Weigh In - Week 4 - Canning for the First Time

 Today's weigh in was not so good - only 1.5 pounds! However, I didn't cheat, and I am not discouraged. My coach also stated that I had a total weight loss of 16 pounds so far. So I'm happy.  I have to admit though, sometimes it is sooooo hard to be disciplined.
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Kass's garden has been producing quite a lot of cucumbers, so yesterday Kass and I attempted for the first time to some do canning.  Really it is not so hard, and is actually quite fun!  I think the biggest thing is following the receipe exactly as stated and processing the food the exact amount of time stated in the receipe.  Anyway, Kass did most of the work, I just stood over her and bossed her around.  It's great to be mom!

Before starting the process please note ----* Utensils made of zinc, iron, brass, copper, or galvanized metal should not be used.  The metal will react badly with the pickles and may mess them up.  I made sure to sure plastic measuring spoons, cups, and spoons as well just to be safe.

Make sure your vegetables are fresh, and your cucumbers are not too big.  I guess about 4 to 5 inches long, and around 2inches in diameter.  Cut both ends off and cut into spears.  Some of our cucumbers were too big so we set them aside.

We went the easy way since it was our first time, and used this already prepared Kosher Dill Pickle mix.  It was very good.  In fact my husband said the pickles taste just like the Clausen Pickles that he likes.  Just follow the directions for the mix on the pack.  While you are doing all the preparations you can fill your water bath canner a little over half way and start boiling the water so that it will be ready. 

 Of course it is also very important to make sure your jars are sterilized and warmed, and your lids are gently boiled and ready to go (note do not boil them too much because it may mess up the seal on the lid).  Next, add your cucumber spears in your jar (leave about 1/2 inch space from the top of jar). Fit as many as you can in each one. After stuffing the jars with cucumber spears, fill up each jar with the prepared pickle mixturer to about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar, wipe off the rims, and place the lids and bands on each jar. Tighten the bands with your hands.  The little blue thing in the picture is a magnetic lid picker upper thingy.  This keeps you from burning your hands, and keeps the lids clean.

 Next lower the jars into the already boiling water of your canner.  Make sure the water is about 1 or 2 inches over the top of the jars.  Once the water reaches a boil again, be sure to time the exact amount of processing time - which in this case is 5 minutes.  Over cooking will make the pickles mushy.

Once processed remove jars (be sure to use the special tongs designed for lifting hot jars), and cool for 12 to 24 hours.  Once they are cooled you can loosen the bands about the jars or completely remove them to keep them from rusting.  Next, make sure that each jar lid is sealed properly (you can check this by tapping lightly on the center of each jar to make sure the lid is not popping in and out).  Then wipe each jar down to make sure they are nice and clean and have no residue remaining on them.  Now they are ready to store.

 ....and here you go--Kosher Dills!

When using the Mrs Wages Kosher Dill Pickle mix, the pickles are ready to eat after only 24 hours, and they are very good!  Another great thing about pickles is--I can eat them on my diet!!!!! 

 While canning a young lady from our church came to visit.  This is one of her cutie pie kids!  We were busy canning, and he was ready to eat so he helped himself to some Reese Peanut Butter from his mom's bag.   

He also picked me some lovely flowers!  Children are so precious!

So Proud of Kass-Sorry, Just Gotta Boast a Bit!

I'm so proud of Kass (otherwise know as Priscilla and Shaddie)! This is just one of her many contributions to our family!  She made up her mind to do an organic garden for our family this year to not only help cut down on our grocery expenses, but also to help provide safe chemical free and nutritious vegetables for us.  This morning, she had to go to work, so I gathered the produce.  The picture below (a bit fuzzy) is the produce I gathered this morning.  She is such a blessing and help to our family.  Yes, and I do beleive that she inherited her Aunt Kristi's green thumb.  My sisters are her role models, and what great role models they are.  When I look at her, I see a little bit of all my sisters!