Canning & Preserving Food

Today is Test the Canned Coleslaw Day according to my calendar. :D. I already opened a jar and took a bite; it is actually pretty good. It isn't as crunchy as fresh cut cabbage but I didn't expect it to be. It would probably be a bit crunchier if I had used fresh cabbage instead of the bagged coleslaw mix, since who knows how long that stuff had been processed and packaged. I think it will also be better if placed into the refrigerator to chill before serving.

It has a "pickle-ish" flavor. The recipe says it can be eaten as is, or drained and mixed with a bit of mayonnaise for a creamy slaw. I'm going to try the creamy slaw with our supper.

I consider this a win and I'll be making this again. I like the idea of having coleslaw available anytime, sitting on the pantry shelf.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Today is Test the Canned Coleslaw Day according to my calendar. :D. I already opened a jar and took a bite; it is actually pretty good. It isn't as crunchy as fresh cut cabbage but I didn't expect it to be. It would probably be a bit crunchier if I had used fresh cabbage instead of the bagged coleslaw mix, since who knows how long that stuff had been processed and packaged. I think it will also be better if placed into the refrigerator to chill before serving.

It has a "pickle-ish" flavor. The recipe says it can be eaten as is, or drained and mixed with a bit of mayonnaise for a creamy slaw. I'm going to try the creamy slaw with our supper.

I consider this a win and I'll be making this again. I like the idea of having coleslaw available anytime, sitting on the pantry shelf.
Click to expand...
We often have a lot of cabbage because it is easy to grow here. Maybe next year....
 
Kate Ellery said:
Im a keen gardener ,preserver and always enjoyed swapping hints / chatting about what we have ~ or about intend preserving

Sadly it seems I’ve lost my almost 20 year old peach tree as well as the plum .
Apricots are very light on this year ,however the apples are looking good at this stage ..planted a young dwarf pear last winter it has a couple of little pears on it

Looking forward to catching up with @John Brunner on here. to find out what he’s been preserving and of course anyone else who enjoys saving / preserving either home grown or purchased foods

I recently got 18 old size 14 Fowlers preserving jars ( rare find in a op shop ) they are only small but I’m sure I’ll use them for the likes of sliced fruit
Cost me $7.00 with lids and clips …they are old but still available in shops between $10 ~ $14 a jar …so,it was a good buy

Fowlers site $54 + $30 postage for 12 jars ..size 14

No.14 Bottle (Item 6314)
350ml capacity - takes Size 3 accessories.
Height:110mm Width:70mm
This product was deleted decades ago and due to popular demand has been re-manufactured. Ideal for bottling jams, jellies and chutneys.
Click to expand...
Another homemaker that cherishes gardening and canning!

From springtime until autumn, this old gal is outside getting down to earth.
 
I’ve picked a couple of buckets of Roma tomatoes and put them in the freezer in preparation to make my hubs favourite drink …tomato juice
We got to it last summer, and made about 8 quart size bottles and 8 small bottles I could seal by water bathing for 45 mins ..it was delicious ….however I thought it was a little salty for out tastes , each quart had a tea spoon of celery salt …onion salt and standard salt ….think I’ll taste test and maybe drop the ( standard salt ) what’s your opinion on drooping salt 🧂 @Don Alaska ..each bottle of ( quart has 2 tablespoons of lemon juice added as well …for canning safety practices

I filled our “ green bin “ which I’d 240ltr wheely bin with the tomatoes/ plants and all …yesterday ..that we’re bought as large round tomatoes …that turned out to be …small .cherry type and heirloom shapes uneven tomatoes on a vine / truss bunches….they are full of seeds ..hardly any flesh ….just watery seedy mess ……. as soon as that’s emptied it will be refilled with the remaining plants / tomatoes ….
The tomatoes I bought were supposed to be a large smooth …..non ….truss type tomatoes not what we call cherry tomatoes ….
IMG_2187.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Kate Ellery said:
I’ve picked a couple of buckets of Roma tomatoes and put them in the freezer in preparation to make my hubs favourite drink …tomato juice
We got to it last summer, and made about 8 quart size bottles and 8 small bottles I could seal by water bathing for 45 mins ..it was delicious ….however I thought it was a little salty for out tastes , each quart had a tea spoon of celery salt …onion salt and standard salt ….think I’ll taste test and maybe drop the ( standard salt ) what’s your opinion on drooping salt 🧂 @Don Alaska ..each bottle of ( quart has 2 tablespoons of lemon juice added as well …for canning safety practices

I filled our “ green bin “ which I’d 240ltr wheely bin with the tomatoes/ plants and all …yesterday ..that we’re bought as large round tomatoes …that turned out to be …small .cherry type and heirloom shapes uneven tomatoes on a vine / truss bunches….they are full of seeds ..hardly any flesh ….just watery seedy mess ……. as soon as that’s emptied it will be refilled with the remaining plants / tomatoes ….
The tomatoes I bought were supposed to be a large smooth …..non ….truss type tomatoes not what we call cherry tomatoes ….
View attachment 567
Click to expand...

Kate, very pretty tomatoes.
 
Kate Ellery said:
I’ve picked a couple of buckets of Roma tomatoes and put them in the freezer in preparation to make my hubs favourite drink …tomato juice
We got to it last summer, and made about 8 quart size bottles and 8 small bottles I could seal by water bathing for 45 mins ..it was delicious ….however I thought it was a little salty for out tastes , each quart had a tea spoon of celery salt …onion salt and standard salt ….think I’ll taste test and maybe drop the ( standard salt ) what’s your opinion on drooping salt 🧂 @Don Alaska ..each bottle of ( quart has 2 tablespoons of lemon juice added as well …for canning safety practices

I filled our “ green bin “ which I’d 240ltr wheely bin with the tomatoes/ plants and all …yesterday ..that we’re bought as large round tomatoes …that turned out to be …small .cherry type and heirloom shapes uneven tomatoes on a vine / truss bunches….they are full of seeds ..hardly any flesh ….just watery seedy mess ……. as soon as that’s emptied it will be refilled with the remaining plants / tomatoes ….
The tomatoes I bought were supposed to be a large smooth …..non ….truss type tomatoes not what we call cherry tomatoes ….
View attachment 567
Click to expand...
@Kate Ellery salt shouldn't matter for tomato juice , especially if it is acidified. We don't often make tomato juice, but we do make our version of V-8 if they have that in Australia. V-8 and End of Garden pickles are used to clean up the odds and ends of produce in the fall.
 

Marie Mallory said:
Kate, very pretty tomatoes.
Click to expand...
Pretty to look at @Marie Mallory but useless for using for anything as they are full of tiny seeds …..most are binned……our green bin gets emptied tomorrow ….so I’ll clean up the remaining 2 bushes tomorrow ..they took over like weeds ….the Roma's are fine , I’ve got 1/2 dozen cans of tomatoes so I’ll add them to the juice when I get around to making it , like I did last time …..I’ve got one of those hand operated deseeder / skin separators that did a good job last summer.
Cause my kitchen is white we made the big mess out in the shed …last year

I’m thinking maybe using the 350 mill size fowlers vacola jars this year ,save me buying lids for the Italian made bottles I used. last year …the lids are only small but cost $2 each
 
Don Alaska said:
@Kate Ellery salt shouldn't matter for tomato juice , especially if it is acidified. We don't often make tomato juice, but we do make our version of V-8 if they have that in Australia. V-8 and End of Garden pickles are used to clean up the odds and ends of produce in the fall.
Click to expand...
Yep @Don Alaska we have V8 juice in Australia …..I’ve got plenty of tomatoes , and pumpkins but not allot of other veggies …what veggies do you add to your V8 juice ….i picked a partly ripe jap pumpkin today to have with our lamb roast ….with other veggies
so I’ve got as mentioned jap pumpkin / eggplant 🍆/ onions 🧅 still got a bit of silver beet despite the heat ..sweet corn ….that’s about it ….I might just experiment with V8 one day
 
Kate Ellery said:
Yep @Don Alaska we have V8 juice in Australia …..I’ve got plenty of tomatoes , and pumpkins but not allot of other veggies …what veggies do you add to your V8 juice ….i picked a partly ripe jap pumpkin today to have with our lamb roast ….with other veggies
so I’ve got as mentioned jap pumpkin / eggplant 🍆/ onions 🧅 still got a bit of silver beet despite the heat ..sweet corn ….that’s about it ….I might just experiment with V8 one day
Click to expand...
It is kinda whatever we have, but usually celery, onion, carrot, and sometimes kale, beets (beetroot), and parsley. Tomatoes, of course, are the main ingredient.
 
Kate Ellery said:
Pretty to look at @Marie Mallory but useless for using for anything as they are full of tiny seeds …..most are binned……our green bin gets emptied tomorrow ….so I’ll clean up the remaining 2 bushes tomorrow ..they took over like weeds ….the Roma's are fine , I’ve got 1/2 dozen cans of tomatoes so I’ll add them to the juice when I get around to making it , like I did last time …..I’ve got one of those hand operated deseeder / skin separators that did a good job last summer.
Cause my kitchen is white we made the big mess out in the shed …last year

I’m thinking maybe using the 350 mill size fowlers vacola jars this year ,save me buying lids for the Italian made bottles I used. last year …the lids are only small but cost $2 each
Click to expand...


Roma's are pretty to look at too, these did taste great, and barely, any "seeds" at all.


DSCN1150 (1).JPG
 
Jake Smith said:
Roma's are pretty to look at too, these did taste great, and barely, any "seeds" at all.


View attachment 577
Click to expand...

The Roma's I grew hardly had any seeds, also. I used Roma maters' to make tomato sauce and ketchup. The other tomatoes I grew were to make tomato juice, V-8 Juice, canned tomatoes, and to eat. Love those BLT's. Nothing like a fresh garden vine ripened tomato grown outside in the elements.
 
Krystal Shay said:
The Roma's I grew hardly had any seeds, also. I used Roma maters' to make tomato sauce and ketchup. The other tomatoes I grew were to make tomato juice, V-8 Juice, canned tomatoes, and to eat. Love those BLT's. Nothing like a fresh garden vine ripened tomato grown outside in the elements.
Click to expand...


I'm a big fan of BLT. I've never tasted a tomato out of a store, that can come close to home grown tomatoes. Wonder what they do to mess theirs up so much.
 
I made a roast chicken with dressing today, and after rummaging around in my cabinets I found a couple of jars of cranberry sauce that I canned in 2023. I thought we had already eaten all of that sauce so I was happy to find it. I absolutely love cranberry sauce made from fresh berries.

This makes me want to start canning again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top