SS~ FRAMEWORK PHYSIQUE #13 : I. Think. I. Can.
In desperation we must go back to our roots of understanding, to find ease. Sometimes those roots can aid us in present situations. Feeding our families is a pressure we haven't felt in a while. It's typical pressure is felt, not on the shelves but in the pockets. But what if things changed. What if we were placed in a situation, where hunger was high and food was scarce? What if you are the one thing standing between death and a full dinner table?
Food preservation is & will always be key for life. We have lost this ancient skill out of comfort and weakness. We assume someone else will make sure we always have safe/edible food on our tables. Yet we can look around the world and see once powerful now fallen countries don’t have this luxury. One way we can preserve our own food is through CANNING. Canning is the self preservation of food through glass jars. Just about any food you can “can”. Just like just about any food is found in cans at the store. Hints the name of the game. If you find an amazing deal at the store, you can buy it in abundance. Then preserve it right in your own kitchen. This is amazing for your "pockets". You can cook then "CAN" the rest . You won't waste a dime financially.
So what is happening when you're canning? You are removing the oxygen and destroying the enzymes from the food. This prevents it from spoiling and keeps it safe to eat. There are two ways to "Can" food. You can do water bath canning or pressure canning. There are also many jar sizes. You can choose the size based on your preference. The small jars are great for jams and butters. Pint size jars are single serving or just enough for a woman & infant to get through a meal. Pint and a half size jars can keep a loving couple fed on its own. Breakfast would be just the right size not to feel lethargic. But if you're a bodybuilder or have a large family there is half gallons as well. The jars have grids, lids, and straps on top. But make sure you know if your jar is made for water bath or pressure canning. Some jars are made for both or just one but you want to be clear before you begin. Remember safety is the name of the game. Other tools will include a funnel, Jar lifter, and debubbler. The funnel lets you fill your jar easily without waste. The Jar lifter lets you easily grab your Jar out of the canning pot safely. The debubbler lets you get all the bubbles out of the food before you put the lid and strap on. After filling your jar, rub the jar rim with a paper towel and vinegar. This cleans off any excess food. You also want to rub your finger against the jar rim to check for any nicks. You don't want anything to prevent your jar from ceiling tightly. When applying your lid and strap. DO NOT CRANK IT CLOSED. Only turn until you feel it tight. The water bath canning will be a little tighter than the pressure canning, but both will be finger tight only. We want the oxygen to escape out when pressure canning. So don't crank it, let the canning pot do its job.
~Water Bathe Canning Steps:
1.Take off the canning pot lid.
2.Fill it half way with boiling water.
3.Open rack inside and place jars on rack until you can fit no more.
4.Set rack handles down into the pot, bring water back into a roaring boil.
5.Wait processing time.
~Pressure Canning Steps:
1.Take off the canning pot lid.
2.Place separator at bottom of pot.
3. Place Jars on top of separator.
4. Place the second separator on top of jars.
5.Place jars on top of the second separator.
6. Replace canning pot lid.
7.Apply weight to vent and wait processing time.
Not to tuff right? Worth your time to learn to secure your family's health right? There are other details you need to know depending on the pressure canner you buy or the cool recipes you want to can. But these are the key basics you need. One key book to help you perfect your craft is "The complete guide to Home Canning." created by the nation center of home food preservation. It's free online on their website. I recommend you start there because not all books on this subject are reputable. We want to consume the best knowledge possible because safety = success in this. So let's take ourselves out of our comfort zone and into the land of independence. Lets gain faith in our abilities and know we can only control what we can control. But ALL actions are within our control.