Friday, November 28, 2014

Canning Marathon

Wednesday morning, the guy who grocery shops for me called.  Wanted to know if I really wanted a dozen bunches of celery.  I did.  And how big a turkey did I need.  I replied I wanted the biggest one he could find.  He laughed and said OK.  See you soon.

Celery has been on sale at that grocery store at other times for 98 cents a bunch.  And those times the bunches have been skinny - about half the size of a normal bunch of celery.  Not this time.  They were huge.  I already have all the dehydrated celery I want, so I went ahead and canned up this batch, even though there was more than I bargained for.  Wound up with 8 pints and 56 half pints of chopped celery.

The turkey I got weighed in at a little over 23 pounds.  A 23 pound turkey yields 12 pints of meat and 11 quarts of turkey broth.  I need to get at least another four turkeys that size - maybe six.  I use the canned turkey more than any other canned meat, and I was completely out of it.

I've still got 10 lbs of frozen peas and 10 lbs. of frozen green beans to can.  But I think that will wait until tomorrow.  I'm slowly and reluctantly learning what my limitations are and after the last of the turkey comes out of the pressure canner, I do believe a short nap might be just the thing.  Although if this winter continues as it has been so far (yesterday morning the temperature was at six degrees below zero), naps may give way to hibernation.  I think the bears are smarter than we are.  They sleep the whole winter long.

10 comments:

  1. Good grief! no wonder you need a nap, I just made a cake and I may need one. We had celery at a local store for 2 bunches for $1 and I was impressed with that. :-D

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  2. JMD...I'd be impressed with 2 bunches for $1, too. 98 cents a bunch is about as cheap as it ever gets here. Just waiting on the last of the turkey to finish up in the canner and then it is nap time. It's a good feeling, though, every time I add to my pantry shelves. Definitely worth the time and effort.

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  3. I suspect that I would love the food at your place! lol

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  4. Gorges...I'm just a plain cook. Nothing fancy. The preserving is what interests me. That's because I remember the lean times and don't want to live through them ever again. :)

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  5. hi. piece of info picked up from home economist on pbs.
    meat to bone ratio higher if turkey is between 12 and 14 pounds. try to get a hen turkey. said to be meatier.
    deb h.

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  6. deb h...Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that. I started canning turkey rather than chicken because it seemed to me that chicken didn't give me very much meat for the price. Nice to know how to judge weight of a turkey for the most meat.

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  7. Celery is a veg I never buy or grow! Sounds like you can have my share! Good job on the canning - I need to learn!

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  8. Kev...Welcome. I don't use celery as a stand alone vegetable, but like to have it on hand for flavor in soups, stews, etc. I sort of got carried away with this last batch, so don't think I will be needing your share! :)
    Home canning is a way of life for me. My grandmothers preserved food by canning as did my parents. Even though I no longer have a garden and have to buy produce, it is still my preferred method of preserving. It isn't difficult. And if you have a garden, you will know that your family is getting all of the goodness to eat and none of the bad stuff that's added to food nowdays.

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  9. It's nice to know you're getting stocked up for the winter and having a little fun while doing so.
    David

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  10. David...Any time I can add to my pantry shelves is time well spent.

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