This is my first attempt at home canning, other than freezer jam. I have to say, it's not that bad! Now I'm looking forward to what else I can do with the "hot-water bath" technique. (I don't have a pressure canner - yet.) I want to try tomato sauce, lemon curd, peaches, and so on.
I purchased a box of pears from Bountiful Baskets for a mere $10! They were green enough to let me get ready and set up. Thanks to some wonderful advice from my mom (the expert!), I found out I could keep them green in the refrigerator for quite some time and take them out a day or two before I was ready to prepare them or put them in the sun to speed up the ripening. She is also the "foreman" who helped me get in the groove of my routine. Once I got started, I found myself in a zone and just did 'em!
And the result...
32 pints of Pear-fection!
There are so many great websites for recipes, advice and step-by-step instructions. Here are just a few I have bookmarked...
National Center for Home Food Preservation
Ball Products
Pick Your Own
Most of all enjoy the process!
