Having recently read an article on Home Canning in the Mother Earth News, I was inspired to write about my own canning experiences. And, those I hope to create in the future!
Canning was very much a part of my childhood. Dad, especially came from an era/lifestyle where it was essential to put up goods from not only the garden but from the local waters as well.
Yes, that's right, they canned fish! Although I have no idea how they did it. But I must assume a pressure cooker was involved and then they packed the fish in vegetable oil. So, it would be quite similar to sardines or mackeral.
As for my childhood memories...
There were jams and marmalades, mostly strawberry and either an orange or a pineapple zuchinni marmalade.
Pickles!
Dills, bread & butter and I believe icicle pickles were made. Mustard beans, hot dog relish and chilli sauce!
Fruits!
We canned a ton of pears too. Lots and lots of Bartlett pears. We also sold pears by the basket full and on a really good year, by the bushel. This, all from one tree, often with supports beneathe its branches to support the weight of the fruit. Needless to say, I was saddened by the loss of this amazing tree in May 1985, when a small tornado went through. A relative of the one that did major damage in Barrie, ON.
We often would stock up on fresh peaches as well, nothing quite like canned peaches in mid-January! Yum!
And of course, there was the tomatoes, we always canned tomatoes. Not stewed or sauces, just plain ol' tomatoes, with maybe a little salt. Dad would often be up until the wee hours of the morning, ladling these red beauties into sterilized yars. You'd go to bed smelling them and wake up smelling tomatoes
If it wasn't canned then it was frozen! Peas, beans, corn, berries, rhubarb, currents, and probably some I've forgotten along the years.
I long for the day when I am able to can and preserve again. I don't have proper storage, space or the equipment to do much at this point. But, I believe we all have to be more resourceful and re-learn these ways. Besides, it tastes so good on a cold winters night!
2 comments:
Awesome memories. Why don't tree produce fruit the way that they used to? I have very similar memories-although not with canning meats. I remember crock after crock of pickles, and row after row of beets, etc on the shelves in the root cellar. I think it is so important to pass these skills on to the kids.
Great stuff! And very on-season! Reading that made me hungry.
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