Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
    • Flexitarianism
      • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

More Adventures in Canning

Published on September 12, 2011 By Emily. Updated on September 12, 2011

I had done so little canning this season that I was starting to feel kind of guilty about it.  My mother-in-law bought me a canning pot for Christmas, I’d made a list of my intended creations and I had an entire season to preserve things (as opposed to starting in August, as I did last year).  And yet, until yesterday, I had only canned 17 jars of pickles.  (The pickles turned out really wonderfully, by the way)

It’s halfway into September and increasingly apparent that the season is coming to an end.  So, this weekend I decided to make up for some lost time.   The plan: Bruschetta in a Jar and Pear Vanilla Jam.

Even though I’ve done it several times now, I still can’t seem to make a canning experience go perfectly.

IMG_5579

Issue 1: I ended up with way less liquid and way more tomatoes than I needed for my Bruschetta in a Jar, even after making Julie’s suggested adjustments.  Upon viewing the final product, we’re pretty sure that unbalance was due to my not putting enough tomatoes in each jar.  As you can see in the photo, there’s a decent amount of tomato-free space in most of the jars.  It’s not the first time I’ve had this problem, but you’re supposed to “loosely pack”, not stuff, the produce into the jars.  Hopefully my technique will improve with time.

IMG_5584

Issue 2:  Somehow in the transferring of the Pear Vanilla Jam to my Evernote account, the “7 half pints” in the instructions turned into “3 half pints”.  I know, it doesn’t make any sense.  I often prepare extra jars, so I ended up with 4 jars to fill, but I still had a lot of jam leftover.  I’m not really upset about it though, the jam is delicious and I’m glad I’ve got some in the fridge I can eat without unsealing any jars.

The good news is this: no jars broke or leaked, all the jars sealed and the food looks great.  Brian did a fabulous job removing the insides from the vanilla beans, which he’d never done before.  Apparently Alton Brown taught him how.  The jam was also my first pectin experience and from the looks of things, it worked great.  Neither of these recipes was particularly complicated and, if they taste as good as they look, I’ll be making them again next summer.

Related Posts

Mixed Results
Next Stop, Jam
Making Up For Lost Time
Berkshire Barter Preserve Swap at the Downtown Pit...
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: recipe review Tagged With: canning

« Highlights: Ten Years Ago
Sometimes I Surprise Myself »

Comments

  1. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy says

    September 14, 2011 at 12:55 am

    Not gonna lie, canning kind of scares me. Any attempt at it is impressive to me!

    • Emily says

      September 14, 2011 at 4:05 pm

      Know what kind of scares me? The thought of running 50 miles (or 5, for that matter!)

      I do worry a little about canning explosions and stuff not working, but except for one batch of applesauce last year that didn’t work and one jar that broke in the canner when we did pickles, it’s been overwhelmingly successful. You should try it!

Trackbacks

  1. » Canning Plans 2012 » Relishments says:
    May 2, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    […] Last year’s list had 13 items on it (was I crazy?!) and I canned 3 of them – pear vanilla jam, cucumber pickles and applesauce (which didn’t seal properly, for the second year in a […]

Welcome!

photo of EmilyWelcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in cooking and eating in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

relishments

Emily
Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we had another fantastic year at @freshgrassfestival. I can never get over how, in addition to all the incredible music, the event features a great venue (@massmoca), delicious food from mostly local vendors, a great local beer tent and bar stocked with @berkshiremtdist and a kid-friendly atmosphere including a @kidspacemm art tent.
Shout-out to some of my favorite acts of the day @ajleebluesummit, @cj_field with @gregcaproni and @theblacklegacyproject.

Looking forward to next year!
.
.
.
#WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #FreshGrass #FreshGrassFestival #bluegrass #MassMoCA
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
.
.
.
https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
.
.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
.
.
.
#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
.
Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
.
.
.
#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
.
.
.
#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in