email address of the woman teaching the class. My extension office gal told me about the class and it is through Boundary County and the class is on Blackboard at U of I. Good class. I tried to pull your profile up by clicking your name but it won't let me.
ReplyDeleteHeather
FANTASTIC!! I was waiting for this shot!!! Looks wonderful! I can pints too. There is just the two of us here and I don't like waste/open a larger jar if it is just me. Great work!!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have a happy pantry. My wife is going to be jealous :)
ReplyDeleteHeather I can see you have been very busy canning. I love fresh cooked beans from the garden and new potatoes. Those will be heaven this winter.
ReplyDeleteYou do canning TOO? You never cease to amaze me. Your beans look fabulous! They are one of my favorite veggies. I'm playing catch-up. I' just got back from vacation. It looks like you've got some fun posts for me to catch up on!
ReplyDeletethat is impressive! maybe i'll try that someday!
ReplyDeleteSo cool ,its FANTASTIC and very impressive ..............
ReplyDelete___________________
Christena
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