Q and A: How much is enough and corn relish

How much is enough?

I have been canning steadily and now have 45 jars of peach jam, 2 dozen canned peach slices, and 48 jars of salsa, not to speak of all the other food I canned last year and this year. How many jars of any one item do you usually call “enough”? We’ve given away lots of fresh and canned foods to friends, family and neighbors but still the cupboards are full. Mind you, we are not complaining just wondering if we are going overboard cause there is always next year’s harvest too.

Draza Knezevich
Miramonte, California

I never say “enough” until my pantry shelves are absolutely bulging. Why? Because next year there may be no harvest! Hail, drought, a wind storm, or late frost can turn your bounty “next” year into zero. It’s happened to us many times. In fact this spring we got a very late freeze and it killed all the tiny fruit on our trees as well as all wild fruit in our area. When you consider that if you can 52 jars of, say, peaches, that will give you one jar each week for a year. Very few folks stop and consider this and may run out before next year’s crop is in — if there is a crop. We can up all we can for you never know what the future holds. For instance, friends of ours planned well. She had a hip replacement and her husband was going to do her chores and help out. Unfortunately, he broke his leg! So the two of them were unable to do much at all. If it had been harvest time, there would have been no canning for them. It sure pays to plan, plan, plan and can, can, can! — Jackie

Corn relish

First off …thanks for sharing all your know how. Is it possible to use previously frozen corn for your corn relish recipe? Should I thaw then cook or just start the cooking process?

Deb Clark
Pine River, Wisconsin

I’d thaw the corn first, then start as if it was fresh corn. I’m very happy to share with others any time! — Jackie