Canning Basics

There are two types of food, categorized as low-acid (vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood) and high-acid (fruits and tomatoes). Both can successfully be canned by pressure canning. However, pressure canning is the only method recommended safe for canning low-acid foods.

Before you begin . . .

Prior to canning, pressure canners should be thoroughly examined and tested at the county extension office or with the manufacturer to ensure their proper operation.

Assemble all ingredients and supplies needed for your canning project.
Selecting Jars

Glass canning jars are made of heat-tempered glass for durability and reuse. These are the only jars recommended for safe home canning.

Always use the jar size and exact processing time and pressure indicated in the recipe.

To help prevent jar breakage, allow jars to stand in very hot water prior to canning. A dishwasher may also be used.

Using Bands and Lids

The two-piece home canning vacuum cap (lid and band) is the recommended closure for home canning. It consists of a flat metal lid with a rubber-like seal on the underside and a threaded metal screw band that secures the lid during processing. The bands can be used repeatedly if they remain in good condition, however, new lids must be used each time.

Measuring Headspace

All recipes will indicate the amount of headspace necessary for the food being canned. Headspace is the air space between the top of the food or its liquid and the lid. Leaving too much headspace can result in under processing because it may take too long to release the air from the jar. Darkening of the food at the top of the jar is also likely, however, this is not a sign of spoilage. Leaving too little headspace will trap food between the jar and the lid and may result in an inadequate seal. As a general rule, allow ½ inch headspace for fruits and tomatoes and 1 inch for all vegetables, meat, poultry and seafood.

Removing Air Bubbles

After food has been packed in jars, remove air bubbles that are trapped between pieces of food with a clean, nonmetallic spatula. Wipe sealing surface with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue. Apply lid. Place a band over the lid and screw onto the jar just until resistance is met.

Storing Canned Food

Test the seals before storing

After 12 to 24 hours, remove bands and wipe off any food residue from bands and jars.

Store canned food in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Always date and label jars before storing.

Detecting Spillage

broken seal, gassiness when opening, mold, sliminess, cloudiness, or unpleasant odors.

If any of these signs are present, discard the food.

As a safeguard, you may boil the food before use.

(Power Point created using information from http://www.gopresto.com/recipes/canning/index.php)

Canning Beans

Fill jars with 1 1/8 cups of beans.

Fill with water leaving 1” headspace.

Put on lids and rings.

Turn canner on high until steam is coming out of vent pipe. Then let it “hiss” for (7-10 minutes)

Put weight on at 11-13 lbs of pressure (check altitude) for 90 minutes.

You'll have to turn down the heat slowly to get it down to the correct pressure.

Turn off heat and let pressure come all the way to 0.

Remove beans from canner and let sit.

Resources

YouTube-Canning Boneless Chicken Breasts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINnsFJGyKU

http://lovehugsandgiggles.blogspot.com/2008/11/canning-chicken.html(Step by step with pictures)

http://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm (Find your altitude)

http://www.freshpreserving.com/home.aspx

http://www.allamericancanner.com/index.htm

Ball Blue Book of Preserving

Daughter in My Kingdom

If you have not received your copy of this wonderful book, please let a member of the Relief Society Presidency know.  Also, check out this new part on the church website devoted to book.  It can be a great tool for you and your family.

http://lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom?lang=eng

Christmas Dinner

Please join us for our Relief Society Christmas dinner and program.  We will be serving a traditional type Christmas dinner followed by a special program to get our hearts in tune with the true Christmas spirit.  

Please note the date change.  We will be holding our dinner on Tuesday, December 6 @ 6:30 PM.

Craft and Chat

Introducing a fun new activity.  We are going to start meeting to chat and work on our own crafts.  A quilt will be up for anyone wanting to work on that.  Otherwise, bring some of your unfinished projects or just come to chat.  No food will be provided but if you want to bring a snack to share, feel free to do so.  Come for the whole time or just drop by as your schedule allows.  Our first date will be on Saturday, December 3 at 9-12.  We will be meeting in the Relief Society room.

Relief Society Lesson November 6, 2011

November 6, 2011
Lesson:  The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Chapter 44, page 257

Jesus remained on the earth forty days after His resurrection.  His work was completed, and he returned to our Heavenly Father until the time of his second coming.  Followers of Christ have looked forward to His return since that time.  He will do certain things when He returns in power and great glory.  They include:

The wicked will be cleansed from the earth.  They will be destroyed and all things that are corrupt will be burned.  The earth will be cleansed by fire.

He will judge the nations and will divide the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 25:31-46).  There will be no death.  All things will be revealed.

He will usher in the Millennium, one thousand years when Christ will reign.  The righteous will be caught up to meet Jesus at His coming (D&C 88:96).  Temples will be built, and saving ordinances for the dead will be performed.  We will have revelations knowing our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and officiate for them in the temple.  Children will be sealed to parents until the chain is perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of Priesthood from Adam.

Christ will complete the First Resurrection:  Those who have obtained the privilege of coming forth in the resurrection of the just will rise from their graves.  They will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes down from heaven (D&C 88:97-98; Matthew 27: 52-53; D&C 76:50-70).  They will inherit the celestial kingdom.  After the resurrection of those who will inherit celestial glory, another group will be resurrected: those who will receive a terrestrial glory, completing the First Resurrection.

The wicked who are living at the time of the Second Coming of the Lord will be destroyed in the flesh.  They, along with the wicked who previously died will have to wait until the last resurrection.  The remaining dead will rise to meed God.  They will either inherit the Telestial kingdom or be cast into outer darkness with Satan (D&C 76: 32-33, 81-112).

Christ will take His rightful place as King of heaven and earth.  He will establish His government on the earth with the Church as a part of that kingdom.  He will rule for 1000 years.  At his Second Coming, all will know that Jesus is the Christ (D&C 88:104, Revelation 17:14, Isaiah 9:6).

No one knows the exact time of the Savior's coming.  Therefore, we should now prepare to meed God.  We should live each day the best we can, look to the prophet for guidance and follow his counsel, and live worthy to have the Holy Ghost guide us.

Suggested reading concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ: Jesus the Christ, by James E. Talmage.

Announcements November 5, 2011

DI Drive October 26-November 9:  DI will have a donation pod located at the Stake Center.  Please support DI with your donations.  They need your help in preparation for the Holiday shopping season.

Stake choir practice every Sunday night until Stake Conference: 7PM

Stake Conference: November 12 &13.  Session on Nov. 12 will be held at the Stake Center at 7 PM.  General session on Nov 13 will be held at the Stake Center and broadcast to the Marana Building at 10 AM.

Monthly Relief Society Meeting: Tuesday, November 15th at 6:30 PM
Meet at the church at 6:30 to assemble baskets and then we will be delivering the fruit baskets.  Nursery and light refreshments will be provided.

Relief Society Lesson October 9,2011

THE GATHERING OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
Pg. 245

Jacob was a great prophet.  Due to his faithfullness, he was given the name of Israel, which means "one who prevails with God,", or, "let God prevail."  Jacob was a grandson of Abraham.  The Lord's covenant with Abraham was renewed with Isaac and with Jacob and his children.  God promised that the Israelites would be His covenant people as long as they would obey His commandments.  They would be a blessing to all the nations of the world by taking them the gospel and the priesthood.  Thus, they would keep their covenant with the Lord and He would keep His covenant with them.

The house of Israel was split into two kingdoms.  They failed to keep the commandments.  Ten of the twelve tribes lived in the Northern Kingdom and two tribes lived in the Southern Kingdom.  Both were eventually conquered and the tribes were taken captive.  The Southern Kingdom was conquered and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C.  This is the time when Lehi and his family came to the American continent.  Jerusalem was again destroyed after the time of Christ.  The covenant people were scattered throughout the world.

The Lord promised that His people would again be gathered.  As people come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, receive the ordinances of salvation and keep the covenants, they become the children of the covenant.  God has important reasons for gathering His children.  He gathers them so they can learn the teachings of the gospel and prepare themselves to meet the Savior when He comes again.  He gathers them so they will build temples, perform sacred ordinances for ancestors, strengthen one another and be unified in the gospel, and to prepare themselves to share the gospel with others.

Joseph Smith was given the authority to direct the work of gathering the house of Israel by the prophet Moses.  Each subsequent prophet has received "the spirit of gathering."  The physical gathering was initially to gather in Ohio, then Missouri, and then to the Salt Lake Valley.  Today the place of gathering is in the homeland of each saint.  The physical gathering of Israel will not be complete until the Second Coming of the Savior and on into the Millennium.  Then the Lord's promise will be fulfilled.