Today a friend invited me over to learn about wet canning. She invited a lady from our church over who owned a pressure cooker--and she taught us about canning meat.
I have never canned before and I have never used a pressure cooker--but it seemed easy enough (although it took the majority of the day).
1) My friend browned her stew meat, and had several wide mouth jars nice and cleaned.
2) She saved the juices and mixed it with some bullion to make broth
3) She cut the meat into little pieces and filled them to the top of the jars.
**The lady today said the jars didn't have to be hot, just clean.
4) She filled the jars with broth
5) They cleaned the outside of the jar.
6) They boiled the jar tops for a few seconds and then screwed them onto the jars. (She had a nifty little magnet to get the jar tops out of the boiling water).
7) They put 2-3 quarts of water into the bottom of the pressure cooker
8) They then put the jars into the pressure cooker
9) They sealed the jars and turned on the gas stove
10) When the pressure cooker started to whistle--they turned down the temperature and set the clock for 90 minutes.
11) The pressure cooker did it's thing and when the timer turned off--we turned off the heat source
12) We waited for the temperature gauge to drop to zero, and then we opened the top.
13) We carefully removed the jars (another nifty tool was used) and put them on the counter--they were still boiling inside.
14) After it cooled--we checked the seal (they all worked) so yippee--there was some yummy meat stored away.
(These are the steps that I remember--we had like 10 kids running around and it was my first time ever--so I might have forgotten something)--but it really didn't seem very difficult. She said meat takes the longest--but other than that--everything was really really easy.
The lady that taught us told us that it was her experience that the meat lasted for many many years. She told us that it wasn't necessary, but she always cooks the meat for a little bit (10-15 minutes) after she gets it out of the jar--just to make sure that everything was disease free. She said she has been doing it for years and years and years--and has never had any problem.
The process of pressure cooking the meat--helps to tenderize the meat--so that way you can buy the cheaper cuts of meat--and time will work the meat--so that it's "fork tender" by the time you eat it.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/pressure-cookers/reviews.html
Here's what I'm excited about (of course you can add "pressure cooker" to my wish list).
My husband has these Yummy enchiladas that he likes me to cook--but it takes me all day in the kitchen --because creating the meaty sauce--is a time intensive project. What I would like to do is to quadruple my meat recipe for these enchiladas--and then can them in the sauce. This will really allow the meat to absorb the flavor. Then we would be able to have this recipe more frequently (maybe 1 time per month) rather than 1-2 times per year--because the hard part is already done. (It's super easy to put it in the corn tortillas and cook). Sounds like a plan to me!
The lady that worked with us today is a BIG fan of canning in glass jars. She said she used to store food in #10 cans--but she opened it once and it was all bad. That is when she started canning--cause she can see the food and she knows what's good and what's bad.
She had a "Blue Book" recipe book for canning and it had all sorts of recipes in there.
I think pressure canning meat is the way to go!
1) NOT SO GROSS
Here's why--one canned meat is expensive to buy and to me it makes me think of dog food. I saw this lady's display of canned meat--and I thought it looked pretty gross.
However, after participating in the making of the meat--it was no longer gross--it actually seemed very very yummy. So, when you make it yourself--you know that you are putting quality products inside--and you won't be sooo scared to eat it.
2) Cheaper today
Also, we as Americans are used to eating meat. Meat prices are continually on the up (just like gas). So if you can put meat away at today's prices--it saves you from buying meat at tomorrow's prices.
3) Better than the alternatives:
I'm not too excited about living on the fake meat alternatives or sprouting seeds alone--having some meat for survival purposes will be super nice
4) Getting discounts:
The lady today said you can get a better deal on meat if you buy it in bulk. Buying in bulk might not be something the avg family can do if you have a little freezer like mine--but if you buy in bulk and then pressure can the meat--you can get the discounts
5) Doesn't require refrigeration
I have a little freezer--so I can only have about 1 month's supply of freezer food on hand (and that's really really tight in my freezer). So having some alternatives as canned meat--allows me to access my pantry and cupboards as storage too!
Any favorites out there--feel free to post in the comments section. I linked an article that ranks some of the best pressure cookers--and it seems like the price ranges from 99 dollars to 200 dollars.
Well it's time for Family Home evening--so I have to run. Tonight we are doing sprouting seeds--so I'm going to research that next week and let you know what I learn!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Week 2: H2O
Okay--what is the most important thing to have in case of an emergency--WATER!
Why? Our bodies need water, and many of our dehydrated food supplies need water too! So, we need water.
I've read that we need to have anywhere from 1 to 2 gallons per person per day and that we should have a minimum of a 2 week supply of water.
Well--that's a LOT of water. That's 140 gallons of water for 2 weeks for my family.
So here's the question--where do I put that much water--is there any other way?
Here's what I'm doing and how I'm doing it:
1) I buy water bottles almost anytime I go to the store. I put some in the fridge for current consumption--but I hide the other ones throughout the house in places that I won't go to get a drink. (Cause I'd prefer water bottles to tap water--and I don't want to drink my entire supply). I try to store them in rooms w/ tile--so that if they leak--they won't damage my carpet or my wood floors.
2) I am on a well--and I have a generator that can run the well--but that only works until my gas supply runs out. I've thought about purchasing a hand pump to connect to my well in a time of need--but that has to be on my "Wish List"
3) I would also like to get my hands on a water purifier--one that doesn't use electricity. Someone suggested to me that the Aqua Rain is a good filtering system--but it is expensive--so again, it's on my "Wish List"
I haven't bought the aqua rain--but here's an internet site that tells you all about it. http://www.internet-grocer.net/aqua.htm
4) Here's the idea that I like the best for my current situation: (1) get a chlorine substance that can purify water. One, it's pretty cheap and two, it doesn't take up nearly as much space. I used to store Bleach (for this very purpose), but you can read the article that I've attached to the blog--and bleach only has a shelf life of 6 months. That might not be a big deal if you are trying to clean your whites, but if you are trying to kill the germs in your water--that sounds like a big deal to me. I've read the chlorine doesn't really have a shelf life--as long as you keep it dry.
My mom's neighbor owns a Pinch-a-Penny and we are going to check with her to see if they sell something that has the same chemical make up as the article suggests. If not, I'll check out Walmart and Lowes to see if they sell something that matches.
I have printed out the directions on how to mix chlorine with water, and included a hard copy in my emergency folder--so that I know what to do in case of an emergency. (I would hate to kill the germs, but poison myself at the same time!). If I find a good supply of the stuff--I'll post it in the comments to this post.
Why? Our bodies need water, and many of our dehydrated food supplies need water too! So, we need water.
I've read that we need to have anywhere from 1 to 2 gallons per person per day and that we should have a minimum of a 2 week supply of water.
Well--that's a LOT of water. That's 140 gallons of water for 2 weeks for my family.
So here's the question--where do I put that much water--is there any other way?
Here's what I'm doing and how I'm doing it:
1) I buy water bottles almost anytime I go to the store. I put some in the fridge for current consumption--but I hide the other ones throughout the house in places that I won't go to get a drink. (Cause I'd prefer water bottles to tap water--and I don't want to drink my entire supply). I try to store them in rooms w/ tile--so that if they leak--they won't damage my carpet or my wood floors.
2) I am on a well--and I have a generator that can run the well--but that only works until my gas supply runs out. I've thought about purchasing a hand pump to connect to my well in a time of need--but that has to be on my "Wish List"
3) I would also like to get my hands on a water purifier--one that doesn't use electricity. Someone suggested to me that the Aqua Rain is a good filtering system--but it is expensive--so again, it's on my "Wish List"
I haven't bought the aqua rain--but here's an internet site that tells you all about it. http://www.internet-grocer.net/aqua.htm
4) Here's the idea that I like the best for my current situation: (1) get a chlorine substance that can purify water. One, it's pretty cheap and two, it doesn't take up nearly as much space. I used to store Bleach (for this very purpose), but you can read the article that I've attached to the blog--and bleach only has a shelf life of 6 months. That might not be a big deal if you are trying to clean your whites, but if you are trying to kill the germs in your water--that sounds like a big deal to me. I've read the chlorine doesn't really have a shelf life--as long as you keep it dry.
My mom's neighbor owns a Pinch-a-Penny and we are going to check with her to see if they sell something that has the same chemical make up as the article suggests. If not, I'll check out Walmart and Lowes to see if they sell something that matches.
I have printed out the directions on how to mix chlorine with water, and included a hard copy in my emergency folder--so that I know what to do in case of an emergency. (I would hate to kill the germs, but poison myself at the same time!). If I find a good supply of the stuff--I'll post it in the comments to this post.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Week 1: Winnie the Pooh :)
We focused on HONEY this week in FHE.
Here are some of the things that we learned:
--You can store Honey forever--it doesn't go bad! So buy it now because the price keeps going up and up and up.
--there are a bunch of natural remedies that utilize honey
--we learned that it is better to buy Honey in your own locality.
The kids and I went to a local produce patch--and we found Honey from a Floral City beekeeper--so we bought some of that. We also started talking about having a "hobby" sized beehive so that we can produce some of our own honey.
I got a book from the library and I am going to start reading it & I did find a bunch of useful information online.
Our goal would be to buy the beehive material in the fall, let it get used to our environment, and then get a small bunch of bees in the Spring.
It looks like University of Florida has a "Bee College" every spring--where beginner bee keepers can come and listen to lectures and stuff. http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/honeybee/extension/bee_college.shtml
If we actually get into this beekeeping stuff--then that might be something fun to check out. Honey is really getting expensive. The local stuff cost me $20.00 for 96 oz.
The Food Storage Calculator at http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm only suggests having 3 lbs of Honey per person per year. (So we have a family of 5--so I'm working on getting 15 lbs)
But since it doesn't go bad, it doesn't need to be rotated, the price seems to be increasing, it has medicinal purposes too--I'm hoping to get more than just the minimum.
My goal is to try to figure out what kind of plants are the best for bees--and then see if I can incorporate those plants into my garden. That way--the bees have something to eat!
My dad raised bees when he was younger--so we are going to really tap into his expertise in this department! He said it was a lot of fun (except in the hot summer months)! I'm really excited!!!
There are a couple of books out there that I'm going to also try to pick up:
Beekeeping for dummies and Backyard beekeeping!
Honey! Honey! Honey!
Here are some of the things that we learned:
--You can store Honey forever--it doesn't go bad! So buy it now because the price keeps going up and up and up.
--there are a bunch of natural remedies that utilize honey
--we learned that it is better to buy Honey in your own locality.
The kids and I went to a local produce patch--and we found Honey from a Floral City beekeeper--so we bought some of that. We also started talking about having a "hobby" sized beehive so that we can produce some of our own honey.
I got a book from the library and I am going to start reading it & I did find a bunch of useful information online.
Our goal would be to buy the beehive material in the fall, let it get used to our environment, and then get a small bunch of bees in the Spring.
It looks like University of Florida has a "Bee College" every spring--where beginner bee keepers can come and listen to lectures and stuff. http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/honeybee/extension/bee_college.shtml
If we actually get into this beekeeping stuff--then that might be something fun to check out. Honey is really getting expensive. The local stuff cost me $20.00 for 96 oz.
The Food Storage Calculator at http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm only suggests having 3 lbs of Honey per person per year. (So we have a family of 5--so I'm working on getting 15 lbs)
But since it doesn't go bad, it doesn't need to be rotated, the price seems to be increasing, it has medicinal purposes too--I'm hoping to get more than just the minimum.
My goal is to try to figure out what kind of plants are the best for bees--and then see if I can incorporate those plants into my garden. That way--the bees have something to eat!
My dad raised bees when he was younger--so we are going to really tap into his expertise in this department! He said it was a lot of fun (except in the hot summer months)! I'm really excited!!!
There are a couple of books out there that I'm going to also try to pick up:
Beekeeping for dummies and Backyard beekeeping!
Honey! Honey! Honey!
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