Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Mama's Hot Sauce!

Adventures in Canning: Take 1

My mom came over and brought her canning equipment to teach my how to make my own hot sauce. It was great fun! I want to learn how to can using a pressure canner, and she has one that she might have used to heat water once.

We started by trying to gather supplies. We hit at least 5 grocery stores trying to purchase the gallon sized cans of tomatoes. I ended up buying a membership at Costco just to get the tomatoes. My plan this year is to grow (and buy from a local farmer) enough tomatoes to can my own. But until then, it looks like I will start shopping at Costco.

When we opened the box for the pressure canner and found no instruction manual, I hit the internet. Since we were on a tight schedule (after having spent much time shopping etc), and I couldn't find the exact manual quickly, we decided to "can" the way she knows how - "water bath." We did use the large pressure canner pot to can this hot sauce, but not using pressure cooking. I haven't given up on that yet, though. I still have the pressure canner, and she has since found the manual and mailed it to me, so I can use it for my next adventure. Anyway, our recipe made about 17 jars of hot sauce (mostly quart sized.) I will try to can some for teacher presents after Spring Break.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

I'm here to stay!

Well...things on the "Blog front" have been a little crazy! I have been working on another blog site that I have just about decided to abandon. It just isn't turning out to be what I expected...there are other factors and people involved in that one. So, hang on - I am going to stick with this one! The bottom line is just that I started this for me as sort of an on-line diary and way to connect to my friends far away. We are not so different...you and me. Many of us have similar stories of love and family, of food and friends, and of just doing the best we can with what we have. I hope that you find some comfort in my struggles and victories, and that you share yours with me, so that I may also share them with you. Together, we realize that our lives can effect others in positive ways - even when we are just living out our Faith one day at a time, doing the best that we can!