Canning Workshop

It has rained nonstop today…and to top it all off, everyone in the office is at a meeting.  Needless to say, I have the Coldplay station on pandora playing and I just decided to write…time to ease my mind.

So,  last week I have the opportunity to take part in a week-long canning workshop.  We canned: carrots (I still don’t like them),  apple slices (great for pie filling) and grape jelly (strawberry is better). The only day that I really enjoyed was the grape jelly day.  I grew up making jam and jelly with my mommy and nana so I felt a little more comfortable this day.

I think that the class went over really well, the people were really happy with the information, presentation, and just the overall experience.  A lot of these people have never canned by themselves, so it was a learning experience.  They also were really impressed with cooperative extension, two ladies said they didn’t even know that it existed…that kind of broke my heart—but they said they are going to be more involved with it.  I even made an old lady friend who has a blog!  How darling is that?  Here is one day of class with some of the ladies.

“I went to Nearby City to the Agriculture Building.  You’ve got to love Extension Services.  They do all kinds of wonderful things, and I was about to learn Canning 101… my name, not theirs”

via (http://humoranddoings.blogspot.com/)

Canning is really not as bad as what people think.  It takes a lot of time, good equipment and again….lots of time!  We made a jelly that only had three ingredients to it: 5 cups of grape juice, 7 cups of sugar, and one box of pectin.  How simple is that?  I know, how awesome, right?

You combine the juice and pectin before you put it on the stove.  Heat the mixture to a strong boil, add the sugar and mix continuously, then have it reach a rolling boil for a minute.

Remove from heat & Remove the foam,

Then fill jars with 1/4 inch headspace,

Remove the bubbles and foam from top of jar,

Wipe down jar and rim and place lids on,

Place into hot water bath for 10 mins,

Take out and wa-la! You made homemade grape jelly with ease!

I made 10 jars by myself, I am giving them all away too.  They make great gifts, they are nothing too big, but for some reason, I am a sucker for homemade gifts.  Also hallmark cards…I love  no I looooooove cards, but that is beside the point.  However, it is only four months until my Birthday, just saying.  It is never to early to be thinking about that.  October is a month-long celebration.