Our General Store…It’s Almost Canning Time!!
Monday was one of those emergency days that are really not serious, just a real pain in the neck. It just messes up all your plans and leaves you frustrated. Yep, Monday the power went out leaving me hot and frustrated. Then, when the power returned the Internet wouldn’t load. Then the air conditioner failed to work on a day when I decided to move around my food storage to make it more accessible.
Tonight since the air conditioner is still out and today was a miserable day I spent some time hanging mylar blankets in the windows that get the late afternoon, hot, sun. I have told you to store plenty and this is why. I know my home will remain much cooler tomorrow now that these are in place. It really is amazing how well these work. You can still see out and the light comes in but only a small amount of the heat enters your home. You may not want to place these on windows if your window is just a few feet away from a neighbor’s window as it will send the heat right into their home and along with it a bright light. Mylar blankets are much more valuable than the small price they are to purchase. Again, if you did not stock up a few weeks ago when we added these to our General Store do so now. To help you determine just how many to purchase re-read the article 23 Uses for a Mylar Blanket in the August 2009 issue of the Totally Ready Newsletter.
This week add canning jar lids to your General Store. In our neck of the woods we are making strawberry jam and canning cherries right now. If you don’t already know how to can now is the time to learn. There are tons of fruit that are wasted every year because people fail to pick and preserve the fruit on their trees. You can only eat so much….Get a friend and learn this skill. It will save you lots of money and provide you with food that is safe and yummy. Home canned foods also make great holiday gifts that are inexpensive and much appreciated. Last year I had a friend who gave her family 12 pints of jam and a basket of crackers for Christmas. Each jam was a different variety. I’m not sure about all of them but I know she made: jalapeno, pomegranate, blackberry, apricot, mint, plum and peach. Last year I made black current from juice I needed to rotate. It was really….good!
A few weeks ago a friend who had lost his job called for some advice about making strawberry jam. He had been given some free fruit and was making some to eat and some for Christmas gifts. You can do this too! This summer learn to can….
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Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010
Maybe this isn’t new information about canning jars, but when ever I clean out a jar, I put a new lid(upside down) and ring, on the jar. That way it’s ready when it’s time to can again. And I don’t have to buy lots of lids and rings at one time.
I do the same thing but I add water first, water storage that takes up no room!
I have been unable to find the article 23 Uses for a Mylar Blanket in the August 2009 issue of the Totally Ready Newsletter.
Can you add a link to it?
Thanks
I can usually take off the old lid carefully enough that it is in perfect shape and I then reuse that lid for canning again, and again, and again. I’ve reused lids for canning up to six times–plus I also have a healthy stash of brand new lids.
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