It sure doesn't feel like Fall around here though. It is supposed to get up to a 100F today. Rick and I have been planning a trip up to Apple Hill to see the leaves change colors and to stock up on apple butters and exotic varieties of apples (and not so exotic apple fritters). It just doesn't feel right to do it wearing shorts and flip flops though, so we've been putting it off until it cools down.
I also want to do some canning with Sara but I can't find a canning kit. I'm starting from scratch so I need to buy the big pot, the rack, the tongs, the everything. Why do they call it canning anyway? Why don't they call it jarring?
Sara even has a surplus of pears that we were going to have a go at – making our own pear butter. Other than Wal-Mart I don't know where to go to get the kit. I've been to three of them and they have all the jars and various lids, rings and whatnot. But no starter kits. So the pears have slowly been getting eaten and we are going to have to start over again with a new batch.
Also, I don't want to be an alarmist, but it is only 92 days until Christmas.
I bought my canning kit at our neighbourhood old fashioned hardware store (known as Home Hardward in Canada). Maybe that’s a place to look. Karen
Have you thought of ordering it on line? “Canning Pantry” has it cheaper than Walmart. Have fun canning. I have been doing it for more years than I want to remember. My children call it my “Old Timey Ways”, but they love to eat whatever I cann. Apple Butter is everyones favorite though.
I use to get lots of things at Home Hardware too ! Love the pictures , when I was a kid my mother and grandmothers use to can alot !
I saw the starter kits/sets at Lowe’s not too long ago. Don’t know if you have one near you….
Andrea,
I recommend a steam canner rather than the water bath canner. My Mom always used the old fashioned water bath canner and it took forever for the water to boil and it was a hot and messy process. Then she discovered the steam canners and bought me one. I don’t can often, and mostly use it to steam homemade tamales. This summer we made pickles and used the steam canner – its wonderful. I just checked and you can get one at Amazon, search under steam canners.
Dixie in Sacramento
I know nothing about canning but I am FREAKING out over your 92 days until Christmas thought……that can’t possibly be true….I’m behind already.
What? 92 days until Christmas? I am doomed.
I read that you can use the sterlize setting on the dishwasher to sterilize and keep the jars hot until you are ready to fill them. Also I found you can use Classico spaghetti sauce jars for canning as they are marked with ounces. As for the word “canning”: 1870–75, Americanism 🙂
I find most of my canning stuff at hardware stores. Ace is usually pretty good.