HOW TO CAN

There are two methods to canning – water bath canning and pressure canning. Water bath canning is for high acid foods such as tomatoes, fruit and pickles – food where bacteria won`t survive in the preservation of the boiling water. Low-acid foods on the other hand, like veggies, beans and meat, are a perfect home for bacteria, and boiling doesn’t cut it. Pressure canning must be used for any low-acid foods in order to reach bacteria-killing temperatures that are much higher than the boiling point. Pressure canners can cost $300 and up, so for the purpose of being able to provide canning options for everyone, we are focusing only on water bath canning.

Equipment Needed1. Water-bath canner with internal rack OR Large pot with towel on the bottom

2. Wide-mouth canning jars with metal seals and rings

3. Canning funnel

4. Long-handled spoon and slotted spoon

5. Jar-lifting tongs

6. Lid-lifting wand OR tongs

7. Pots, bowls, measuring cups and spoons

8. Plastic knife, wooden chopstick or small spatula

Whats in Season

APPLESBLUEBERRIES

CHERRIESPEACHESPLUMSPEARS

TOMATOES

Canning

Dos & DontsDO be sure to properly sanitize your jars and lids.

DON’T forget to get the whole family (or your pals) involved - make it a group activity!

DO consider using Pomona pectin powder instead of conventional pectin for low/no sugar jams - find it at Community Natural Foods in the baking aisle!

DON’T forget your apron - it might get messy!

DO the seal test - if the lid pops up when you press down on it, it’s not sealed properly.

DON’T cry if the seal pops - refrigerate your jars and consume within a week. They will still taste delicious!

DO up cute labels and give your filled jars as gifts!

DON’T be intimidated - follow the easy steps and you will be a pro!

10 Easy Steps to Water Bath Canning

1. PREP: Whether you need to blanch, de-stem or chop your fruit - do so first, and of course make sure they are washed and cleaned!

2. STERILIZE: Wash your jars in the dishwasher and keep it closed until you need them. Don’t have a dishwasher? Put the jars in simmering water for at least 15 minutes, or until you need them. Keep the lids and rims in boiling water until you need them.

3. CREATE: Jams, canned fruit or pickles, follow your reci-pe to make your creation!

4. BOIL: Prepare the water bath by filling your canner or pot halfway with clean water and bringing it to a boil. Once all jars are in, the water should be 1-2 inches above the jars.

5. DISTRIBUTE: Ladle your creation from the pot into your jars, leaving a quarter to half an inch from the top. Quarter inch for jellies, jams, and pickles; Half inch for acidic foods like tomatoes and whole fruits.

6. DE-BUBBLE: Run your knife, chopstick or spatula along the inside of the jar to remove air bubbles.

7. WIPE: Wipe any drips from the outside, especially in the lid area, using a clean cloth.

8. SEAL: Remove the rims and lids from the boiling water one at a time, using the magnetic wand or tongs. Set the lid on the jar’s rim and twist the rim overtop until it resists. Don’t over tighten or you might never get it off!

9. CAN: Place your jars in the boiling water bath. With all jars in the bath, allow the water to return to boil and begin timing in accordance to your recipe and altitude.

10. COOL: Using tongs, set the jars on a towel, one at a time, with a little space between them. You will know they are sealed when you hear the popping sound, which indicates the jars have cooled and the seals are intact. If any of the jars do not “pop,” they haven’t sealed properly. Don’t fret if they didn’t seal properly - if this is the case, refrigerate them and be sure to consume within a week.

Canned TomatoesWhile any tomato can be canned, the best are roma tomatoes due to their meatiness - which means a thicker sauce in less time! Other tomatoes will work for canning, they may just be more watery.

INGREDIENTS 10lb organic tomatoes* 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice 1/2 quart tomato juice or water

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Follow the canning instructions to the right.2. Blanch your tomatoes and peel the skin off. 3. Heat up tomato juice/water until it reaches a low boil. 4. Depending on the size of your tomatoes, you may want to cut them into halves or quarters.5. Fill your jars with a quarter of space at the top of the jar.6. If using quart jars - pour 2 tbsp of lemon juice into each jar. If using pint jars, pour 1 tbsp into each jar.7. Fill each jar with tomato juice/water up to half an inch from the top.8. De-bubble, wipe and seal your jars.9. Place jars in your boiling water bath for 40 minutes (pint jars) or 50 minutes (quart jars).

*makes 7 pint jars

ADD SOME DECORWhy not tie a sprig of rosemary onto your jar of tomatoes? They

pair nicely together so you know it will be used! Or if you are

giving your jars away around Christmas, be sure to tie on a few jolly bells, or a pine cone!

Blueberry Ginger Jam

Pomona’s pectin powder provides jam recipes with very little sugar because the pectin bind to calcium instead of sugar. Delicious, low sugar jam - yes please!

INGREDIENTS 4 cups organic fresh blueberries* 1 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated4 tbsp lemon juice2 tsp calcium water2/3 cup honey OR 1 cup cane sugar2 tsp Pomona’s pectin powder

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine 1/2 tsp of calcium powder (found in your Pomona box) with 1/2 cup of water in a small jar with lid. Shake until powder is dissolved. Extra calcium water can be stored in the fridge for future use.2. Follow the canning instructions on page 3.3. Mix pectin powder into sweetener in a seperate bowl.4. Add mashed blueberries, ginger, lemon juice, and calcium water to a saucepan, stir well and bring to boil.5. Once boiling, add sweetener mix and constantly stir for 1-2 minutes until pectin is dissolved in mixture.6. Bring mixture back to a boil and remove from heat.7. Fill jars with a quarter inch space from the top and boil jars in water bath for 12 minutes.

*makes 5 half-pints jars

DIY Decorative Jars for Gifting

COVER IT UP Use scrap fabric, burlap, or doilies to decorate the lids! Simply cut a circle out of your material that is at least one inch larger all around the lid (use a bowl to trace it). Use decorative craft scissors for scalloped or wavy edges and secure it in place with ribbon, twine, or colourful hair elastics.

INCLUDE A RECIPEMake a tag and include a recipe on the back that they can used your delicious canned fruit for! Can’t find a recipe? A heart felt message on a tag goes a long way too!

LABEL IT How fun would it be if your friends had a message at the bottom of the jar when they finished it?

Simply make up circular labels and mod podge them to the bottom

outside of the jar, facing inside.