Canning and preserving w/a side of Greek Beef
So – I completely gave up on my canning/preserving ambitions this year. The container of Frontier Co-Op Pickling Spice that I got at Briarpatch Coop in Auburn, CA will likely be repurposed for a stew of some kind. Incidentally – I did not review the ingredients when I got it. This mix is for bread and butter or sweet pickles (which I am not a fan of) OR beets and carrot (might try). But it will likely go into a stew like this traditional Greek Beef stew, Stifado, that is close to the one from the cookbook my mom got me from Stonewall Kitchen. I miss visiting the original location in York, Me. My mouth is watering now… no joke.
Anyway! About preserving and, specifically, canning. I was naive in thinking it was an easy task. My mom used to do it all the time growing up and the image of that old mustard colored pressure cooker that looked like it could survive an apocalypse is etched in my mind, “DON’T touch it!”
I’ve put together a couple resources about canning. The big thing is BE CAREFUL what you read or watch. There are plenty of resources but the best bet is to stick to USDA and Bell initially. My courses/resources are derived from trusted resources like this and university extensions.
Renee from Pipe Creek Farm created an awesome video about which books to refer to and I recommend giving it a watch. I want to be her friend!
It covers ALL food and actually got me thinking – “Hey, I stuck on veggie recipes for cooking and preserving and overlooking how may great dishes can be created with food from your garden and sustainably/consciously produced meats. More on that to come.
A short course: Safe and Simple Home Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables: A Beginner’s Guide
This beginner-friendly course will guide you through the essential principles and practical steps for preserving fruits and vegetables at home. You’ll learn the science behind safe preservation, how to choose the right method for each food, and master the use of canning equipment with clear, reassuring instructions. With hands-on guidance for preparation and storage, you’ll gain the confidence to preserve your harvest and keep your family safe, deliciously and simply.
I created this course NOT as the end all be all but just to help you understand what you need to know about to keep your family safe as you take your beginner steps into preserving fruits and vegetables specifically. It covers:
- The Science and Methods of Safe Food Preservation
- Essential Equipment and Safe Canning Procedures
- Preparation and Storage of Preserved Foods
For an even deep dive into the science behind preserving food read/download our Deep Research paper, “The Art and Science of Food Preservation”. Pro-Tip: Have a question about something specific? Use the find function to look up the topic!
Again – check out all the cool videos online for inspiration but taking the course first will help you weed out the ‘safe’ recipes from the ‘unsafe’ ones!
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