Wednesday, July 25, 2007

canning veggies

We have an abundance of tomatoes right now; since I have dozens of canning jars and plenty of experience canning, I set out to make use of our bounty.  I checked the cabinets and discovered that I did, indeed, have enough canning flats and rings to do the job.

Next, I went upstairs to the closet of my "junk room" where I have boxes and boxes full of Ball jars.  I wasn't of a mind to do any large-scale canning, so I only selected five small-mouth quart jars.

I had to wash the jars, and since I'd be needing both sides of the sink clear, I washed the breakfast dishes while I had soapy water.  All the while I'm racking my brain trying to recall how long I needed to cold-pack tomatoes.  Finally I checked online:  forty-five minutes, once the water reaches a boil.

First, though, the tomatoes must be submerged in boiling water for thirty seconds so they'll peel easily.  OK, while that water was heating, I went to the garden and got a few ears of corn; may as well freeze some corn at some point today.

So I'm at the point of taking a break, right now.  There are four quarts of tomatoes halfway through their boiling water bath, and the ears of corn are heating up in their own water.  Once that comes to a boil, they get four minutes... I think.  I'd better check that, too.  Then I pour off the hot water, plunge the ears into cold water, and as soon as I can handle it, I cut the kernels off the cob.  There might be two quarts of corn when I get done.

So it hit me awhile ago:  Four quarts of tomatoes equals eight 14 1/2-ounce cans of store-bought tomatoes.  Walmart now has their own brand of unsalted, canned tomatoes for fifty cents a can.  So when I'm done, if all the jars seal, I have $4 worth of tomatoes.

Seems like a lot of work just for $4.  Not to mention the mess.

I think you can buy frozen corn pretty darned cheap, too.

Oh well, I guess I wasn't doing anything else. 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

funny......
Donna In TEXAS
sweepingthecobwebsofmymind

Anonymous said...

Oh..but that store bought stuff doesn't taste as good!!!! lol
love ya,
carlene

Anonymous said...

Those things you can will have more flavor than any other vegie you can buy.  I miss those days, but sad to say don't have the time or the energy anymore...lots of work there for sure.  And if you counted your time to do it all those tomatoes would have a pretty price on them for sure.  Just enjoy them and count your blessings.  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

I bet yours will taste better!
June

Anonymous said...

I am sure yours will taste much better than the $4 Wlamart brand!
Becky

Anonymous said...

Nothing like home grown though!!! Do you make salsa? Love to eat fresh tomatoes like an apple! Our crop is ready to pick as well - but have never done canning myself - I guess there is no better day than today to start! Thanks for sharing! Have a happy one!
Katie

Anonymous said...

Yours will taste SOOOO much better than Walmarts!! For that, priceless!
Pam

Anonymous said...

There's nothing like home grown canned veggies.  You sure will be glad that you canned them this winter.........mmmmm good

Anonymous said...

Homegrown is much better tasting however!  Linda

Anonymous said...

I am so proud of you!!  You saved a few dollars and maybe if you do a little more some other day, pretty soon you will have saved even more and have fresh food that isn't all contaminated with who knows what they put in our food these days... Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

I always felt great satisfaction once I was done canning and freezing and that was priceless.

Anonymous said...

Hmm...I know a hungry man who just loves tomatoes that lives in south Jersey...

Anonymous said...

I'm jealous I don't know a thing about canning. My grandmother-in-law was the one that did all the canning and gave us food. FRESH is the best by far no matter how much trouble it is. I live in Kentucky and in the wintertime it sure is nice to go get fresh corn and veggies out to cook. Now that Granny is gone that is one of the things I miss.
Oh btw this is my first visit to your journal... nice to meet you the title just got my attention.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Take care, Chrissie