June Is National Dairy Month
June is recognized as National Dairy Month, which started in 1937 to promote drinking milk. It is a great way to start the summer with nutrient-rich dairy foods, including milk, yogurt, or cheese....
Category: Tasty Bites
Revisiting Botulism
Although botulism is most often associated with improperly home canned foods, improperly stored commercial or home-preserved products have the potential for causing botulism. Botulism is caused by a...
Strawberry Fruit Leather
Growing up, I was one of the many kids who loved rolled-up fruit snacks. Even today, I can eat one and think fondly of playing outside as a kid. Now, I make my own tasty, chewy, dried fruit snacks...
‘Tis the Season for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Hopefully, the frost is behind us, and we are all anticipating warm weather, bringing outside activities and gardens! With garden season coming, people are planning what they will grow this year....
Tighten Your Lids – But Not Too Tight
According to So Easy to Preserve, “When using two-piece lids, place the treated lid on the filled jar, center it, and hold it in place with fingers. Then screw down the band until it is fingertip...
Canning Tools
Lid Lifter/Lid Wand The canning lid lifter/lid wand is a magnet attached to a short plastic stick and is a useful tool for lifting metal lids from hot water. Lid wand brands include Back to Basics,...
Say “No” to Old Pickle Recipes
The Question “I recently made homemade dill pickles by my grandmother’s recipe; I have made pickles by this recipe for a very long time. This year the pickles were bubbling when I opened...
Pressure Canning Revisited
A frequent question to the Home & Garden Information Center: “I canned my green beans in a water bath canner. Are they safe?” Often this question is prefaced by “My mother and...
Why Mason-type Canning Jars
The major reason we recommend Mason-type canning jars is our experience with them and their decreased rate of breakage compared to mayonnaise jars, salad dressing jars, spaghetti sauce jars, or...
Watch the Headspace
Headspace is the unfilled space between the food in a jar and the lid of a jar. General canning headspace recommendations from the United States Department of Agriculture are as follows: Leave ¼...
Preserving Freshness: The Basics of Food Preservation
Food preservation is an age-old practice that has allowed us to enjoy fresh food throughout the year. From refrigeration to freezing or pickling to drying, there are countless ways to keep your food...
Food Safety at Home: Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy
Food safety is a top priority for any household, as unsafe food handling practices can lead to foodborne illnesses and severe health consequences. This blog post will discuss simple tips for...