Canning with Children: Part 1

Sooooo I did some canning today.  First canning of the year!  I am fairly new to canning, last fall was the first time I tried it out.  Today I decided to make some Strawberry Jam.  So I went to a local farm and purchased about 10 pounds of strawberries.  I wasn't really sure how much to get, and that seemed like a good amount? 

Cheetah boy was excited to help.  So... in case you were not sure, canning with children is a little difficult.  Ok, really difficult.  Little Miss and Doggie were playing at my feet, I don't even know how many times I almost stepped and/or tripped over them.  And Cheetah Boy was busily talking to himself about making his own "recipe".  I didn't really pay attention too much as I was busily cutting and washing strawberries.  Then I look over and see this....

 

He had made some sort of.... soup?  I am not sure what all be put in it.  I could see some milk, oatmeal, almonds, and strawberries.  I think he might have added some sugar too.  And who knows what else.  He was about to dump it out, but I said "Oh no, you made it you have to try it."  Is that mean??  He claimed it was yummy, but he only took one bite and dumped it out. 

 

Anyway, back to canning.  I am worried this pot may not be large enough... I have to add like a million cups of sugar.  But it dissolves and doesn't really add volume right? 

 

So I added in the pectin and lemon juice as my recipe called for and was waiting for it to boil.  I walked over to fetch the sugar (it said to have it pre-measured and ready) and guess what?  I did not have enough sugar.  Crap.  So I called my mother to ask if it would be ruined if I left it and ran to the store to get sugar.  Again, I already added the pectin and lemon juice... She said she didn't think so, so I took it off the heat, packed up the kids and rushed to the store.  In my haste, I didn't even take off my apron. 

 

When I returned home, the jam was still warm so I turned the heat back on and waited for it to boil.  Oh and guess what?  The pot wasn't big enough so I needed to put it all in a larger one.  (sigh). 

 

 

So as I was waiting for it to return to a boil after adding the sugar I think to myself, "that was a lot of pectin I added, I hope it was right..." Sooo, I double checked my recipe; I will show you what I saw.

 

 So the recipe called for one "package" of pectin... however I had bought this container... on the container is said one "old box" is equal to six tablespoons.  So I figured a package and a box must be the same right??  So that is how much I added.  However then I was thinking about it, and see in the recipe it says one package (1.75 oz)?  Well, Siri told me that one tablespoon has .5 oz... which would be like 3.5 tablespoons to equal a package not 6....?  (If my math is correct.)  So I don't know.  I MAY have added too much pectin, but I don't really know for sure...  I guess we will see how it turns out. 

Also, I must share a picture of my stove with you.  See?  There are only two burners and they are the flat kind, which if you are a canner you would know that that kind sucks because it takes FOREVER for your water to boil because of how they work.  And I can't set my canner on a large burner to heat up while I'm cooking because I only have two burners!  So it is squashed on the smaller back burner, and barley even heats up by the time the jam is ready.  See that grill thing on the other side?  Grumpy says "it works great just use that".  I have never been able to heat stuff up on it.  (I tried again today while canning!  Didn't work.) Grumpy for some unknown reason to me says this stove is "awesome".  He NEVER uses it.  I f'ing HATE it.  HATE it.  I really need a new stove.  I love cooking and cooking with two burners... well HATE it.   

Ok, done with my rant.  It is time to return to canning.  I always freak out putting the jars in and out of the canner!! I am always scared they will blow up. 

And, just so you know, it took 1.5 HOURS for the water to reach boiling.  And then I only have to boil it 10 minutes.  So followers, you really should spread the word of my blog, so I am able to make some money off blogging to buy a new stove.  Because Grumpy never will because he loves this stove.  (Again he NEVER uses it.)

Here is my Jam!!  Hope it turned out!  I will let you know when I try some.  I tried some of it before I canned it and it was yummy, but we will see if it thickens... or thickens too much? 

You see how I have been like writing NEXT to the pictures and like between them, instead of just posting a picture then writing above or below it? 

 I might have just figured out I could do that.  Pretty fancy huh?  Makes me look like a real professional blogger!!!!

 I realized I didn't get any pictures of Little Miss or Doggie.  Fail. 

 

All right well, that is my first canning adventure of the year.  I am sure there will be many more to follow!  If you plan on doing any canning, be sure to read the recipe FULLY before you start, and make sure you have all the ingredients.  Might help.  And hopefully you have a better stove then me.

 

Kisses~

 

Have you canned any Jam yet this year??

 

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