Food Storage Checklist #19 (basic ingredients & canning supplies)

To Do:

• Make a dessert using brown sugar (such as chocolate chip cookies).
• Use powdered milk in at least 5 recipes this week.
• Try canning a fruit or vegetable.
• Update your 3-month supply.

To Purchase:

• 12 lbs of non-instant dry milk.
• 3 lbs of brown sugar.
• Canning supplies such as a canner, tongs, jars, lids, etc.
• Something from your 3-month supply list.

Canning Tomatoes

1. Grow and pick tomatoes - try to avoid cracked ones, and don't let them sit too long and begin to rot. (Approximately 23 pounds of tomatoes for a batch of seven 1-quart bottles.
2. Blanch tomatoes by placing them in boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Transfer to a bowl of cold water immediately.
3. Remove cores and peelings.
4. Place into jars (pressing them down and going around the edges with a non-metallic spatula/spoon to remove all bubbles) until they just reach the neck.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of salt per quart. The final volume should be about 1/4-1/2 inch from the rim.
6. Wipe off the rim and threads of the jar with a damp, clean cloth.
7. Place lids on and screw down evenly and firmly, just until resistance is met-fingertip tight.
8. Set it onto the elevated rack in the boiling-water canner. Water must cover the two-piece caps on the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary. Put lid on canner. Bring water to a boil. Start counting processing time after water comes to a rolling boil.
9. Process pints 40 minutes, quarts 45 minutes, at a gentle but steady boil.
10. Remove bottles from canner using canning tongs. Set on a towel to cool 12 hours--Most lids will make a popping sound as it cools.
11. Check for seal by pressing on the lid--it should not push in.

Canning Salsa

10 cups roughly chopped tomatoes
5 cups chopped and seeded bell peppers
5 cups chopped onions
2 1/2 cups jalepeno peppers, chopped, seeded
1 1/4 cups cider vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro, minced
3 teaspoons salt
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1. Combine all ingredients except tomato paste in large sauce pot.
2. Simmer until desired thickness.
3. Stir in tomato paste.
4. Ladle hot salsa into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head-space.
5. Process 15 minutes in a hot water bath.