I Think I Can - Canning

Canning Basics and Recipes for: Canned Tomatoes, Sweet Lime Pickles and Dill-Lime Pickles

The Canning Process

1.  Fill water bath with enough water to cover the size of jars you are using and turn the heat on

2. Sanitize the jars, lids and rings in boiling water (make sure they are hot when you fill them)

3. Using the canning funnel, fill each jar with the hot food you are preserving 

(make sure the top of each jar is clean and dry)

4. Touching as little as possible (for sanitation) place a DRY lid on each jar and screw down with a DRY ring.  Screw down all the way but not too tight. 

5. Place each jar in the wire rack

6. When the water bath is simmering lower the rack of jars into the water. Place on the lid and wait for a full rolling boil

7. Once the water is boiling start the timer (15 mins for quart jars, 10 mins for pint or 1/2 pint jars)

8. After the correct amount of time, use the gripper to bring out the jars and set on a towel

9.  Observe the "popping" sound of each jar as the seal sets. 

Store in a dry, cool (such as a pantry) place for up to a year or more. 

If they haven't popped after 15 or so min. Store in the fridge and use contents within a couple of weeks. 

The Key to Crunchy Pickles

For the pickles we washed and cut (into 1/4 in slices) about 5 pounds of cucumbers and then split them among the sweet and dill recipes.  We soaked all 5 pounds in a solution of 1/4 cup pickling lime to 1 gallon of water.  The cucumber soaked in that solution overnight 

The next day we drained and throughly rinsed the cucumber slices and let them sit in ice cold water for 3 hours.  The colder the water the crisper they will be so keep adding ice to the bowl throughout the 3 hours.  

Sweet Lime Pickles 

(For about 2 1/2 pounds of cucumbers)

1. In a large stock pot add 4 cups sugar, 4 cups white vinegar, 1 1/2 tsp pickling spice (a dash of salt if desired) and some green food coloring (also optional)

2. Bring that to a simmer and then add the cucumbers and bring to a boil. 

3. Fill jars and continue with the canning process

Dill-Lime Pickles 

(For about 2 1/2 pounds of cucumbers)

1. In a large stock pot add 1 pint of white vinegar, 1 quart of water, 4-6 Tbsp pickling salt (if you like salty pickles add 6, if you like less salty pickles add 4 or 1/4 cup) and 3/4 Tbsp dill seed and bring to a boil

2. Add dill stems and dill heads to each jar (you can also add a clove of garlic if desired)

3. Pack each jar with as many cucumber slices as you can and then ladle in the hot liquid to within 1/2 in from the top

4. Continue with the canning process

Canned Tomatoes 

1. Blanch tomatoes then cut out the core and peel them

2. dice them up and put them in a large stock pot

3. Bring to a boil and proceed with the canning process

**For extra flavor add some salt to each jar**