Canning casseroles

Can I pressure can a casserole into pint jars for individual servings? I’ve searched BHM archives, as well as the Internet, and there is precious little regarding casseroles. Any advice or sources would be greatly appreciated. Also interested in pressure canning desserts… any advice?

Michelle Howard
Mission Viejo, California

Unfortunately, most casseroles contain noodles, macaroni, or rice and when you can recipes with these as ain ingredients, they clump up and swell when pressure canned (which is necessary). When canned this way, they become one of those dense foods which are not recommended for canning due to the fact that sufficient heat may not reach the center of the jar long enough to kill possible bacteria. The casserole would also become pasty and not pretty. So we skip canning them; freezing is a better option.

Same with most desserts; sorry.

I can up the main ingredients of both and then quickly combine them and bake. It doesn’t take all that long and makes a much nicer food on the table. — Jackie

Hopi Pale Grey seeds

I got some of the Hopi Pale Grey Squash seeds and I have taken only 3 of them to try to get them to sprout, using the wet paper towel method — all they are doing is molding. What in the world am I doing wrong? Perhaps I should have just straight away planted them in dirt — I’m hoarding the others until I get it right.

By the way, tell Will — great going on the rock backing behind the stove/heater. Looks wonderful.

Wanda
Laurel, Maryland

When seeds mold in the wet paper towels, you have the towel too wet. You just want it damp, not wet. I’d just wait until it’s time and plant the seeds outside. I’ve done germination tests on my seeds before I sent them out and they all germinated well. All the best of luck with your squash!

Will says “thanks.” It’s been a job but it should be done soon. — Jackie

Treated lumber for raised beds

My mother made a raised flower bed many years ago, probably 25-35 years ago. She used treated lumber to line the bed. This lumber is very old and falling apart and the garden bed needs some nitrogen. In your opinion would it be safe to plant tomatoes and peppers in that spot? Have enough years gone by to get rid of any bad chemicals in the soil? We plan on using cedar posts where the lumber was.

Becky
Ankeny, Iowa

I’ve studied this problem a lot over the years. And most scientific studies show that the arsenic that was found in treated lumber does leach into the soil…mostly in the first year following installation. But it doesn’t move far from the lumber. And, over the years, the natural leaching due to summer rains and snow melt further lessens the amounts found in the soil. Even when freshly installed, only root crops have been found to take up the arsenic present in the beds. Because of the POSSIBLE toxicity, manufacturers have stopped using arsenic in treated lumber. (It was initially used as an insecticide.) The other chemicals, copper and chromium, are not toxic when ingested in small amounts.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry a bit, although I would remove all of the rotted lumber and the soil right near the edge of the beds that was in contact with the treated lumber. Non-root crops, such as tomatoes and peppers, will do fine and should pose no health risk. — Jackie