Last week, I found fire-roasted green chile peppers, canned in 24-ounce containers on Facebook Marketplace. My daughter-in-law, Kelly Jo picked them up for me and David brought them up here after deer hunting down near Sturgeon Lake with brother, Bill. There was a whole big box of them! Yes, they were “outdated,” but we know that’s just a sales ploy, meant to frighten people into throwing away perfectly good food because they think it’s suddenly “no good.” Last night, I opened some of those containers and ladled it into half pint jars and re-canned it. I easily ended up with 13 half-pints and every one sealed. The only ingredients are chopped, fire-roasted green chiles, lime juice and salt. Pretty darned good, as I tasted a bit that fell off my cup. I’m so excited. I gave some of the containers to Bill and his family, friends, Sherri and Dara, and still have a whole lot more to can up. What a good deal for $15! I use it in all sorts of recipes from scrambled eggs, omelets, enchiladas, burritos, meat loaf, quiches, and so much more. They are hot but not really hot. Yum!
Today, Will was out bringing in more dry firewood to cut up as it was cold but nice and sunny. Sherri and Dara were here to help package lots of seeds. Our 2026 catalog is at the printer right now and many will be sent directly out to previous customers from there. So we are expecting a lot of orders in the near-future and want to be ready. It’s exciting to see all those full bins of seeds and the full packets on top of each one, ready for mailing out.
With prices going up and up at all the stores, I think wise folks all across the country will be growing new gardens, enlarging the ones they have and planning on putting up as much of their own food as possible. All the re-calls on vegetables this past year are frightening, from Listeria to E. coli. No wonder home-grown food looks so much safer! None of mine has ever been re-called for bacterial contamination! Ever. And in my home-canned foods, there are absolutely no chemicals nor GMO ingredients to worry about. Win-win. Economy and food safety!
— Jackie
Due to having by-pass surgery in late spring my garden plans went belly up this year. I did manage to get about 6 late tomato plants in the ground in June. They didnt do so good but by our first frost I had a small crop of some hard green tomatoes. I put them in a couple of brown paper bags and forgot about them. 4 days ago I remembered them and looked in on them and wow. They were all ripe with the most beutiful red color I have ever seen. I only had enough to can up 6 half pints of Tomato Spice Jam, my wifes favorite. Not much, but putting those 6 jars in the pantry made me feel like a rich man. I can’t wait till next spring. Jackie, with your inspiration and my new lease on life I belive I’ll have my best garden ever. Thank you.
Oh, Jackie, you are so right when it comes to the outdated foods dates! So frustrating trying to tell the youngsters what the ‘best by’ dates really mean. But I think you’ll get a kick out of my amazing deal story, too!!!
This summer, instead of tending my garden, I had to spend June and July at a dear friend’s house taking care of her farm and three young grand kids while she stayed in the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with her 3yr old, hypoplastic-left-heart-affected fourth grandson! He needed a new heart and was undergoing delicate surgery. He would rally and things would be going great and then…. BAM!!! It was touch and go for a long time but finally, after a month and a half, they got to go home!!! And so did I.
Well, my husband wasn’t able to tend to it and between the drought and no attention, my garden was toes up. The plants had died. Other than the green beans, nothing else survived! No peppers, and only a few cherry tomatoes. WE ABSOLUTELY LIVE ON CANNED TOMATOES AND CANNED AND FROZEN PEPPERS!! I was so sad and wasn’t looking forward to having to buy what we use all year.
So I took a trip to our big bargain store for my coffee pods and lo and behold…. SMACK DAB in the MIDDLE OF THE STORE….. were pallets and pallets of 32oz cans of organic, fire roasted diced and crushed tomatoes!!!!!!!! For only $0.90 a can!!!! They go regularly for at least $2.80 a can!!!
Over the next few weeks, I was able to buy 180+ cans. And I’m going back this week and they might still have some. I’ve used them already in my lasagnas, spaghetti sauces, and more and the fire roasted flavor is superb!!!! So, although they’re not my canned tomatoes, they are surely a great bargain, and I know God put me directly in that path to find them!! LOL!!!
The idea of re-canning veggies into smaller sizes is SO brilliant! I know you can a lot of leftovers too. It is so inspiring! I am astonished to learn that you are almost 80!! Wowza!!
Yep, I’ve been re-canning foods for decades now. In Montana, we used to shop at a “scratch and dent” food store where I sometimes got #10 cans for $1.00 each. I re-canned up a lot of various foods, making sure, of course, that the cans were not bulging or seriously dented.
I’m surprised that I’m almost 80 too. Other than getting tired more easily, I sure don’t feel old.
The “word” I’m hearing is that the homestead craze is quickly fading. In my heart I know a lot of the world, even our nation isn’t going to get easier. I will always preserve food, and grow as much of my own as possible. Hubby and I are nearing 70 years old, next year. Thanks, Jackie, for always answering my questions and for being on your toes to warn us to prep. Regards from far north, rural, conservative California.
It’s funny, but I’m seeing the opposite. I guess the future will tell. I, too, will always grow and preserve as much as we can possibly handle. The one problem I’m seeing with homesteading is that today people are very impatient, wanting everything NOW, without realizing they must accomplish a little at a time. We started out with kerosene lanterns and candles, an outhouse and generator for once-a-week power and now, 30 some years later, we have a solar array, flushing toilet, well and 24 hour lights in the house. Here, I started my garden with 7 tomato plants, which froze on the 27th of June and now we have 5 acres of gardens. Plus, nobody wants to work hard today. Homesteading does take sweat equity.
Hi Jackie, I would like to get on your mailing list to receive your 2026 seed catalog. I ave ordered from you in the pat but not recently and have fallen of your list. I really like your hulless pumpkins and Bill Beam Tomatoes.
Just email me your address (jackieclay2007@yahoo.com) and I’ll make sure you get a catalog. They’re at the printer right now so it shouldn’t be too long now.
Hatch Green Chiles are the BEST!!! My mom always picks up a bunch for me at the Chile and Frijole festival in Pueblo every year. Try yours in some Green Chile Stew! So good! We always have ours with cornbread.
Oh yes! I used to pick up a burlap sack full at Las Vegas, NM, every year to can up and eat in every imaginable way. Roasted chiles made the whole town smell awesome! I couldn’t wait for fall.
Yes, Jackie has taught me to can meat, and I can all holiday leftovers; plus, special sales of any meat. I recently opened up a jar of canned roast beef, added some of my canned peas, corn, carrots and potatoes; and boy did we have a great supper. I also canned bell pepper strips this summer, and they turned out wonderful. They do well in our Mexican dishes. The possibilities are endless. You just have to “think”!!!
I freeze my berries and then pull them out in January and make my jams! Keeps the house warm and me busy during the dreary days. There is always something to do. Happy canning!
It’s nice to hear I’m not alone in canning bell pepper. I’ve experimented a lot. Yes, it is so fun to pour out wonderful jars of vegetables and meat, and have dinner instantly!!!!
Heck Elizabeth, I’ve canned all sorts of peppers for years, skin on and skin off, roasted. They are wonderful, especially when store-bought peppers are over $1 each!
It’s so wonderful for you to share your experiences of canning meat. For some reason, people think canning meat is SO hard or unsafe. Of course, it’s very easy and the result is not only safe but so tasty when it comes dinner time. I love the convenience of having ready-to-warm up meat in the pantry!!
I was recently gifted several stalks of celery and decided to can it, thanks to you and your canning book. I have 24 half pints and am so pleased.
My niece took me to get a bushel of canning apples and so far I have 7 quarts and one pint with more to go plus cinnamon applesauce. Every little bit will help this winter. I’m 80 now and still enjoy the canning process but I sure get tuckered out quick. 😁 You’re always an inspiration to me. Thank you for being you!!
Yep, age does creep up on us, doesn’t it? I’ll be 80 next July. I’m slower but still get it done. Aren’t those apples wonderful???
Jackie, 80! Lady ,if it wasn’t for how long we’ve all enjoyed your writings and gardening expertise, I’d say that you tacked on 20+ years as a mistaken type o !Congratulations on your youthful look. You are So right; today’s ‘homesteaders’ want it NOW. They can’t comprehend what nature requires. Too many generations have been raised to’run to the store’ Fortunately some of us were raised in‘don’t buy if not needed. Do with out till can afford’. praise The Lord for the parents who had/took the time to look forward and not for the momentGod Bless You and your family; God Bless friends who are following in your seed business. So enjoy your writings! Looking forward to your last catalog. Stay warm!
So much appreciate this conversation in common sense. We can be more self sufficient but yes, it does take effort. Knowing the food you’re eating is Safe, if the best part of Peace of Mind. So much enjoyed my End of the Garden Soup Stater canning day last week. 17 pints of Peace of Mind. Enjoy hearing how others are doing this journey and reading my Self Reliance magazine. Will be purchasing a few more boxes of lids at this end of the season before they disappear from the shelves as I just don’t count on them being available when I’m ready next year. Being prepared is so much more comforting than having the fear factor that’s so prevalent. Looking forward to seeing that Seed catalog.
The seed catalog is at the printer, so it shouldn’t be too long now. Just a tip: I got lids on Amazon, in bulk and not a single one has failed yet. And, yes, I’ve been canning up a storm. My Ball and Kerr lids were making me swear as they would frequently not seal or come unsealed after only a day or two, on the counter.
I love that Canning Peace of Mind!! That’s exactly what it is. We don’t prepare out of fear of anything. It’s just wise to be able to take care of yourself as much as possible and thank God every day for the ability to do so.
Outdated food requires analysis – to start, is it real food or a concoction of “ingredients” most don’t recognize? Does it pass the smell test (which applies to any product you buy). Better half has been scoring some screaming deals on marked down meats – four large country pork spare ribs, 1 1/4 80/20 ground beef, 8 oz Angus NY strip streak and an Angus T-bone steak for $22. Store is in the town where we used to live – majority of patrons don’t pay attention to costs (but will do so again soon – we’ve seen it happen when the economy takes a downturn). And for those watching every penny, all but the ground beef would not get a glance. For those forced to shop on a certain day every week (read: Friday/Saturday), markdowns are few and far between. We have the luxury (due to frugal living) for better half to not have to shop on a given day at a given time.
So nice you have family to “transport” – so many these days do not. Families are too scattered, mostly due to chasing employment. My dad scored an sale ham which he repackaged into 11 meals. Sibling and I are blessed that he is so self-sufficient for a man now getting closer to 90 than 80. Sibling and I live close by as does one of his grandchildren (who visits every week).
Might have to add a bit more straw to the garlic – climate change is making it a bit of a challenge.
Yes, I realize that outdated food does require some common sense investigation, as does any canned food I open in the pantry. I look at it. Does it look normal? I open it. Is it well sealed? I smell it. Does it smell normal? As for the ingredients? My green chiles had three ingredients, chiles, lime juice and salt. No preservatives or weird ingredients.
We’re pretty frugal here. We raise our own beef and a lot of chicken. I very seldom buy any vegetables; we grow what we need. I shop infrequently but when I do, I look for super-sales while I pick up the few items I want (not NEED). Shopping for hams right after Christmas and Easter usually brings in good buys, as does shopping for turkeys and cranberry sauce/whole cranberries, right after Thanksgiving. This spring, we’ll be planting some old-time spring wheat, with the seed wheat NOT sprayed with glyphosate. We raise our own corn for cornmeal, and I’ll once again be starting up some sourdough. The economy is NOT looking good!
Last winter, after the holidays, I saw turkey’s at like 28 cents a pound. No time to process or freezer space. Recently, I found packages of chicken beast for like 28 cents……. for the whole package. Bought all of them and canned them!
No it is not no matter what the PTB say. I’m very, very leery of outdated tomato products in a can. I need to remind my friend and her siblings to review/rotate their pantry more often. And to *not* buy foods that don’t normally eat. COVID-19 induced some panic buying IMHO. Outdated corn bread mix is edible but it won’t rise as expected.
Spring wheat means you’ll have some straw too! White or yellow corn for cornmeal – my mammaw always had white cornmeal. Measured by eye into the same mixing bowl, add water, stir, and into her greased cast iron skillet. Hard to believe she’s been gone over 30 years now.