Canning, not pickled beets.

Ok, I'm back again for another Week at The Excited Husband and Reluctant Wife. Everyone can benefit from certain knowledge that was at one point common in the past. Baking bread was one of those things. Now Lets get into canning. I know it is late for that but like gardening, it is good to prepare for the whole year leading up to canning season.

Today I'm going to show you how to do a basic pressure can and I’m only doing a basic vegetable preserve recipe, water and salt.

In this particular instance i have some late beets that need to be canned. When processing vegetables that are low acid you will need to either pickle or pressure can. This is soooo simple it hurts. What you will need

Jars – I'm using pints (500ml)

Water – Have the tap ready

Salt – I use 1tsp per pint of salt with no iodine

Pressure cooker

Ladle

Lids and Rings

Pot or cookie tray for sterilizing

Measuring spoon

Jar lifter

A magnet would help

Tea towels and Paper towels

This is simple. Prepare your beets. Cut off excess and boil for 20mins to make tender and he skins fall off. Cool in ice water, peel and slice or quarter (unless small enough to be left whole). Sterilize everything, I do this in boiling water but I have sterilized my jars in the oven also. There is some debate on the amount you need to do but I would rather be safe then sorry. With everything sterilized and the beets ready have some boiling water ready (i have a lot of calcium in my water so my water purifier is getting a workout). While the water is coming to a boil, try to have a quart (liter) at least but it depends on how many jars you have of food. Add your food to 1/2” of the top of the jars or the bottom of your jars ring. Add 1 teaspoon of pickling salt (non iodine salt, kosher works also just read your package) per jar then with the water boiling add water to the same level. Place lids carefully on the jars be sure not to touch the bottoms. Tighten rings hand tight then back off 1/4 turn. Place in pressure cooker and process at the time and pressure of your pressure cooker (in the instructions). When finished just place on the tea towels to cool. What ever doesn't pop just put in the fridge and eat in the next 3 days or try cooking again. When cool add a label with the date and store.

Simple.

This method works for most vegetables and is how I do my corn and potatoes. Last years pickled beets were not a success and my wife and I just like plain beets so this is the way they are going this year.

Thanks

The Excited Husband

First Hello, Bread

Hello This is the first of what I hope will be many posts dealing with my wife and myself (and of course our family) as we embark on a journey to actually having a functioning homestead.

We have been slowly adding skills an knowledge to this end for years and I believe I have finally convinced my Reluctant wife into a hobby farm. Now we just need funds...

While we wait I will share the knowledge and our adventure to you.

This being the first post Lets share some very basic homesteading knowledge. Baking bread.

This is a recipe my wife taught me that she learned from my sister that she learned from my mother who asked my wife to teach her in return...? I know but it is a true story

What you will need.

Flour - 8 cups (approx... I usually don't measure exactly but you won't empty a 9 cup jar.)
Warm water - 4 cups
Yeast - 3 teaspoons
Sugar - 3 Tablespoons
Salt - 3 teaspoons
Oil (fat) - 3 Table spoons and a little to grease your pan.

This recipe Makes enough for 3 good sized loaves. Turn the light on in your oven. Place the 4 cups of warm water in a bowl. Add the yeast, sugar and salt. Mix a little to get it going. Put it in the oven with just the light on or if it is a warm day leave it on the counter.

After nice and frothy add the oil and eight with a mixing spoon or your hand mix in some flour one cup at a time. You are looking for a thick dough that will hold together and not necessarily stick to the bowl or your hand.

Either flour your counter top to knead or knead in bowl (that is what I do) and do so for 5 minutes. If you find your dough with wet spots small amounts flour can be added during this process. Once kneaded place back into a floured bowl and back in the oven to rise. My bowl is a large mixing bowl that is ruffly 1 Gallon (4 ish L) and I wait until it rises just over the top. you will find the right amount after baking the bread a few times which is the best amount for you. Once risen repeat the kneading process and this time break or cut into 3 equal parts and place into greased bread pans. now back in the oven for a second rise.

Just to point out it can take hours for bread to rise so this is all done while doing other things in the day.

When is dough is at least 3 inches over the top of the pan (6.6 cm) take them out of the oven and turn it on to 380 - 400 degrees (194c- 205c) and let it come to temperature. Once hot enough put what you have in leaving room to rotate it at about half way.

When cooking I usually go by site and my wife by smell. It takes about 20 min but it can vary depending on factors like age or quality of yeast. When it looks a dark gold on the mound or mounds It should be done. if one side looks darker then the other just rotate during the cooking process.

Once it is out place on the stove to cool but it doesn't take lone before you are burning your hand trying to cut a slice of warm freshly baked bread.

Watch the accompanying video here...
http://youtu.be/DXnayH96HzY

Enjoy

 

The Excited Husband

Green House 1 - Touch base

Hello again it's time for this weeks dose of the Excited Husband and Reluctant Wife.

This week I had do some research and preparation into my green house in order to grow trough the winter. I know it will be hard and this will be a recurring subject as I experiment on growing food all year round. I will look into inexpensive ways of heating and trying a mixture of growing techniques. I have considered 2 greenhouses this winter but I am only going to use 1. I never know what will happen next so using the kiss method not just in my work but my life as well. As of now most of what is in my green house are potted plants from around the yard but I am starting a few things just to see how they do as well. Thus is a short and late post but I hope it is enough to keep you reading. Also I am trying to upload videos to go with all of my posts and will have links soon.

See the video here
http://youtu.be/ZInmwOgMxnw

Thanks

 

The Excited Husband