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Post by crftychk13 on May 2, 2009 7:30:10 GMT -6
I ahve never canned before. This year I plan on doing alot of canning. I found a recepie for jelly (grape,apple,or whatever other fruit you like) using apples as a replacement for pectin. It looks simple enough but reading into it made it sound like rocket science.lol. Has anyone tried this? Can anyone tell me what way might be better? pectin/apples? Thanks. ~Jenn
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Post by Rita on May 2, 2009 7:37:14 GMT -6
I always use pectin Jenn .. Its a sure way to know your going to get the right amount of jell .. I would have to see the recipe before telling you .. but I do know you want a recipe that has been tested and is safe for canning .. you don't want to lose a batch you worked hard on either !
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Post by mogarden on May 3, 2009 12:53:24 GMT -6
What I do is peel and core the apples I am going to cook for something else, or ones I want to dehydrate. Then I boil the peels and cores and get the juice from that and mix it in my other jelly-making juice. To make blackberry jelly, I don't use store-bought pectin at all, just pick one-fourth of the berries under-ripe. (with a little red showing) When you simmer and strain, the juice comes out perfect. Pectin levels are higher in all under-ripe fruit, and then it turns to sugar as the fruit gets dead ripe.
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Post by crftychk13 on May 4, 2009 6:56:50 GMT -6
I always use pectin Jenn .. Its a sure way to know your going to get the right amount of jell .. I would have to see the recipe before telling you .. but I do know you want a recipe that has been tested and is safe for canning .. you don't want to lose a batch you worked hard on either ! I am thinking I probably should just use pectin. The recipe looks soooooo easy though. I have to go find my "Back to Basics" book my neighbor bought me. Thats where I saw the idea of using certain fruits as pectin. I will get back here once I figure out where I left that book. I keep track of nothing but my children!! my hubby! and my chickens!
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Post by crftychk13 on May 4, 2009 7:00:03 GMT -6
What I do is peel and core the apples I am going to cook for something else, or ones I want to dehydrate. Then I boil the peels and cores and get the juice from that and mix it in my other jelly-making juice. To make blackberry jelly, I don't use store-bought pectin at all, just pick one-fourth of the berries under-ripe. (with a little red showing) When you simmer and strain, the juice comes out perfect. Pectin levels are higher in all under-ripe fruit, and then it turns to sugar as the fruit gets dead ripe. Yup! this is what I saw, except they used the entire apple and made extra pectin to be boiled down for later use. I have never canned, so trying to get all the info I can. I really dont want to waste any of the food I grow. That would be a shame Thanks for the tip!~Jenn
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Post by mogarden on May 4, 2009 9:32:40 GMT -6
I don't use the entire apple, 'cause I can make a pie AND some jelly! After you boil the peels, they can go to the chickens or the compost pile.
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Post by crftychk13 on May 5, 2009 5:56:23 GMT -6
Multiple uses. Good idea, I like it.
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Post by Rita on May 5, 2009 15:57:36 GMT -6
Yep when I make apple jelly I also make apple butter .. ohhh so good ..
I would hate to waste the whole apple on just jelly . but I have NEVER tried to not use the pectin .. Probably never will either .. I like to go with the Know its going to work factor
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Post by rivervalleymama on May 6, 2009 9:43:39 GMT -6
You can look at it this way too- try it, if it doesn't set, you'll have some yummy syrup!
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Post by mogarden on May 6, 2009 17:03:46 GMT -6
Key is to add the smallest amount of water possible to keep it from burning. Just enough to replace what boils away.
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Post by crftychk13 on May 8, 2009 5:07:17 GMT -6
Yep when I make apple jelly I also make apple butter .. ohhh so good .. I would hate to waste the whole apple on just jelly . but I have NEVER tried to not use the pectin .. Probably never will either .. I like to go with the Know its going to work factor I have it in my head to make different fruit butters this year too. My husbands gram recently passed away and left all these old recipes.
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Post by Rita on May 8, 2009 13:36:18 GMT -6
Go for it Jenn .. just check or ask for some recipes as well to make sure they are safe for canning unless you plan on using them right away .. You should get the ball blue book of canning and preserving , you can find it at just about any Ace hardware store .. along with all the jars and supplies you need .. I usually buy a case here and a case there .. just to make sure I NEVER run out .. Yard sales as well .. check all of them this summer .. you can usually grab a whole case for a few bucks ..
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Post by crftychk13 on May 9, 2009 7:32:06 GMT -6
Thats the plan Rita. My hubby is a yard sale addict, so I put the bug in his ear for jars. Told him what they cost inthe store and told him to grab any good deals when he is out and about. I do need to get the blue book. I found it pretty cheap online. I cant wait to try this out.
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Post by Rita on May 9, 2009 7:38:55 GMT -6
go to an Ace .. they have it for cheap compared to the shipping costs online .. its like 6 bucks or something like that .. I love going to yardsales they are a lot of fun .. ya never know what your going to find either .. we are going to newburyport today .. I am sure we will find a sale or 10 on the way , which is Always fun
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Post by crftychk13 on May 12, 2009 5:49:47 GMT -6
I didnt know Ace carried that stuff too. There is an Ace by my parents, I'll have to pop in. bucks is cheaper than online after shipping, thanks. Did ya find anything good at any yard sales? Notta here, nothing but junk this weekend.
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Post by Rita on May 14, 2009 4:12:46 GMT -6
I know my ace carries them .. was just there a couple days ago .. Had the book and half gallon canning jars .. picked them up for 10 dollars a case .. which is a lot but not something I would find at a yard sale .. will be perfect for my pickles .. We stopped at a few sales but there was Nothing I needed .. it was not too bad in the junk dept but I don't buy anything I will not use .. at least I try not too
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Post by mogarden on May 14, 2009 12:58:47 GMT -6
I know I'VE NEVER bought anything at a yard sale I didn't reeely need. OK, that might not be 100% accurate.
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Post by crftychk13 on May 14, 2009 13:18:42 GMT -6
I know I'VE NEVER bought anything at a yard sale I didn't reeely need. OK, that might not be 100% accurate. Know whats really bad?? When my hubby leaves for the dump and comes back with more junk than he left with.... Man oh man.....that boy isnt allowed to do dump runs anymore.
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Post by crftychk13 on May 26, 2009 5:36:47 GMT -6
Go for it Jenn .. just check or ask for some recipes as well to make sure they are safe for canning unless you plan on using them right away .. You should get the ball blue book of canning and preserving , you can find it at just about any Ace hardware store .. along with all the jars and supplies you need .. I usually buy a case here and a case there .. just to make sure I NEVER run out .. Yard sales as well .. check all of them this summer .. you can usually grab a whole case for a few bucks .. I found an Ace right by my house this past weekend. Didnt even know it was there. I got the Ball blue book of preserving. I like it alot. There are still a few things I didnt see in there that I was looking for. But it is still worth the $$. You where right Rita, it is cheaper there. I found it at other stores for double what I did at Ace.
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Post by Rita on May 26, 2009 5:39:31 GMT -6
What other recipes are you looking for it may be in the big book I have ?
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Post by crftychk13 on May 26, 2009 5:57:36 GMT -6
My lil one has fallen in LOVE with pickled sweet banana peppers. I havent looked on line yet, but none of my books, new or ancient, have a recipie for it. I also will need to pickle a TON of cherry peppers, Habanero and jalapeno pepper for hubby and a neighbor friend. Am I right in assuming I need an actual tested recipie for this stuff? Is there a universal easy way to pickle different veggies?
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Post by Pharmer Phil on May 26, 2009 6:00:13 GMT -6
My lil one has fallen in LOVE with pickled sweet banana peppers. I havent looked on line yet, but none of my books, new or ancient, have a recipie for it. I also will need to pickle a TON of cherry peppers, Habanero and jalapeno pepper for hubby and a neighbor friend. Am I right in assuming I need an actual tested recipie for this stuff? Is there a universal easy way to pickle different veggies? Buy yourself the "Ball Bluebook" of canning, can't go wrong with that, it's got many recipes and not very expensive at all...
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Post by Pharmer Phil on May 26, 2009 6:01:15 GMT -6
oops, guess it was already suggested
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Post by Rita on May 26, 2009 6:04:04 GMT -6
I always do a dill type pickle .. But if you look in your book and find a recipe for sweet pickles you can use that recipe for Peppers as well Jenn
Hold on I will dig up the recipe I use
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Post by Rita on May 26, 2009 6:07:06 GMT -6
I cut this recipe in half .. I usually don't have that many at a time but some may .. I make alot because my little one is addicted to pickles and is allergic to store bought ones Wash 17- 20lbs pickling cukes & brine overnight (Brine: 3/4 Cup non-iodized salt per gallon of water) Empty brine water & rinse cukes. Pack in clean jars, along with: Dill heads Dill seed Garlic Cloves Mustard Seed ( I put 2 - 4 garlic cloves in each jar, & ¼ tsp each, of the dill & mustard seeds.) Heat to boiling: 6 Cup white vinegar ½ Cup non-iodized salt 9 Cups Water Prepare lids by simmering in enough water to cover them, until needed. As quickly as possible: Pour boiling mixture into packed jar, covering cukes & leaving ¼ -½" head space. Wipe off jar rim to remove any liquid or spices Place lid on & tighten jar ring Invert jar for a few minutes (I don't know why... I just do it.) DO NOT re-tighten ring during cooling. Plan on approximately 1lbs of cukes per jar This is the only recipe I ever use .. Everyone seems to love these pickles
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Post by crftychk13 on May 26, 2009 7:09:44 GMT -6
Awesome Rita. Thanks. My lil boy is also addicted to pickles. My new nick name (given by my lovely friends and neighbors) is Jenn-a-pickle-butt. Yeah, not a name I flash around. They call me that because of the 150 cuke plants in my garden. I plan on making enough pickles, and other pickled veggies, to feed the fam and give as gifts. I will follow the recipe you gave and see the results! Thanks again.
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Post by redmamabug on May 26, 2009 7:25:02 GMT -6
The way I pickle all my peppers is very simple ... I'm sure somebody else has a better recipe. I simply wash the peppers very carefully..pack them whole or sliced (such as the banana peppers) into a clean hot jar. I then sprinkle 1/2 tsp. of salt per pint or 1 tsp. per quart on top of the peppers. I boil 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water and pour it on top of the peppers. I then seal the jar and hot water bath them just about 10 minutes or so to insure they seal. My kids love the banana peppers like this to put on top of pizza or eat with beans and such. Me and husband like the hot peppers like this because we love to pour the "hot-pepper sauce" over out greens or beans. I dilute my vinegar with water like that because too much vinegar makes the peppers get too mushy in the jar. If you find a better recipe please let me know!!
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Post by Rita on May 26, 2009 7:26:31 GMT -6
No problem Jenn . Now dats a funny nick name .. I have 5 cuc plants thats all I need to feed my family and have a few extras for giving out your gonna be busy!!
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Post by crftychk13 on May 28, 2009 9:04:07 GMT -6
Yeah...I kinda thought the cukes were over kill. But at dinner last night hubby ate 2 huge cukes all by himself. I had to cut up another for myself. So between my cuke crazed hubby and my boys and neighbors who love the pickles...I think we have just enough. Plus any extra veggies are being sold to my hubby's boss. She eats only organic stuff and wants at my garden really bad. Says she will just skip the store and just come over to the house once a week for grocery shopping.lol. Hey Rita..did you guys get hit by the frost a couple nights ago too?
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Post by Rita on May 28, 2009 9:44:20 GMT -6
No it got cold but it didn't frost at all thank goodness!! Boy that would of sent me to the crazy house for sure!! Watch out when they really start growin you will have a hard time keeping up with them Good luck tho !!
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