Jelly & Jam Recipes
General Directions Prepare only one recipe at a time because double batches may not gel properly. Use half-pint jars to avoid a weak gel that may result with larger jars due to residual heat during...
Category: Food
Tomato Basics
Getting Ready to Preserve Select only disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, firm tomatoes with deep red color. For easy peeling, dip tomatoes in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds until skins...
Sweet Potato Basics
Selecting & Storing Look for firm, well-shaped sweet potatoes with clean, smooth skins. Avoid any with soft spots or bruises. Do not refrigerate, because cold temperatures are harmful to sweet...
Pepper Basics
Purchasing & Preparing Peppers Sweet peppers should be fresh-looking, firm, thick-fleshed and a bright green or red color, depending on the stage of maturity. Avoid peppers that are soft and...
Melon Basics
Buying Melons When selecting melons of any variety, look for quality and freshness. The melon rind should have good color and should not be misshapen or bruised. The rind should give slightly at the...
Cucumber Basics
Buying Cucumbers for Fresh Eating Select only well-shaped, firm cucumbers that are a deep green color. Avoid any exceptionally large cucumbers or those appearing puffy, shriveled or withered. At...
Corn Basics
Getting Ready to Preserve Corn Select only tender, freshly-gathered corn in the milk stage. Husk and trim the ears, remove silks, and wash. Canning Corn Wash ears and blanch 3 minutes in boiling...
Food Safety after a Tornado
Be Prepared If you live in an area where loss of electricity from seasonal storms is a problem, you can plan ahead to be prepared for the worst. Keep your freezer as full as possible by freezing...
Dill Pickles & Sauerkraut
How Does Fermentation Preserve? Brined pickles or fermented pickles go through a curing process in a brine (salt and water) solution for one or more weeks. Curing changes the color, flavor and...
Fruit Syrups & Honeys
Fruit Syrups Juices from fresh or frozen blueberries, cherries, grapes, raspberries (black or red) and strawberries are easily made into toppings for use on ice cream, pancakes and pastries. Fruit...
Pickled Foods
Pickled Dilled Beans Ingredients: 4 pounds fresh, tender green or yellow beans (5- to 6-inches long) 8 to 16 heads fresh dill 8 cloves garlic (optional) ½ cup canning or pickling salt 4 cups white...
Chestnuts
When growing chestnuts at home, it is important to distinguish between the “real” chestnut trees (Castanea species) and those trees producing horsechestnuts and buckeyes (Aesculus...