Our summer garden is just about toast. We got a harvest moon early this month, then again last night. The first brought 29 degrees and kind of freeze burned our garden. The second brought an end to most of our sweet corn, the squash, melons, peppers, and is rushing the tomatoes to a finish. And boy oh boy have I been canning like mad. I’ve put up salsa, tomato sauce, lots of sweet corn, and very soon, more corn (the last), and lots more salsa and tomato sauce. I’ve got lots of ripe tomatoes out in the garden, but tomorrow, my sweetheart, Will, is flying in from Washington for another 2 week visit! No, I’m not excited.

Yeah. Not much! But I’m disappointed, too, because with all that canning, my house is a wreck and I really needed to clean more so he doesn’t think I live like a pig! And, of course, that didn’t happen. Yes, I did sweep, mop, and pick up. Dust? Haha ha! Oh well, he’ll get to see me in ALL my canning glory. The true picture! (And I think he’s man enough to laugh with me!)

Readers’ Questions:

Canning meat

I am wanting to can meat, primarily venison and chicken. Some recipes say to put “liquid” in with the meat and some say “no liquid”. Which have you done and which is the best? Is it easier to cook the meat before I pressure cook it, vs. pressure cooking it raw?

Tina Ross
Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Yes, I’ve done it both ways, and sometimes I still put it up raw with no liquid. But I’ve found that the meat is more tender when it’s canned with liquid. The raw meat sometimes tends to dry out and get a bit stringy. Only when I’m in a big hurry, having a lot of meat to take care of at once, do I put some of it up raw nowadays. Now I pre-cook it, at least enough to shrink it down and brown it some. More fits in the jars that way and, like I said, it’s more tender when it’s packed with liquid (broth, light gravy or tomato sauce). — Jackie

Sweet corn for chickens

I saw in the last issue about making cornmeal out of sweet corn that has dried on the stalk. I have access to a lot of sweet corn that was left in the field. Would it be worth getting for my chickens?

Richard Burns Jr.
Keyser, West Virginia

Sure it would. (But I’d fight the chickens for it!) It does make great cornmeal. — Jackie

Canning nut butters

Regarding nut butters and nuts. Can you can nut butters and nuts? All that I can find tells how to make it and keep it in the fridge, but not how or if you can can the nut butters or even nuts.

Robin Williams
Sumter, South Carolina

Yes, you can home can both nuts and nut butters. To can the nuts, lay the shelled nuts out in a single layer, on cookie sheets in a 250 degree oven and toast, stirring occasionally, until roasted nicely. Then pack hot in hot pint or half pint jars with NO liquid added. Place in a boiling water bath, with the water only up to within 2 inches of the tops of the jars and process at a simmer for 30 minutes.

To can the nut butters, first make the nut butter of your choice, then pack well into pint or half pint jars, making sure there are no air spaces. Put on lids and rings. Then process in a “normal” water bath canner for an hour, keeping the water at least an inch over the tops of the jars.

If you live at an altitude above 1,000 feet, consult your canning manual for instructions on increasing the time to suit your altitude, if necessary. — Jackie

Canning grapes for juice

I got grapes from my Valiant grapevine this year and wanted to can some juice. I found a recipe that I could can the fruit now and strain it later. My first batch I did not mash the grapes, was this a waste of my time? Will it be ok if I were to shake the jars for a period of time before using?

Kori Piatz
Wheaton, Minnesota

You’ll just have to wait and see; this probably will be okay, but not as “grapey” as if you’d mashed and strained off the juice. I’m real excited about “Valiant” grapes, as they are so vigorous in cold climates, AND they are great juice and jelly makers! — Jackie

Eating animal grains

Although the prices for feed keep going up they are much lower than grain for human consumption. Is it safe to eat animal grains?

Betsy Palmer
Saybrook, Illinois

Personally, I wouldn’t eat feed mill grains intended for animal feed, only in a survival situation. The cleanliness of some farms and feed bins isn’t what you’d like when you’re feeding the grain to people. If you shop around, you can probably find a source for farm-fresh, clean grain at a cheaper rate than health food stores. Or, if you have a little extra room, you might grow your own. — Jackie

Keeping records of garden harvest

I love reading your blog and articles in BHM. I especially love reading about your garden. It sounds wonderful and productive and I was wondering if you keep records of the number of pounds you harvest from there each year? Also I love to see the pictures from your garden and would love to see more of them, especially a full garden shot if possible! Thanks!

Denise Carr
Forsyth, Missouri

Thanks for the praise. (Of course I always LOVE it when people love my garden; what gardener doesn’t?) No, I don’t keep records of my garden harvest…only in my head. I’m a terrible paper person. This year, the garden was great. But so were the weeds. Ish! And I had it perfectly clean in July, too! Oh well. Next year. — Jackie

Pickled beets

I came across this website in hopes to find a good recipe for canning pickled beets. I haven’t been able to locate one. Would you happen to know of one?
I would really appreciate it if you did.

Alicia Curbelo-Gravlin
Yelm, Washington

Sure, Alicia, try this one:

7 lbs 2″ baby beets
4 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. while cloves
1 tsp. whole allspice

Wash beets, trim tops, leaving root and 2″ of the tops to prevent bleeding (losing color). Boil until tender. Cool in ice water. Remove roots and tops, then slice. Put vinegar, sugar, salt and spices (in a spice bag) in a large kettle and bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes, then add beets. Boil 5 minutes and remove spice bag. Pack beets in pint or half pint jars to within a 1/2″ of the top, then add liquid to cover within 1/2″ of the top. Process for 30 minutes in a boiling water bath canner. If you live at an altitude above 1,000 feet, consult your canning manual for directions on increasing your processing time, if necessary. — Jackie

Butchering chickens

I am about to butcher my chickens and hubby and I are having a discussion about butchering. Do you use those cones that some people have? I guess you put the bird in them head down then their head comes out the other end then you slit the throat or cut the head off. For years we have cut the head off then held them for about 10 seconds then put them on a rack my husband made. THey hang there until scalding to bleed out. I guess the cones are suppose to stop wings from breaking. One lady even told me that this cone method is less stress on the bird. I would think hanging upside down is stressful whether you are in a cone or not!!

Cindy Hills
Wild Rose, Wisconsin

No, I don’t use cones. We have two spikes driven into a large chopping block that is about knee high. The chicken’s head goes into the “V”, holding it so you can kind of stretch out the neck. Our friend, Jim, does the deed. I catch the chickens, but can’t whack. Of course, once they’re done, I can sure do the rest. I’m just too tender hearted, I guess. I agree with you; stress is stress. And whacking a chicken can’t be fun for it, no matter what.

We are sure enjoying the end products, though. Last night I made Spanish chicken noodle casserole. Homemade noodles, chicken broth with chopped chicken, cheddar cheese, a few onions, green peppers and a jalapeño for good luck. Pretty darned good!

I can up most of my corn, but, of course, we sure eat a bunch fresh too. My favorite way is to boil it for 3 minutes, drain it, then add butter and lemon pepper. Once you try that, you’ll never go back to “plain” corn on the cob again! — Jackie

I left my TroyBilt tiller between my squash rows, after tilling in manure I’d hauled out there from the goat barn. I figured it was a nice, dry spot, where I could begin tilling in spent plants, after harvest. But that manure suddenly made my squash go wild! After two weeks, the squash were burying my tiller, winding around the handles and covering the tines! I had to gently unwind them and wade through the vines to start it so I could back it out to safety.

And boy oh boy are there ever squash in that patch! There are dozens of big grey lumps all over under the leaves. Great! My friend, Jeri’s goats got out and ate all her squash. So not only will I have plenty for us, but for Jim and Jeri, too. I’m always happy to share my bounty with friends!

EXCEPT the deer! A few nights ago, it was supposed to get down to freezing. So I set my sprinklers again, covered the tomatoes and peppers and got up early to sprinkle, if necessary. But we had no frost; no freezing. I watered for half an hour, just to be sure, then, at 7 AM, I went out of the garden, leaving the gate open. (After all, the deer never bother the garden during the day….right?!)

Then later, went I went out to pick some tomatoes, I spotted an eaten mangle! EEEK! Deer tracks! Two had gotten in, munched on mangles, carrot tops, onions tops and a few plum tree leaves. They walked all around the garden, then went back out the open gate…with full stomachs.

The moral to this story? If you want to keep the deer out of your garden, CLOSE THE GATE!

Readers’ Questions:

Food Storage

I am kind of new at storing food. Can you tell me if I can store dry goods with the new food savers, of course also putting them in plastic containers? Also I have Vicki Tate’s cook book on using stored goods, can you suggest another book to answer more of my storage questions.

Liz Mullican
Decatur, Alabama

Yes, you can store dry foods in Food Saver bags or vacuum containers. But I just generally store them in gallon jars, popcorn tins or left in the store bags and stacked in new garbage cans. These have all worked well for me in the past. A couple of good books on food storage usage are available through Emergency Essentials. You also might like the BHM Emergency Preparedness book. It has lots of information on this and other topics you may find helpful. — Jackie

Canning cookbook

I have learned so much from you on canning and I was wondering if you ever thought of writing a canning cookbook with all your wonderful recipes and how you use what you can? I know I would be the first in line to buy it. Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Tami Wagner
Manning, Oregon

Tami, I’ll let you in on a secret; I’ve just begun a new, extensive book on growing and canning your own food, which will be published by BHM sometime next year. There has been such a demand for this book by readers, we thought it might be a good time to do it. Keep your eye out for more information down the line. — Jackie

Freezing yeast

Can we use frozen yeast? Will it do its thing as usual? How long will it keep if frozen?

Sharon McLeod
Wadena, Minnesota

Yes, you can use frozen yeast. I always have an unopened pound bag of yeast in my refrigerator’s freezer. I’ve had it remain strong after 5 years in the freezer, although recommendations are for one year frozen. I’ve also had my dry yeast on the shelf, in a jar, stay strong for over a year. If after that, it begins to weaken, I just add a little more and that works just fine. — Jackie