I've been inspired by a series of homesteaders who have been posting Youtube videos about what they love to can, and what they will never can again. I think it would be a good record for myself for future years!
Five Things I Plan to Always Can:
Stock and Bone Broth. Nothing you can purchase is as flavorful as homemade and fresh. Plus, you can can in pint-size and it gives greater flexibility for how much you're going to make (a plus for a smaller household). I typically use rotisserie chicken bones, and buy beef bones at the butcher.
Tomatoes (Crushed & Tomato Sauce). One of my first things to can (after jam), this is a hit every year. I buy bushels of roma and paste tomatoes every year at the farmers' markets and put them up for my house and my friend's.
Green Beans. These are such a favorite, I will eat them cold out of a jar! I used to source them at the farmer's market, but last year, I was able to pick plenty in our first year with a CSA that included 5 different "you pick" events. The green beans one was a personal favorite!
Roast Pork in Spicy Broth. This is a staple for us, because Posole Rosa is a favorite family dish. I sweat an onion and a little garlic, add in the jar, a rinsed can of hominy, and a can of enchilada sauce, and some salt, pepper and oregano. Let it simmer 10-15 minutes, and it tastes like hours-long, slow roasted posole, made from scratch. Thanks to Jeni Gough (Jeni's Scratch Made Kitchen) for the recipes.
Hearty Chicken Stew. Though I've only made it once, it's a favorite already! Can be thickened and turned into a pot pie (or served as a stew with biscuits), or turned into a creamy soup.
Honorable Mention: Jams. I love Cherry, Jalapeño, Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry, Holiday/Christmas Jam and the Autumn Pear Jam, to start. I just need to make less for us, as we don't eat much sugar like that. But these make amazing gifts!
Five Things I Never Plan to Can Again:
Ground Beef (the only one I still have a jar of to photograph!).
Tomato Paste (way too much work, not worth the time and cost).
Cinnamon Apple Sauce.
Dilly Green Beans.
Aztec Turkey/Chicken Soup.
Honorable Mention: Roasted Garlic Jelly (to be fair, I think I made it wrong, not enough sugar and it never set so I threw it out. Maybe some day I'll give it another try).
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