Food Preservation Techniques

Among the oldest technologies still used by humans today are the various food preservation techniques. People will always disagree on which is the best method of food preservation, but in general people want safe, nutritious foods that are considered to be of a very good quality. This is determined by taking into account wholesomeness, freshness, flavor, aroma, nutritional value, texture and color. Food is generally considered safe when there is no potential danger from pathogenic microorganisms, naturally occurring toxins or any other chemicals that are deemed to be potentially harmful. For food to contain no bacteria it must be sterilized; if it contains bacteria it has not been sterilized. Milk has bacteria living naturally in it and it will spoil in a couple of hours if it is left at room temperature. On the other hand, putting it in the refrigerator slows down bacteria to such an extent that it will stay fresh for two weeks or more, even with bacteria still present in i t.

Food preservation involves treating and handling food to either greatly slow down or stop spoilage that caused or accelerated by micro-organisms. Preservation normally involves preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria and other micro-organisms, as well as the oxidation of fats which the cause rancidity. However, some methods of preservation actually use benign fungi, yeasts or bacteria to preserve food and add specific qualities, for example wines or cheeses. It may also include processes which inhibit aging and discoloration that occur during food preparation, like the enzymatic browning (oxidation) in apples when they are cut. Some food has to be sealed after treatment to prevent recontamination with microbes while others, such as drying, mean food can be stored without special containment. There are many methods of preserving food including freezing, freeze drying, spray drying, food irradiation, sugar crystallization, adding preservatives, preserving in syrup, canning an d vacuum-packing.Salting, also known as curing, removes moisture from meats through osmosis. Meat is cured with sugar or salt, or perhaps both. Nitrites and nitrates are also used to cure meat and inhibit Clostridium botulinum.Sugaring is used to preserve fruits such as apricots, pears, apples, plums and peaches, either in syrup or in crystallized form.There is a product available called eggstrafresh� that is one of the best food preservation techniquesever made. eggstrafresh� can be found at http://www.eggstrafresh.com. It has been scientifically proven to increase the shelf life of foods by dramatically reducing oxidation and retaining moisture. It also greatly improves the taste, natural color, flavor and texture of all foods, not just fruits and vegetables.This is one of the oldest methods, it reduces water activity enough to prevent or delay bacterial growth. Most meats can be dried, along with many fruits. Cereal grains including rice, rye, barley, oats, maize, wheat and millet are also dried, as are grapes like sultanas, raisins and currants.SmokingProducts like wines, beers and cheeses keep for a long time because the production process uses micro-organisms to combat spoilage.SugaringSome food can be preserved by cooking in a material that solidifies and forms a gel, including maize flour, arrowroot flour and gelatin. Certain foods form a natural protein gel when they are cooked. Using jellying to preserve fruit produces marmalade, fruit preserves and jelly.CanningDryingModified atmosphereThis is a way to preserve food by altering the atmosphere surrounding it. For example, salad is extremely hard to keep fresh and is now being packaged in sealed bags with a modified atmosphere which reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide.Pickling is a method of food preservation leaving the food in an edible, anti-microbial liquid. Fermentation pickling uses food itself to produce preservation agents, usually in a process that produces lactic acid. Chemical pickling inhibits or kills bacteria and other micro-organisms in a liquid.JellyingControlled use of micro-organismVacuum-packing stores food in an airless environment, like an air-tight bag or bottle. This environment leaves bacteria without oxygen, slowing spoiling.The following are all methods of food preservation:BurialLye, or sodium hydroxide, inhibits bacterial growth by making food too alkaline.Freezing is commonly used domestically and commercially for preserving a wide range of food.Exposure to ionizing radiation is known as irradiation or cold pasteurization. It has a large range of effects including killing molds, insects and bacteria, and reducing the ripening and spoiling of fruits.Fish, meat and other foods may be flavored as well as preserved with the use of smoke. The combination of heat and the aromatic (phenolic) hydrocarbons from the smoke preserve the food.Burying food preserves it by providing much lower levels of oxygen, light and pH level, as well as providing natural desiccants in the soil and cooler temperatures.Vacuum-packingExtremely high pressure is sometimes used to preserve food. Pressure as high as 70,000 psi or more is used, resulting in food that retains its nutrients, appearance, texture and flavor whilst presenting spoilage.IrradiationSaltingFreezingPicklingLyeHigh pressure food preservation

There is a product available called eggstrafresh� that is one of the best food preservation techniquesever made. eggstrafresh� can be found at http://www.eggstrafresh.com. It has been scientifically proven to increase the shelf life of foods by dramatically reducing oxidation and retaining moisture. It also greatly improves the taste, natural color, flavor and texture of all foods, not just fruits and vegetables.

Author: Mark Gold

How to Make the Very Best Strawberry Shake

While you can still find good strawberries, on an early summer day, make a great strawberry shake. Retreat to that shady corner of the garden, under the oak canopy, listen to the melody of the birds and the whispering of the breezes through the branches, and linger over your shake. There's not much that's more refreshing and satisfying than a thick strawberry shake made with fresh, plump strawberries and premium ice cream. This one is topped with sweetened, flavored whipped cream.

2. Peel the tomatoes by starting a small slit in the skin with a knife at the tip of a tomato. Grasp the edge of the skin and peel the skin from the tomato in strips. Repeat with each tomato.3. Cut away the top of the tomato. Cut the tomato in half. With your thumb, loosen the seeds and press them into a bowl or into the sink. With Roma tomatoes, only the flesh will remain. With other tomatoes, you can remove most of the seeds. Throw the seeds away. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes.While it's easy to peel and seed tomatoes by hand, you can do it in less time with tools. A Victorio strainer, a food mill, or potato ricer will do it if the screens are small enough. (It takes 2.2 millimeter screen or smaller to catch tomato seeds.) A Victorio strainer has a hopper on the top and a twist handle and will handle a lot of produce in a hurry. It catches both the seeds and the skins and it is available with different sized screens to make anything from raspberry jelly to applesauce to salsa. You can get the same results from a food mill but without the large hopper and screw type crank of the vireo strainer, it is not as quick. A ricer is a simple hand press used to press one tomato at a time through a screen. It also is used to rice potatoes and other produce. Choose the tool that meets your needs.The following recipe makes two shakes. So as to not overfill the blender, make a half at a time.sweetened whipped cream for topping3. Put the shake in a tall, chilled glass while you make the second shake.4. Top the shakes with whipped cream and an optional strawberry and serve.How to Chop and Seed Tomatoes2 tablespoons olive oil1. Bring a pan of water to boil. Place four or five tomatoes at a time in the hot water and leave them in the bath for one minute. Remove them from the water and start another batch. Let the tomatoes cool to where you can handle them.1/2 teaspoon vanilla or other flavor2 to 3 cups peeled and seeded Roma or other tomatoesTools for Removing the Seeds from TomatoesCanning Your Tomato SauceIf you love your own tomato sauce, can it. Maybe you like the spice blend that you are using. Maybe it's the idea of doing it yourself, maybe canning your own tomatoes. Maybe it's to save money but it's great to can your own tomato sauce. Just make a bigger batch and can it according to the instructions from a reliable source such as your equipment manual or a government source.1. Chill the cream, the utensils, and bowl that you will be using.Chill the blender and glasses in the freezer before making the shakes. If your blender is at room temperature, it melts the ice cream and your shakes will not be as thick as they should. Use ice cream that is rock hard. (It's easer to remove rock hard ice from the package with a spade than with an ice cream scoop.) And don't run the blender longer than is needed. The heat from the motor will start to melt your ice cream.1/4 teaspoon salt or to tasteThere are some tricks to making a very good strawberry shake. Start with the very best berries. If they are not fully ripe, they won't be flavorful but if they are starting to get mushy, they may have an off-taste. And put the right amount of berries in the shake. Judge the amount by the color of the shake; it should be a rich but pastel pink. If it's too light, add more berries.For the whipped cream topping:1. Wash, trim, and slice the berries. Sprinkle the sugar on the berries and let them soak at room temperate for two hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Baker's note: If you have extra whipped cream, try freezing it. Spoon mounds onto waxed appear and put the sheet with whipped cream into the freezer. Once frozen, you can peel the mounds of whipped cream from the waxed paper, and store them in zipper plastic bag.

Author: Dennis Weaver

How to Make Fresh, Homemade Marinara Sauce

Homemade is better. This takes a little time but it's worth it. This sauce works well on pizza or pasta. With a little change in seasonings and by omitting the olive oil, you can make a salsa from this recipe.

Chop the seeded tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Cook the tomatoes along with the seasonings and sugar for ten minutes or until it starts to thicken, stirring frequently. Add the olive oil. Let cool.1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepperFor myself, I remember working alongside my family every year. Now, as a mother of five, I have made sure to pass the tradition of home canning onto my own children. Every year, we gather to work together, and to laugh together. As the jars fill up and are processed, I know I�ve provided quality bonding opportunities and fresh, wholesome food without preservatives. I also take a little time each year to appreciate my own mom and the love and care she provided for me.Sample your shake before you serve it. If it's not sweet enough, add another spoon or two of sugar. If it doesn't have enough flavor, add a teaspoon of strawberry flavor.Directions2/3 cup half and half (or a 50:50 mixture of milk and whipping cream)2. Beat the cream at medium speed until soft peaks form.1 cup heavy whipping cream (the fat content should be 35% or more)2. Place half the strawberries and half the ice cream in a blender plus half the juice from the berries. Puree until smooth and combined. Add half of the half and half and mix.1/2 cup granulated sugar aboutInstead of vanilla, try a different flavor. Strawberry of course works but any of the "warm" flavors will do. French vanilla, brown sugar, and caramel are all good choices.1 teaspoon crushed, dried oregano or a tablespoon of freshBaker's note: Alter the quantities of the garlic, oregano, and basil to suit your tastes. If you like more, add more.1 teaspoon dried basil leaves or two teaspoons fresh3. Add the powdered sugar and flavor and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Do not over whip.3 cups premium vanilla ice cream2 1/2 cups of ripe, fresh strawberriesPreserving foods is both easy and rewarding. When you�re just beginning, try gathering a few supplies each year. Start by purchasing a pressure cooker for canning, a basic canning kit, and the Blue Ball Canning Book, which includes directions for every step of the home canning process. The beauty with canning is everything you buy lasts a lifetime, except for the lids and food, of course. The canning kit includes a jar lifter, a lid organizer and a few other gems to make home preservation easier and more organized. In your second season, expand your supplies to include a food dehydrator, canning recipe books, and even more gadgets to preserve the bounties of the garden. In an extremely short time, you will have gathered all you need to build a lifetime of adventure and memories for you and your family.Baker's note: If you have extra whipped cream, try freezing it. Spoon mounds onto waxed appear and put the sheet with whipped cream into the freezer. Once frozen, you can peel the mounds of whipped cream from the waxed paper, and store them in zipper plastic bag.

Chop the seeded tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Cook the tomatoes along with the seasonings and sugar for ten minutes or until it starts to thicken, stirring frequently. Add the olive oil. Let cool.

Author: Dennis Weaver

Canning, a "Family" Tradition

What�s a busy mom to do? As the master of all multi-taskers, moms are always looking for ways to stay healthy and to create lasting memories for their families. One of the best ways to accomplish both of these goals is to preserve your own food at home.

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

For myself, I remember working alongside my family every year. Now, as a mother of five, I have made sure to pass the tradition of home canning onto my own children. Every year, we gather to work together, and to laugh together. As the jars fill up and are processed, I know I�ve provided quality bonding opportunities and fresh, wholesome food without preservatives. I also take a little time each year to appreciate my own mom and the love and care she provided for me.

Author: Linda VanDyke

Learn About The Best Processes in Preserving Foods

Preserving food is an age old technology discovered by humans. A lot of people would argue which is the very best process in food preservation. Generally people would like their food stuffs to be safe, of excellent quality, nutritious, fresh, wholesome, great nutritional value, nice color, good aroma, distinct flavor and texture.

Considered as an old method, where water is reduce to delay or prevent growth of bacterias. A lot of meats are dried, just like fruits. Millet, wheat, maize, oats, barley, rye, rice, cereal-grains, currants, raisins, sultanas and grapes are a few examples of food stuffs that uses drying to stop spoilage.Simple, targeted gifts mean more to the recipient -- and provide an inexpensive way for you to show your appreciation. Be different! Give a gift that keeps on giving -- and truly make a difference this year!Food is stored within an airless environment, like a bottle or a bag that's air-tight. Since there's no oxygen it slows spoilage.Although when it's placed inside a refrigerator the bacteria count slows down thereby making milk last in your refrigerator for 1 week even if it already has some bacteria.

Animal shelters always need extra help. Ask your local shelter what its needs are. Donate the items, or have a bake sale, garage sale or other fundraiser to provide for the need. For Children -- a Gift for the Future

Preservation of food involves the handling of your food & how it's going to be treated which would affect the speed of spoilage whether it's slowing down or growing fast, it could be accelerated due to the presence of microorganisms.2) Freezing10) Canning
• Purchase groceries for a needy family. Help them plant a garden in the Spring. If they have no gardening area, consider sharing yours.14) DryingUsed in preserving certain fruits like peaches, plums, apples, pears, apricots, etc using sweet syrup or maybe in some crystallized form.
• A small donation can feed many people at your local Salvation Army Soup Kitchen.Meat, fish, etc is preserved using smoke. By combining aromatic-phenolic hydrocarbons and heat coming from smoke would preserve foods.Use really high pressures. About seventy thousand worth of psi, which induces release of nutrients, maintaining the texture, appearance & the flavor while preventing spoilage.15) SugaringSalt is better recognized as the process of curing. This type of food preservation eliminates moisture found in meat using osmosis. The meat will be combined with salt, sugar perhaps even both. Nitrates and nitrites will also cure the meat & stop 'Clostridium botulinum' from appearing.When food isn't sealed and sterilized it would then create bacteria. Like milk, for example, contains bacteria living naturally within it thus spoiling its contents within 2 to 3 hours when kept outside in room-temperature.
• Find exactly the right gift at http://www.Surprise.com Categories range from the Caffeine Fiend, to the Chocoholic to the Empty Nester. There are also ideas for particular occasions and personalities.

There would also be drying wherein food is actually not stored inside any container. Other processes include freeze-drying, freezing, spray-drying, food-irradiation, sugar-crystallization, adding some preservatives, using syrup for preservation, vacuum-packing and canning.Food is generally classified as safe when there's no natural danger of toxins, pathogenic-microorganisms and chemicals that could be harmful. Food is called sterile when it doesn't have bacteria living naturally inside of it.For Just About Everyone

3) Irradiation
• Send Phone Cards for the soldiers, enabling them to call home. You can give them about 100 minutes for only $20. More info can be found at http://www.uso.org

For Those in Need

Once you have found the containers to suit your needs, the fun begins in earnest. This is a great opportunity to use your scrapping supplies to bring beauty and functionality together. Paper, stickers, and ribbons are great for decorating found-containers and bringing to them a little beauty. Material, ribbon, and a little spray adhesive can turn a shoe box into a gorgeous storage container. So go ahead! Get creative! Tame all those loose tools.There's an alternative to buying gifts that sit on a shelf waiting for the next garage sale. For something completely unique, why not consider gifts that 'keep on giving' for your friends, co-workers or loved ones?Why not give a gift in the name of your favorite animal lover? Visit Heifer Projects International, http://catalog.heifer.org for more ideas and information.
• Giving to your local food pantry helps those in need. Most pantries are reporting their donations have been down, so they'll need some extra help to replenish their shelves.Preserving foodstuffs means to stop the fungi growing, microorganisms & bacteria growing and also the oxidation of certain fats that will generate rancidity. While some other processes in preservation would mean putting bacteria, yeast and benign-fungi to your food so that it'll generate certain desirable qualities, like that of cheeses and wines.
• Why not give your crafter some craft supplies or gift certificates to a favorite craft store? The crafter can in turn create gifts to give away, or perhaps sell them for some extra bits of money.
12) Jellying
• Give a year's worth of TV Guide. Your kindness through this gift will never be forgotten. Many, especially those in nursing homes, cannot afford even a weekly newspaper.

Military/Soldiers

1) SaltingThe Gardener
Food is preserved by solidifying and forming them into gel, like using maize flour & gelatin. Jellying will produce fruit preserves, marmalade and jellies when this process if done on fruits.

Used in preserving certain fruits like peaches, plums, apples, pears, apricots, etc using sweet syrup or maybe in some crystallized form.




Author: Kathy Smith

Taming Of The Tools

Oh tools of mine you cut divine,

A $50 bond purchased today could be worth $100 in 20 years. For more info about other funds and ideas about growing kids' money over time, pop into this site: http://www.child.com/moms_dads/family_finance/gift_fund.jsp Your shopping mission is to find containers that can be adapted for tool storage. The containers need to be compact enough so as not to take up valuable scrapping space, yet roomy enough to store bulky tools. The trick to finding a suitable container is to look at each vessel and imagine your tools inside. To help you decide if a particular container will fit your needs, ask yourself these questions: will my tools fit inside? can I get them out and put them back in easily? will it fit well at my workspace without getting in the way? The containers should always offer easy access to the articles stored inside; otherwise you will be tempted to leave them laying loose on the workspace. Some options for slender tools, could be wide mouth canning jars, short flower vases, clay or metal pots, or any other container that would allow tools to stand up right. For tools that are a little bulkier, vertical bill sorters make for a nice storage solution. File racks that hang on the wall are a good solution for cutting mats, rulers, stencils, and templates. Over the door canvas shoe hangers make for great tool storage when your scrapping space is limited. You are only constrained by your imagination, when it comes to creative tool storage solutions.Preserving food by changing its surrounding atmosphere. Salads are difficult to keep fresh so they're packed using sealed plastic bags inside an atmosphere that's modified decreasing oxygen & increasing carbon-dioxide.Since the foods are buried, it would mean lower oxygen level, light & pH-level, and provides desiccants in soil & a more cool temperature.4) Highly pressurized food preservation

Send a care package to the troops. For ideas of what 'not' to send this year, follow this link: http://www.army.mil/operations/oif/FAQ.htmlThe Animal Lover

I would love to see your creative storage solutions post a picture to our layout gallery showing your favorite, functional piece.




Author: Tina Parker

Unique Gifts: Ideas for All Seasons

'We Make a Living by What we Do,
But We Make a Life by What We Give.'
-- Winston Churchill

Give a goat. How about a pig? You'll be providing food and income-producing animals (cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, water buffalo). These animals in turn provide milk, eggs, and wool. Families then share one or more of their animals' offspring with other needy families.

For care package ideas, there are 2 downloadable and printable pages of ideas here. See top of page at this link: http://www.asa.themilitary.netHere are some processes in preserving food:Exposing to ionization radiation identified as cold-pasteurization or irradiation. This process of preserving involves factors that would help in killing bacteria, insects, molds & reduces spoiling or ripening of your fruits.In the never ending battle of workspace clutter, our tools are often the number one culprit. There are scissors, trimmers, hole punches, paper piercers, bone folders, craft knives, decorative punches, rulers, templates, etc., etc. The list goes on and on; if you add adhesive dispensers to the inventory you are soon up to your neck in loose tools. What is the best way to tame all these indispensable tools? The solution.....drum roll please, ORGANIZATION!9) Lye7) Burying foodbut on my workspace you create such a clutter.Usually used for commercially and domestically preserving huge selections of various foods.Food is left within an anti-microbial and edible content in liquid form. Fermentation type of pickling actually uses actual food to encourage production of 'lactic acid'. While chemical-pickling kills or stops bacteria & microorganisms found inside the liquid.Uh oh, there it is, that dreaded word that makes most of us cringe. It takes away all hope of midnight elves coming in to put away our tools and clean up leftover scraps at the end of a long day of scrapping. It means (gulp) I have to do it. Take heart! the process can actually be quite enjoyable. The trick is start with something really fun - SHOPPING! For those of us with limited budgets, finances do not need to be a deterrent. There are ways to shop that won�t cost you a cent. One of those is to shop through your own home for what you need; another is to shop at mom�s or any other willing family member�s home.

Does your gardener like to 'can' or freeze their produce? How about providing them with canning jars, lids and other supplies.

Donate your unused frequent flyer miles. Help pay for soldiers who arrive in the states for a 2-week leave or emergency leave. These soldiers are brought into the US, but then have to purchase last-minute tickets at higher prices to travel the rest of the way back home to their families. Find more info at http://www.HeroMiles.org

A roll of Postage Stamps can last a long, long time. This is a great gift, especially for the elderly or those living on a limited income.Cheeses, beers & wines are kept within a very long period of time because their process of production will use micro organisms to stop its spoilage.This would involve the cooking of your food & they're sealed in clean & sterile cans or jars. Sometimes pressure cooking would be required as a last step in this process. Meats & veggies dishes that contain low acid content should undergo pressurized canning.11) Using controlled micro organisms

Know someone who loves to garden? Buy the seeds or plants (vegetable, flower, fruit, etc.) and tools that make it easier for them to garden. If they have a good year, they'll be able to share the abundance with family, neighbors and friends.

Look into Legitimate Charities. This site offers an alphabetical list of National Charities: http://www.Give.org/reports/index.asp 6) Picklingon projects you save me such timeyou slice through paper like butterSodium-hydroxide would stop growing bacteria by generating much alkaline.The Parent/Grandparent/Senior

8) SmokingSome processes also stop food from getting discolored like in the process of oxidation or enzymatic-browning like what we see in sliced apples. Certain kinds of foods are sealed once treatment is done in order to stop another recontamination by microbes.5) Vacuum-packing

Simple, targeted gifts mean more to the recipient -- and provide an inexpensive way for you to show your appreciation. Be different! Give a gift that keeps on giving -- and truly make a difference this year!




Author: Darlene Arechederra

Give Handmade Holiday Gifts of Warmth and Comfort by Making Your Own Baking and Soup Mixes

In today's world, where families are spread across the globe and family dinners are becoming more of a special occasion than a daily occurrence, it's important to share and cultivate family traditions, recipes, and stories. ??One way to encourage your friends and loved ones to try some of your favorite recipes is to make it so easy for them that they can't say no! Making your own baking mixes and soup mixes is a simple way to give your friends and family a few new flavors to add to their meals.??The most important part of making your own baking mix is choosing the right recipes. You want to choose a recipe whose ingredients are primarily either dry or wet. Recipes with things like canned fruit, jam, canned tomatoes, meats, and other ingredients that your friends and family might not keep at hand, and that are impossible to pack and ship, are recipes to be avoided.??Baking Mixes?Baking mixes are simple and fun to assemble, not to mention pretty!?

Fall brides about to move into their new homes and kitchens will love being able to turn to a baking or soup mix for those cozy, newlywed dinners once the temperatures start to drop. The meal may last just one evening, but the recipe can carry on forever.Pasta Sauce Yields 5 pintsTo make canning even easier, Ball RealFruit(TM) Pectins and Ball food mixes are now available in Small Batch and Flex Batch sizes, allowing consumers to tailor their recipes to the amount of fresh produce they have on hand. Ball RealFruit(TM) Classic Pectin has also been reformulated, giving traditional jams even better flavor as consumers capture the freshness of the season.

This holiday season, break out your recipe box and select a few you can turn into mixes. Then unleash your creativity and put your heart into creating some wonderful gifts for the people you value in your life � family, friends, co-workers, etc. Your mixes are sure to be well-received; after all, there is nothing better than warm soup on a chilly night and who doesn�t love brownies!? Happy mixing!

Author: Kate Walling

Home Canning is Top Food Trend for Consumers Motivated to Eat Healthy, Fresh & Local

Celebrate Home Canning: Jarden Home Brands, Makers of Ball Home Canning Products, Designates August 13 as National Can-It-Forward Day

Home canning enables consumers to enjoy their fresh, locally grown foods all year long. In addition, fresh preserving lets consumers limit the amount of sugar or salt in foods they prepare and cook with no preservatives.(c)2011 Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands, Daleville, IN 47334. Hearthmark, LLC is a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH).Freeze it: Pour into freezer containers and let cool. Store in freezer up to one year.Raspberry-Jalapeño Jam Yields 7 half pintsKosher Dill Pickles Yields 7 quartsCanning 101 Tips --Use the freshest produce you can find. The fresher the ingredients, the better the taste of the final product. --Pickling salt is a finely milled salt, with no anti-caking additives, that dissolves cleanly and quickly. Pectin is a very fine, water-soluble fiber that helps create a stable gelled preserve. With Mrs. Wages products, you don't need specialty spices or ingredients. Mrs. Wages uses high-quality, 100 percent natural ingredients in their spice mixes. --Fill jars quickly, so they won't cool on the table or counter. Use a wide-mouth funnel and avoid spilling liquid on the rim of the jar, where it may interfere with a good seal. --Wash and rinse jars thoroughly. Set jars in clean, hot water until used. If using dishwasher, keep jars in dishwasher until ready to use. --For reasons of food safety, do not alter recipes. For more canning tips, a canning guide, recipes and templates to make your own print-at-home labels, visit www.mrswages.com .A free, live webcast hosted at FreshPreserving.com will feature a day of instructional canning videos as well as cooking demos. Viewers will be able to ask questions and post comments in real time as they participate along at home. The event will film at Seattle's Pike Place Market and those in the area are encouraged to participate in person.Wash cucumbers and remove blossoms; drain. Leave whole, cut into spears or slice.

Combine Kosher Dill Mix, vinegar and water into a large non-reactive pot. Do not use aluminum. Bring mixture just to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture dissolves.Baking and soup mixes make perfect wedding gift extras, too. While it is becoming more and more customary to give the bride and groom a gift of money, including an antique jar filled with the makings of a favorite soup or baked good instantly personalizes an otherwise appreciated, yet somewhat impersonal, gesture.Preserving Made EasierWash fresh tomatoes. Scald 3 minutes in boiling water. Dip into cold water. Cut out cores, remove skins and chop coarsely.

Combine tomatoes, vinegar and salsa mix in a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Salsa is ready.Clean and sterilize jars, lids and rings. Keep warm.

Mince peppers. For hotter jam, do not devein.Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.comServe it: Ready to use, or pour into containers and refrigerate up to one week.On August 13, millions of food lovers curious about canning can learn the ease and benefits of preserving fresh food. Jarden Home Brands has teamed up with Canning Across America, a nationwide collective of cooks, gardeners and food lovers committed to the revival of the lost art of "putting up" food, to create the first annual National Can-It-Forward Day.*SymphonyIRI GroupThe Ball brand has introduced a complete line of home canning products to help consumers get started, including the Ball Canning Discovery(TM) Kit. It has all the basic tools needed to start canning and an illustrated step-by-step guide with recipes; the kit is an easy and affordable way for newcomers to learn how to can.

SOURCE Jarden Corporation

Can-a-Palooza! From Mrs. Wages

(Family Features) Gardens, farmers markets and grocery store aisles are brimming with fresh seasonal produce. What better way to enjoy those fantastic flavors all year long than by gathering friends and family to share nature's bounty by canning together?

"Summer's bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables is upon us and there's never been a better time to learn how easy and rewarding canning can be," said Brenda Schmidt, Brand Manager for Fresh Preserving at Jarden Home Brands. "With our complete line of home canning products, hundreds of recipes and online resources, the Ball brand helps you every step of the way."Equipment You Need --Glass canning jars --Rings and lids --A non-reactive pot --Hot water bath canner with a rack --Jar lifter --Canning funnelThis holiday season, break out your recipe box and select a few you can turn into mixes. Then unleash your creativity and put your heart into creating some wonderful gifts for the people you value in your life � family, friends, co-workers, etc. Your mixes are sure to be well-received; after all, there is nothing better than warm soup on a chilly night and who doesn�t love brownies!? Happy mixing!For more information about National Can-It-Forward Day, visit FreshPreserving.com.Process pints 5 minutes*, quarts 10 minutes*, in a boiling water bath canner. Test jars for airtight seals according to manufacturer's directions. If jars do not completely seal, refrigerate and consume within two weeks.Quickly pour jam into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and cap jars.Choose a container that you know will fit all the ingredients you need to use. I love using beautiful, antique canning jars.??Once you've chosen your container, look at your recipe. Write down all the dry ingredients in one list, and all the wet ingredients in a separate list. Ideally you should have just a few wet ingredients; eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, etc.??Using your list of dry ingredients, carefully measure and pour those ingredients into your container in layers, patting each layer smooth with your fingers. Once you're finished, cap the container, and your mix is done!??Be sure to include instructions for use that tell the recipient what they need to add to the dry ingredients (all the wet ingredients), how to prepare the mix, what to bake it in, at what temperature and how long. Decorate your container with a lovely satin ribbon, or a square of cloth screwed into the lid, and give a gift that will warm someone's heart and kitchen!??Soup Mixes?Soup mixes are a wonderful seasonal gift, and especially good as we enter the colder months. To make a soup mix, first choose your recipe. You want to choose a recipe without a lot of prep work (for example, a meatball soup like Italian Wedding Soup would not work well), and with a lot of dried ingredients. Bean soups and stews and soups with pasta work great.??Choose a container or bag, and begin pouring in the dry ingredients in layers. Be sure to pour the fine ingredients, like herbs or cornmeal, first, and the big ingredients, like beans or pasta, last.?This way, the layers will stay crisp; if you reverse the order, the fine ingredients sift down through the spaces in between the larger ingredients, and your layers get jumbled.??Again, be sure to include all the instructions the chef would need to complete the recipe, and finish your packaging with a pretty detail.??Holidays aren�t the only time of year to give the gift of baking and soup mixes. Making mixes is also a perfect way to create economical, personal wedding favors! Make a mix that is relevant to the location of the marriage, or make a mix of the groom's favorite food! Wedding guests will be surprised and pleased to be given a favor full of the flavors of the area! You can include your gift in the �welcome package� many families provide to out-of-town guests who traveled a significant distance for the wedding.The Ball (script logo) and Ball, TMs Ball Corporation, used under license. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.Combine peppers, raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a large stainless steel saucepan. Mash with a potato mashers over medium high heat. Stir often; bring to a boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1654198National Can-It-Forward Day*Note: Processing time for all recipes is listed for altitudes less than 1000 feet. At altitudes of 1000 feet or more, increase processing time 1 minute for each 1000 feet of altitude.Can it: Pour hot sauce into clean, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Cap each jar when filled."Canning together is easy, and it's fun to make memories and great food," says Mrs. Wages spokeswoman Laura Strickland. Strickland recommends your group plan ahead to divvy up the canning supplies and that everyone bring different fruits or vegetables to share so you all can take home a variety of canned goodies.Wash fresh tomatoes. Scald 3 minutes in boiling water. Dip into cold water. Cut out cores, remove skins and puree to smooth consistency in blender or food processor.

Combine puree, sugar and pasta sauce mix in a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes. Stir occasionally. Pasta sauce is ready.Medium Salsa Yields 5 pintsJarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia, Aero, Berkley, Campingaz and Coleman, Fenwick, Gulp!, K2, Marker, Marmot, Mitchell, Penn, Rawlings, Shakespeare, Stearns, Stren, Trilene, Volkl and Zoot; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam, VillaWare and White Mountain; and Branded Consumables: Ball, Bee, Bicycle, Billy Boy, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Forster, Hoyle, Kerr, Lehigh, Leslie-Locke, Lillo, Loew Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Quickie, Spontex and Tigex. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 25,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir in pectin. Continue to simmer about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Quickly skim off any foam.According to industry data*, home canning product sales have risen nearly 35 percent over the past three years as popularity for fresh preserving grows. Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball brand fresh preserving products, has also seen sales of the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving double in the last year.About Jarden CorporationDALEVILLE, Ind., May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The resurgence of home canning continues to gain momentum with many food insiders identifying canning as a top food trend for 2011. Fueled by consumers' desire to live more healthfully and eat fresh, local foods year-round, more Americans than ever are turning to home canning. Leading the trend is the iconic Ball home canning brand with its 127-year history of producing high-quality glass jars in America's heartland. The brand will celebrate home canning by hosting the first annual National Can-It-Forward Day on August 13.Can it: Pour hot salsa into clean, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Cap each jar when filled.Process immediately in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.*Process 40 minutes* in boiling water bath. Test jars for airtight seals according to manufacturer's directions. Store up to one year. If jars do not completely seal, refrigerate and consume within one week.SOURCE Jarden Corporation

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com

How to Make Candles Using Old Crayons

As featured in the story "A Candle For Christmas" from the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)

For germ-free cutting boards, slice a lemon in half and dip in salt. Use the salted lemon as a scrub for your cutting board. First rinse the board with hot water to remove surface debris. Then scrub with salted lemon. Let the salt soak on the board 5 minutes. Rinse in hot water.Another Christmas decorating idea I has was to create ice sculptures in the front yard which I made by several sizes of globes. I decorate the house inside with the help of evergreens and ribbons. Traditional glass ornaments for decorating the mantel and the table tops are also used. What I really like about evergreens is that they stay fresh for a few weeks and after the season is over I can easily burn them in the fire place. As far as the bulbs and ribbons are concerned, after the Christmas season is gone I store them in flat boxes. It is important to know that the best Christmas ideas do not necessarily mean a great deal of money or storage of items.To make solid candles, select several glass containers. Pint or half-pint canning or jelly jars work well. For the wick, measure out a few more inches of string than is needed to reach the bottom of the container. Tie the string around a pencil. Put the pencil across the top of the container to hold the wick in place. When the paraffin and crayons are melted, pour the liquid wax into the container(s). When the candle is set, snip off the wick about a half inch above the wax.Some of the kitchen products from decades past are actually very toxic. Plastic storage containers, non-stick pans, and coated cans have all been shown to leach petrochemcials into our food. Canning jars are free of plastics and BPA that is in so many canned foods and storage containers. These jars come in a variety of sizes and shapes for storing dry goods, left overs, and even for packing lunches.The candles I have made with a single piece of string only burn for an hour or so and burn quickly enough so that most of the paraffin remains intact. To use the paraffin again, melt the candle and pour the wax into other containers to make solid candles.5. Stop LeachingCast iron, stainless steel, copper, and enameled iron cookware are all safer choices than non-stick. In fact, cast iron has been shown to impart iron into foods, which can help people suffering from iron deficiency anemia.You can enlighten your Christmas by following some of my Christmas decorating ideas by using the natural evergreens and ice; you won't have any storage issues with them and they won't cost you much. Of course, you don't have to settle for the same Christmas decorations each year. You can make the ice globes in different shapes and you can buy new bulbs and ribbons in different colours which are quite cheap. Last Christmas I even used some popcorn and cranberry strands instead of the traditional ribbons. After the season was over I placed the strand in the trees outside so that the birds could enjoy. In conclusion, stylish and smart Christmas decorating ideas don't have to be expensive; you can use simple things to make your Christmas unforgettable.Egg shells, coffee grounds, and veggie scraps can easily break down in a small back-porch compost bin. Even apartment dwellers can compost in a container. If you have more space, you can build a large open-air compost with stakes and chicken wire. Add yard waste and fibrous material such as dryer lint to a larger compost. Extremely aggressive composts can digest hardy organic garbage. If your back yard compost is large enough and hot enough, you may be able to add things such as pet waste, paper towels, vacuum cleaner canister contents, and even fatty food waste.For more ways to green your kitchen, take to Going Green Today EcoQuiz!A green kitchen saves tons of money. Disposable kitchen products simply put cash in the trash and grow our pollution problems. Here are five things you can do today to start saving money and the planet.Caution: Do not heat paraffin directly over the burner. Paraffin is easily combustible. Use a double boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water. I put the coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the rings, not the flat lids). If the can is not set on top of something, the concave bottom creates a vacuum when the water begins to heat up, plus if it�s on the bottom of the pan, it's just that much closer to the burner.~ Solid Candles ~

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Author: LeAnn R. Ralph

Helpful Christmas Decorating Ideas

Personally, I find the winter holidays to be the most special time of the year. My mother always made this holiday a wonderful one as she used to decorate the house in all things Christmas. I especially liked her Christmas decorating ideas, so I tried to follow her lead to help my own family enjoy this holiday thoroughly. There is a fine line between festive and flashy and I have always tried to give my best not to cross it. Thus, I have used for my Christmas decorations natural items and lights. I am a candle light lover so I wanted to use it outdoors but I didn't know how. My older sister helped me by giving me the idea to use ice globes in my yard, just as the people in 1970s did because of the energy crisis.

The candle will be set in about 30 minutes. Let the candle stand for another hour or two until most of the ice cubes are melted. Pour off the water. Peel off the carton. Place the candle in a tray or on a plate to catch the rest of the water from the ice cubes as they finish melting. Let the candle dry for a day or two.Cloth napkins and kitchen towels are much better for your wallet and the planet. Make your own quick set by cutting jersey or other cotton material with pinking sheers. You can even use bed sheets or other fabric that needs repurposed. Cloth napkins are inexpensive and available at discount stores. Cloth dish towels and hand towels for the kitchen will save tons of paper towels. Try a microfiber cloth with your natural cleaning products for better cleaning. Microfiber is now being made from sustainable bamboo.4. Try Cloth

You can enlighten your Christmas by following some of my Christmas decorating ideas by using the natural evergreens and ice; you won't have any storage issues with them and they won't cost you much. Of course, you don't have to settle for the same Christmas decorations each year. You can make the ice globes in different shapes and you can buy new bulbs and ribbons in different colours which are quite cheap. Last Christmas I even used some popcorn and cranberry strands instead of the traditional ribbons. After the season was over I placed the strand in the trees outside so that the birds could enjoy. In conclusion, stylish and smart Christmas decorating ideas don't have to be expensive; you can use simple things to make your Christmas unforgettable.

Author: Morgan Hamilton

Top 5 Greener Kitchen Tips

By Danielle Downs

1. Green Clean2. CompostBreak the crayons into small pieces and add to the paraffin. If the crayons are added first before the wax is melted, the color makes it difficult to see if all of the paraffin is liquefied.Melt the paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares for a larger candle. Once the water begins to boil, it will take 10 or 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt.~ Scented Candles ~This is the process that gives you ice globes. You can get different sizes of globes if you use different sizes of balloons. I personally tried something else, as well - I used rings from canning jars to make base to stand the globes on. Then you have to place a candle in each ice globe and that's how you realize one of the greatest Christmas decorating ideas. As we live in a cold climate, I put many globes in the yard on our steps and line our driveway. The candles are easily lit and the globe protects them from going out.This seems like a no-brainer, but putting your recycle bin in a conspicuous location will help keep recyclables out of the trash. Check with your city or county waste management to be certain of what can get recycled. Many areas now offer curb-side programs for plastics, glossy magazines and junk mail, and even Styrofoam (#6 plastic). If your bin fills up fast, ask the city for a second one. They are usually happy to drop one off during the next week�s collection.Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip the string into the paraffin. Dipping the string will ensure that it is coated with paraffin since the ice cubes may prevent some sections from coming in contact with the liquid wax. Hold the string so that it is in the middle of the carton and fill the carton with ice cubes. Pour the hot paraffin over the ice cubes.3. RecycleTrim the top part of the carton off so that what remains is about six inches high.Make your own non-toxic cleaners with simple ingredients you already have. Baking soda is a great gentle scrub that helps remove grease and dried on particles. White vinegar helps remove streaks from chrome, stainless steel, and glass surfaces. Lemon juice will leave your kitchen smelling fresh and whiten stains. Salt is great for killing bacteria. Choose natural sponges or grow your own loofa to scour your counter tops.Cut the string so that it is six inches long. (To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string together.)Making the globe is not a difficult task - all you have to do is fill balloons with water and put them in your freezer. The balloons freeze from the outside in. It is important to regularly check that they do not freeze all the way through. After you see there is ice around the inside of the balloon you should pop it and drain the water out of the centre of the balloon. You might have to chop a hole in the top in some cases.

For more ways to green your kitchen, take to Going Green Today EcoQuiz!

Author: Scott Ankeny

The finishing touch: how food pros make their home kitchens feel like … home

My father's cleaver hangs with my other knives. He would use this cleaver for everything from butchery to brunoise. It would even make an appearance at the holiday dinner table.

TASTING TABLE, SAN FRANCISCOUse the vase for fresh flowers too if you like. The decorated soup may be used to collect pens and pencils or anything they wish to keep in a special place. Try making a vase out of other containers, like jars for instance. You may use canning jars but it is much more fun to take old pickle jars or mayonnaise jars or even other kinds made of glass or plastic and clean them out. Since the weather is hot, let the children have fun splashing about with the water, washing the jars. After they are dry, the children can use beans and seeds again or even glitter to decorate the jars. Or they may simply tie a ribbon around the neck.One simple craft idea is to take the children out and let them search for objects outdoors, like grasses and seeds. Help them make collages with cardboard paper as the backing. Use glitter or silver or gold spray to decorate their pieces and glue them on to the paper. The child may use the wild flowers and grasses and arrange them, making a bouquet for a vase. An even better idea is to make a homemade vase to arrange the flowers in.Strawberry raspberry jam

MAKES 4 JARS (8 OZ. EACH) 25 MINUTESSan Francisco Bay Area chef and cookbook author Joanne Weir gave us this tender-crisp pickle. It's good served with raw vegetables alongside dips at a party.FLYING GOAT COFFEE, HEALDSBURG, CAMAKES 3 3/4 CUPS | 20 MINUTES, PLUS 1 HOUR TO CHILLThis jam has the great flavor of raspberries without all the seeds-and it's more exciting than plain strawberry.PIZZERIA BIANCO, PHOENIXJESSICA BATTILANA, EDITOR,Spiced plum jamThe rhubarb gives the cherries a slightly savory depth.Blackberry lime jam

MAKES 4 JARS (8 OZ. EACH) 25 MINUTESCHRIS BIANCO, CHEF-OWNER,A late-'6os Chemex coffeemaker that was a gift from my father. I consider it an art object, and I'm not alone--the Chemex is in the permanent collections at the Smithsonian and MOMA.ANDREA MEYER, CHEF,Crafts in summer time keep the children from being bored and produce decorations for your home that mean something to your family.OLYMPIC PROVISIONS, PORTLANDMONTAGNA AT THE LITTLE NELL, ASPEN, COMAKES 4 JARS (8 OZ. EACH) 40 MINUTESELIAS CAIRO, SALUMIST-OWNER,For a full-textured jam with big spoonfuls of berries, mash the fruit coarsely. Lime subs for the usual lemon, adding a nice zing.To make a vase, take a soup can that has its jagged edges smoothed down, cut colored construction paper to fit the can. Let the children decorate the paper as they wish. They could write their names using glitter or letters or even beans and seeds. Or they could draw a picture with a summer theme. Let the glue dry. After it has dried, glue the decorated paper around the soup can and let it dry again.

INTERVIEWS BY LEILANI MARIE LABONG

Author: Leilane Marie Labong

Flavor burst: capture the bounty of summer in these quick jams and pickles—so easy, you can try one every weekend

JAM IT FAST

PEKO-PEKO JAPANESE CATERING, OAKLANDKEVIN WEST, CANNING GURU AND AUTHOR,INTERVIEWS BY LEILANI MARIE LABONGI have a dozen 60- to 70-year-old bamboo baskets that I've collected from flea markets and junk shops around Japan. They make it feel like an old Japanese farmhouse.Mustard and ginger pickled carrots

MAKES 6 CUPS 1 45 MINUTES, PLUS OVERNIGHT TO CHILLOur kitchen is where all the good stuff happens: dance parties, recipe successes, culinary failures, and, of course, pit bull trick training. When I die, you might as well bury me under the floorboards.Pickled jicama, ginger, and summer peppers

MAKES 4 CUPS | 25 MINUTES, PLUS 1 HOUR TO CHILLSAVINGTHESEASON.COM, LOS ANGELESThe clock that used to hang in my mother's kitchen. It doesn't even work anymore, but it always reminds me of our nightly family dinners.SYLVAN MISHIMA BRACKETT, CHEF-OWNER,There is a painting of a tangle of garlic. It's in a worn walnut frame carved with daisies. You probably wouldn't give it the time of day. But my father painted the garlic. His father grew the garlic. And the flowers were hand-carved for my grandmother Daisy.OUR NO-CANNING RECIPES USE ONLY A FRACTION OF THE USUAL SUGAR AND ADD FLAVOR WITH UNSWEETENED FRUIT JUICETHE LOVE APPLE, TAOS, NMPHILIP ANACKER, COFOUNDER,ROBERT MCCORMICK, EXECUTIVE CHEF,We riffed off classic bread-and-butter pickles, adding the unexpected tastes of lemongrass and coriander.

A great use for the sweet peppers piled up at the farmers' market right now-all of them work in this juicy, tart pickle.

Fun Summer Crafts For Kids

When school is out and the weather is hot, the extra time leaves a child with nothing to do and boredom can set in very quickly. Making summer crafts would, keep a child occupied, be fun and be a learning experience as well.

Cherry rhubarb jam

MAKES 4 JARS (8 OZ. EACH) 35 MINUTESA great use for the sweet peppers piled up at the farmers' market right now-all of them work in this juicy, tart pickle.A kitchen is also a living space: People always gather there. So why not give them a place to sit? I've got a sofa in mine.

Crafts in summer time keep the children from being bored and produce decorations for your home that mean something to your family.

Author: Beverly Kane