Small-batch canning and making your own equipment are just a couple of the many preservation-related posts in our archives. Check out the following tips, tutorials, recipe ideas, and more ... and if you're still stumped about anything, leave a comment and we'll do our best to cover it in a future post!
Canning Tips & Tutorials
TOP ROW
• 1 Hot and Steamy: A Visual Tour of Hot Water Bath Canning
• 2 How To Make Your Own Canning Equipment
• 3 Canning Questions? Ask Marisa McClellan: Topics include meat sauces, spoilage, air bubbles, using your own recipes, and soups
• 4 Canning Basics: What’s the Deal with Pectin?
• 5 Small-Batch Canning: Making Cherry Preserves
Recipe Ideas
• Marisa McClellan's Cranberry Jelly
• Recipe Recommendation: Tarragon Strawberry Jam
• Home Canning Project: Roasted and Canned Tomatoes
• The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook by Rachel Saunders
Fun Stuff
• How To Host a Canning Party
• Crafty Kitchen: Creative Toppers for Homemade Preserves
• Decorate Your Jars! Five Lovely Canning Label Templates
(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)
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I started canning last summer and really enjoyed it, but the thing I keep stumbling on is how to move on from established recipes and get creative without risking the safety of the result.
Seems like nectarines have been pretty abundant in grocery stores the past two weeks. While not local (my usual canning forte), I made vanilla bean and nectarine preserves last weekend. Best preserves I've ever had. Unbelievably good on toast and on ice cream.
Stay tuned for the recipe / process on my blog tonight.
Beth, check out this post from Food in Jars on that very subject:
http://www.foodinjars.com/2010/12/canning-101-how-to-can-creatively-and-still-be-safe/
I find that I am still learning the basics and have a gazillion cookbooks, so I have not been compelled to get creative yet.
Just commenting on this post so I can "bookmark" it for future reference. I've been eyeing some kumquats growing on a tree in my condo complex and am thinking a small batch of kumquat marmalade might be in order. What a great resource!