Ball Home Canning Basics Kit, Consists Of A 21 Quart Waterbath Canner, Canning Jar Rack, 6 Pint Jars, 6 Collection Elite Lids, 1 Ball Blue Canning Instruction Book, 1 Jar Lifter, 1 Lid Wand, 1 Canning Funnel, 1 Bubble Freer, Everything Needed To Begin Canning.

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Six generations of Americans have been using Granite Ware canners to preserve fruits and vegetables. The dark porcelain surface and steel core absorbs energy and evenly distributes heat to the contents. The construction is porcelain fired at 1500 degrees to the carbon steel core. The result is a canner that heats rapidly. The canner is perfect for preserving tomatoes or fruit, processing 8 quart jars at a time. Easy to clean. Comes with rack for easy lifting jars from canner. Gra (more…)

Includes a Digital Timer, Canning Funnel, Combination Bubble Remover/Lid Lifter, Jar Lifter, Jar Wrench and Kitchen Tongs. Easy to use digital timer is ideal for measuring processing times. Counts down from any time up to 99 minutes and 59 seconds. Counts up for use as a stop watch. Large easy to read lcd numerals. Convenient clip, easel stand and magnet on back. Battery included.

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Amazon.com Review
All kitchens need a funnel, and this one transfers both liquids and solids between containers. Its wide mouth measures 2-1/4 inches in diameter, which is big enough for sugar, flour, and grains like rice to flow through. The stainless-steel funnel is 5 inches in diameter, stands 3-3/4 inches high, goes through the dishwasher, and should prove to be a big help for a lifetime. Hang it by its handle. –Fred Brack

If you’re a fan of canning, or just enjoy clean c (more…)

Food preserving has become a hobby and a leisure time activity. Gardeners enjoy freezing and canning the fruits of their summer labors to share with friends and family. The 33 quart size makes quick work of tomatoes or fruit, processing nine quart jars at a time. The high efficiency, quick boiling performance combined with its modest cost make canning affordable.

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Six generations of Americans have been using Granite Ware canners to preserve fruits and vegetables. The dark porcelain surface and steel core absorbs energy and evenly distributes heat to the contents. The construction is porcelain fired at 1500 degrees to the carbon steel core. The result is a canner that heats rapidly. This mini canner is perfect for preserving jams, jellies and salsa. Easy to clean. Comes with rack for easy lifting jars from canner. Granite Ware’s high effici (more…)

The Fox Run Stainless Steel funnel is perfect for the home canner. The wide mouth makes it easier to fit your fresh fruits and vegetables into the jar.

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Your Raw Food Life

58 recipes with broad consumer appeal.?Canning Primer? chapter and special tip boxes throughout.

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Norpro’s canning rack holds up to 7-quart or 7-pint jars. Keeps jars from touching each other or the canner.

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Made of stainless steel, this rack wont rust like regular steel wire racks. The superior construction and design of this rack features extra steel rings on a flat bottom with no dividers to accommodate non-standard jars. This basket easily holds 14 jelly jars, 14 half-pint, 9 pint or 7 quart jars at one time. And with the extra rings on the bottom of the rack, small jelly jars wont fall through! Rack is 12-1/4 in diameter and 3-3/4 deep (not including handles). Proudly made in the (more…)

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Ball/Kerr 8-Pack Wide-Mouth Plastic Storage Caps.

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The Back to Basics Steam Canner helps save you time and energy during canning season. Uses less water than conventional water bath canners thus reducing preheating time significantly. Simple and easy to use for both the novice and seasoned canner.

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Four piece set includes everything you’ll need to make home canning simple and enjoyable. Contains: Bubble FREER Spatula. Lid Wand. Jar Lifter. Canning Funnel.

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The Ball Blue Book Your complete guide to home canning and preserving. The Ball Blue Book is the most comprehensive how-to book on food preservation. This contemporary edition features: Gourmet recipes Special diet recipes Home canning classics Illustrated step-by-step instructions Soft cover, 120 pages, 8 3/8″ * 10 7/8 The first complete update to the classic “Blue Book” since 1972!

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Cushion coated, improves grip, reduces breakage. Specially designed to lift jars from top or side.

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Glass jars are no doubt the very best way to proceed in home canning whether it be pressure canning or hot water water boiling canning. I would never use metal containers because of the one-time use and most importantly the requirement and expense of sealing equipment in using metal cans.

THe Mason jar with its regular and wide mouths with the open threaded neck for the ring and lids that Seal are definitely the best for home canning. Your Mason jar requires only lids each time of use in home canning.You must wash the jars before every use in hot water. The use of a mild detergent is necessary with a complete rinse after such a cleaning. This will not sterilize the jars but it does clean the jars for prolonged water boiling or pressure canning.

However if your are thinking about preparing jams,jellies or pickled items,then it requires sterilization of your jars in the home canning procedure. This is a simple procedure and easily accomplished by placing the empty jars into a boiling water canner. You fill both the jars and canner with hot,but not boiling water,to one inch above the jar mouth. This should be boiled for ten minutes at altitudes of less then 1000 feet and add an additional minute for every 1000 foot change in altitude. I will provide a reference at the end where you can locate a chart on this complete procedure.

The jar requires a good lid and sealing gasket. In the processing of foods the lid gasket seals the jar sealing surface but leaves enough space to allow air to escape from the jar allowing the gasket to form a airtight seal on your home canning jar. I would purchase only the number of lids that you will need in your home canning endeavors for one season. In this way you can be assured that you have fresh lids and gaskets.

Now you have your jars filled and in order to release the air bubbles using a flat plastic spatula,no metal please,insert between the food and the edge of the jar. Moving the jar slowly in a circle,push the spatula up and down to encourage the release and escape of air bubbles.You should clean the rim of the jar removing any particles that would prevent an air tight seal.

You are now ready for action! Proceed to place the lid gasket on to the cleaned rim of your jar and fit the flat metal lid into the metal screw ring and turn it slowly down on to the gasket being careful not to over tighten the lid in this procedure. It is time to process your filled jars and when this is done carefully remove home canning jars with a jar grip remover.

It will not be necessary to re-tightened the lids. The cooling of the jars results in the contents of the jar to contract which in turn pulls the self sealing lid firmly to the mouth of the jar resulting in a high vacuum being formed. The jars should be cooled for twelve to twenty four hours at room temperature in an upright position.

Then it is time to remove the screw rings from the jars and begin testing each lid for the proper seal. This is easily done by pressing the center of the lid to see if it is concave. Then lift the jar by its lid to see if it will come off and if you cannot accomplish and the center does not want to flex up or down you have a good seal and your home canning is concluded.

There is more detailed information on altitude charts and much much more at http://www.gardenersgardening.com/boilingwaterbathcanning.html

One of the great things about pickles is that anyone, and I DO mean anyone, can make their own right in their own home. There is no special skill and just a bit of pickling knowledge needed. You will also need just a few simple to get, cheap items that you can find at most of your local shopping outlets. Pickling is not only fun, but it will save you money, and impress your friends and neighbors. There really is no good reason that you shouldn?t learn to make pickles at home. So let?s take a look at some of the items that you will need to get started.

First off, you will need some pickling jars, some lids, and some rings. These can be found in a number of places, including various online stores. You will also need a water bath canner; this is basically just a large pot which you will need to seal your pickling jars. I also highly recommend buying yourself some tongs; you would not want to risk being burned. This is really all of the equipment that you need to get started. Now you will just need to decide what it is you want to pickle. Wait, pickles are just made from cucumbers right? Right, but you can pickle a whole lot of other things, including fruits, other veggies, and sometimes even meats; you do not just have to make cucumber pickles. However, there are also many tasty variations of your classic dill cucumber pickles, my personal favorites being spicy garlic pickles. There are many other items that can make your pickling go much smoother, but they are not at all necessary. They may just be able to make your life a little bit easier.

So now you have all of the items that you need to pickle, what?s next? Well for your first batch, it will be best to pickle cucumbers, they are considered the easiest items to pickle, and quite frankly they are the hardest to mess up. Your main ingredients will consist of vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seed, and the rest is up to you, and your recipe. You are free to add items such as sliced onions, garlic cloves, bunches of dill, etc. Whatever flavor you want your pickles to have, you can give with just the right ingredients.

Once you have completed your pickles and sealed them in your pickling jars, all that is left to do is wait. The time for cucumbers to pickle is usually from 4 to 6 weeks, but it does not hurt to wait a little longer rather than shorter, just to be safe. After you have waited for the cucumbers to pickle, open up a jar, and enjoy your creation! But do not stop there; share your pickles with your friends, family, or even the people you work with. You will be amazed at how people react to homemade pickles. It is as if you performed some act of magic. But they don?t have to know how easy it was, so enjoy the compliments and especially enjoy the pickles.

Once you have pickled cucumbers once or twice, you may want to try pickling something else, such as asparagus, or watermelon rind. Yes, you can pickle watermelon rind, and yes they are very tasty. The sky becomes the limit with what you can pickle, and how you can pickle it. Spicy carrot pickles, crunchy cucumber pickles, garlicky pickled eggs, the choice is yours. I hope you try out pickling for yourself, and see just how fun and tasty it can be. If you are not sure where to start, you may want to check out my Ultimate Guide to Pickling for easy 1-2-3 instructions and over 30 recipes for you to try.

Greenhouses are becoming more and more popular to those people with “green thumb.” Even home gardeners are considering having one for their garden for the benefits that it gives. Since full-sized, regular greenhouses can really be expensive and costly to maintain, it may be impractical for these small home gardeners to build one. But do not fret! It is because there are new portable and mini greenhouses now available for one to purchase and conveniently place in their gardens. These portable greenhouses are ideal for those who want to start their growing season early in the spring and extend it during the fall. These are also best for overwintering crops and are inexpensive too. Because these greenhouses are portable, they are light in weight and compact for easy setup, taking down and transporting. Most of these portable greenhouse kits can be set up in 30 minutes or even less. And because they are compact, they can easily be stored in any convenient place in the garage or closet when it is not yet time to use them. What portable greenhouses do? Portable greenhouses, just like the traditional ones, trap heat coming from the sun during the day through its covering and keep the heat radiated by the soil during the night to keep the surroundings warm enough for the plants. When a portable greenhouse is closed, it also traps in moisture which helps reduce the frequency of watering the plants inside. A portable greenhouse is ideal for early planting of seeds, protecting the tender plants from the cold climate, starting perennial seeds in summer, fast rooting because of the need to transplant, and growing different kinds of plants that are not commonly grown in the area. This can also be used to overwinter plants especially when heated. Portable greenhouses becoming popular Gardeners are being continuously interested in these portable greenhouses and increase in sales of these products is evident. For one, these portables take no time to set up to get them going right away. Taking them down when it is not time to use them is also hassle-free. A greenhouse is not really needed to be up all year round especially for small-time plant growers. Thus, mini and portable greenhouses are ideal for their needs. For first timers, portable greenhouse is also recommended since this will give them the feel of having a real greenhouse before they consider building a real, full-sized one. And these portables are also inexpensive and less costly to maintain. This allows for them to jump-start their gardening career without having to spend a lot of money to buy all those greenhouse supplies that are required for the big ones. Also, installation is significantly quicker and easier than permanent ones so no additional or advanced tools are required. These portable greenhouses come in different shapes and sizes. It can be as little as a small tent that fits only 2 plant shelves. There are some that look like portable closets that are around 6 feet tall. And there are also bigger ones as tall as 7 to 8 feet and are designed like a dome. These big ones can fit up to 3 to 4 bigger shelves inside. Gardening Tips Weather can really be unpredictable. So when a sudden cold snap occurs, burlap sacks filled with leaves can be thrown over the sash on the frame or covering during the night to prevent too much cold to get inside. Bales of straw or hay may also be stacked against the frame. For extreme summer sunlight protection, some sort of shading can be used to prevent plant damage. Examples of covering that can be used as a shade are knitted shade covers, old bamboo blinds, and lath. Plants inside the greenhouse should also be watered as early in the day as possible. This is to allow for quick drying of the soil before it gets dark. Improperly managed drainage and keeping the soil wet can pose problems later on and may not be a good gardening experience for beginners. Whether you are a novice or is already an experienced gardener, having a portable greenhouse may be beneficial to your gardening needs. Being able to transport your greenhouse in a convenient and more strategic location is always possible with this portable version. Maintaining and taking proper care for this portable greenhouse is also not as costly and demanding than the permanent, full-sized ones.

People have different interests. Some prefer sports while others enjoy painting. Another hobby for those that love plants is gardening. Equipped with the proper tools and equipment, the person can beautify the home and enjoy the compliments of neighbors. It takes time to plant something then watch it grow. It is for this reason that people have to concentrate on watering the plants and making sure that insects or weeds do not destroy it. A good place to do this which will protect the person from sunburn is inside a greenhouse. This place is an enclosed home that is used to grow plants in a controlled environment. The framework is composed either of wood or metal. The panels where sunlight enters can either be made of glass or plastic. The size of the greenhouse really depends on the purpose and the frequency of use. Those who just started this as a hobby may start with a makeshift greenhouse at home. As the collection of flowers get bigger, then building a large one is a good idea. This saves time of going back to the same contractor to make an expansion. The ideal greenhouse is the free standing version. If there isn’t that much space, then making an attachment to the existing house can also work which is like walking to another room. Before starting construction on the greenhouse, it is best to check if it is in compliance with building codes in the neighborhood. If there are none, this will make it easier to put it up. The location of the greenhouse is very important since the climate changes all year round. The summer could be hot and so it will be a good idea to build it near a tree which can give it sufficient shade. If the area is muddy and wet during the rainy months, this should be placed elsewhere since too much water can drown the plants. People often use greenhouses to grow flowers. This is changing now and many are shifting to fruits and vegetables which can be planted and harvested at anytime of the year. Plants inside greenhouses still need water and nutrients in order to survive. This can be done manually or with an automated timer. Techniques used in farming have also been integrated into gardening. This makes the use of soil optional. Since plants consume nutrients in liquid form, this can already be mixed in the water supply when it is released and this is known as hydroponics. This method eliminates the need to till the soil or check for weeds which could save the hobbyist time to do other things in the greenhouse.  The greenhouse also needs artificial sunlight. Strong lamps can be purchased from the hardware store for the plants to grow in the right temperature during the evening and when it rains.   There are many companies who produce greenhouses. Should the person not find one that is good for the home, then having a customized version can work. The owner of the house and the contractor can make the proper measurements and estimates for construction to begin. Building a greenhouse is expensive so if it not within the budget, then probably building one from scratch without the help of anyone may also work. After putting the idea on paper and buying the necessary equipment, the person can start building it. Gardening is a hobby that some people do when there is a lot of time to spare. Having a greenhouse is like having a small workshop. It will make the task fun in making the plants grow instead of getting rid of pests in the garden. Choosing what to grow in the greenhouse will require some research. The person can look in the web or check the tag in the local gardening shop before buying it.  Some people can even turn this hobby into a business. Since fruits and vegetables are grown in a controlled environment making it possible to harvest all year round, the person can take advantage of this and sell the harvest to nearby groceries and supermarkets. There are a lot of things to think about before getting a greenhouse. By looking at the budget and doing some work to avoid problems with the elements, the person will have a great time growing things for business or for pleasure.

Henry Ford taught us that to simplify the manufacture of automobiles, that the best way to do so was to install the assembly line. That one change revolutionized the auto manufacturing industry permitting the industry to build cars at a cost whereas the average person could afford to buy one.
The lesson we should take from this is that having the ability to improve the process of getting the job quicker and cheaper, without compromising the quality of the job being done, will help catapult the person who simplified the process to the top of his/her field.
Pennies saved in your home business can turn into dollars at the end of the day, and dollars can quickly multiply into hundreds or thousands of dollars over time.
Doubt me if you will, but let me ask you a question. Do you think a saving of two fifths of a penny could make any real difference in the profit margin of a home business? Of course the right answer is “it depends on how many transactions are done in a year, utilizing the savings of the two fifths of one penny.”
You only have to think back a couple of decades to really appreciate this question. Do you remember the nut that lived and died in a Las Vegas hotel room? You know the one who was a billionaire, and was so worried about germs that he died of starvation? If you guessed Howard Hughes (1905-76), pat yourself on the back.
Now Howard did not make all of his money on his two fifths of one penny. He did however make a ton of money from his two fifths of one penny. It seems Howard owned a can manufacturing company. And one day, Howard’s team figured out how they could make one minor change in the design of their food can to reduce the amount of tin necessary to make a single can.
As the story goes — if my memory serves me correctly — the reduction in tin usage equaled a saving of two fifths of one penny per can. Howard — being the really smart businessman that he was — decided that he would not be so greedy as to keep all of the savings for himself. What Mr. Hughes did do was to keep half of the savings for himself, and give the other half to his customers. The incredible thing about Mr. Hughes decision is that by saving his customers an extra one fifths of one cent per can, he managed to take more market share away from his competition — netting his company an additional and substantial portion of the total market share in the canning industry.
Let us return our thoughts to your home business. Have you ever gotten the feeling of excitement — when you read something or thought of something — that you could not wait to implement this new idea? This could be one of those moments…
In every home business, there are certain processes that we do over and again. Sometimes it may be possible to trim the time or expense of a process which in turn will add pennies or dollars to your bottom line. If it is a process that you do hundreds or thousands of times per month, then your savings will multiply into hundreds or thousands of dollars in monthly savings.
Imagine what running a home business was like BEFORE the computer…
Before the personal computer, we had to hand type all letters and invoices. Now, we can setup a letter or invoice that we send out quite often, and we can save it in our word processor so that when we need to use it again, we can print it quickly and efficiently. There is no longer a need to type the document again from scratch.
The computer has simplified our business communications and has provided us the opportunity to reduce our costs of doing business.
Think about all of the other processes that the computer has enabled us to do for far less expense than what we could in the past.
In this case, the computer is a tool that permits us to save time and money.
So, my challenge to you is to begin examining the processes in your own home business and look for ways in which you can save yourself time and money. It is far better for you to contemplate on this matter than it is for me to do so for you. Simply put, you know your business better than anyone on the planet does. Therefore, you are in a better position than anyone to find those extra dollars that will decrease your costs and increase your profits.
The extra pennies and dollars you could extract from your business could spell the difference between success and failure for your home business enterprise.

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A wonderful thing is happening in home kitchens. People are rediscovering the joys of locally produced foods and reducing the amount of the grocery budget that’s spent on packaged items, out-of-season produce, and heavily processed foods. But fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables don’t stay fresh and delicious forever – they must be eaten now . . . or preserved for later.For all the vegetable gardeners facing baskets overflowing with bright tomatoes, and for all the dedicated farme (more…)

Review
“Preserved contains everything you could wish to know on drying, salting, smoking and pickling. Elegantly written… gives excellent recipes.” — Mail on Sunday, September 04″This is a stupendous book.” — Delicious, August 04

Why preserve? Food preservation is at the heart of civilization. To be wild is to have to eat on the run. Almost all the ingredients we use in our cooking have gone through some kind of preservation process. Take everything cured, smoked, drie (more…)

Amazon.com Review
The USDA recommends pressure canning as the only safe method for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, and poultry. The Presto 23-quart pressure canner is more than adequate for any home canning needs. It’s a professional-quality tool, made of heavy-duty aluminum, with stay-cool handles and a strong-lock steel lid. An accompanying rack fits down into the pot to keep jars up off the bottom, so that liquid can circulate underneath. And it can do double duty as a (more…)

Amazon.com Review
This heavy-duty pressure cooker’s large capacity is probably best utilized for canning (though it would also be great for a number of cooking tasks). A pressure cooker is generally recommended when canning vegetables and nonacid fruit, since the high heat that can be generated will kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath. Made from cast aluminum, with sturdy screws to seal the lid to the pot, this pressure cooker requires no rubber or plastic gaskets or ri (more…)

Amazon.com
The high heat generated by a pressure cooker can kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath, making this pressure cooker the ideal tool for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. All-American’s 30-quart pressure cooker/canner holds up to 19 pint jars or 14 quart jars. Only All-American pressure cookers/canners feature an exclusive, precision-machined “metal-to-metal” sealing system. Clamping locks align the cover to the base, forming a steam-tight seal. This means (more…)

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Amazon.com Review
This heavy-duty pressure cooker’s large capacity is probably best utilized for canning (though it would also be great for a number of cooking tasks). A pressure cooker is generally recommended when canning vegetables and nonacid fruit, since the high heat that can be generated will kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath. Made from cast aluminum, with sturdy screws to seal the lid to the pot, this pressure cooker requires no rubber or plastic gaskets or ri (more…)

Mirro 22-quart pressure cooker quickly and healthfully cooks foods with trapped steam at temperatures higher than boiling. It’s the ideal size for families. Pressure cooking requires little water so nutrients, flavor, and color are not boiled away. Made of rust-proof, heavy-gauge aluminum, the cooker has a stay-cool, locking handle. Mirro pressure cookers are designed with safety in mind. This one features the “Triple Safe Design” with a safety release plug, sure-locking lid system (more…)

Amazon.com
The high heat generated by a pressure cooker can kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath, making this pressure cooker the ideal tool for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. All-American’s 25-quart pressure cooker/canner holds up to 19 pint jars or seven quart jars. Only All-American pressure cookers/canners feature an exclusive, precision-machined “metal-to-metal” sealing system. Clamping locks align the cover to the base, forming a steam-tight seal. This mea (more…)

Amazon.com
The high heat generated by a pressure cooker can kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath, making this pressure cooker the ideal tool for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. All-American’s 41-1/2-quart pressure cooker/canner holds up to 32 pint jars or 19 quart jars, and includes two wire canning racks. Only All-American pressure cookers/canners feature an exclusive, precision-machined “metal-to-metal” sealing system. Clamping locks align the cover to the base (more…)

Amazon.com Review
Pressure cooking uses pressurized steam to cook healthy meals with beans, grains, meat, poultry, and seafood in much less time than many other cooking methods require. Made in Spain, this Splendid pressure cooker holds a maximum capacity of 10 quarts of Italian chicken soup or beans with sausage and works on all heat sources. The cooker is constructed of high-quality 18/10 stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum base for even and efficient heat distribution. (more…)

Amazon.com
The high heat generated by a pressure cooker can kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath, making this pressure cooker the ideal tool for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. All-American’s 10-1/2-quart pressure cooker/canner holds up to seven pint jars or four quart jars. Only All-American pressure cookers/canners feature an exclusive, precision-machined “metal-to-metal” sealing system. Clamping locks align the cover to the base, forming a steam-tight seal. Th (more…)

Make fresh steamed lobster in 3 minutes, or bean soup in 20 minutes. Risotto? No more standing at the stove stirring for half an hour, you can enjoy moist risotto in 7 minutes! As for ease of operation, here’s how it works: load the ingredients, lock the lid in place, select the pressure, and begin cooking. When the food is done simply release the pressure and serve. Your food will be healthier because all the water soluble vitamins and minerals are retained. You’ll also enjoy the (more…)

Solid, 1-piece unit fits onto vent pipe on canner cover. Used on canners without a steam gauge. Fits Nos.01/C13, 01/C17, 01/C22, 02/CAA12H, 02/CAA16H, 02/CAA20H, 0171001, 0174001, 0177001, 0171002 and 171003

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Amazon.com
Reduce time spent in the kitchen preparing meals with this convenient 12-quart pressure cooker. Pressure cooking cuts cooking times up to 70-percent compared to traditional cooking methods, locking in flavor and nutrients for healthy, great-tasting meals, such as hearty soups and one-dish entrees. Constructed from rustproof heavy-gauge aluminum, the pressure cooker provides quick and even heat distribution. Its selective pressure control keeps the internal pressure stead (more…)

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A wonderful thing is happening in home kitchens. People are rediscovering the joys of locally produced foods and reducing the amount of the grocery budget that’s spent on packaged items, out-of-season produce, and heavily processed foods. But fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables don’t stay fresh and delicious forever – they must be eaten now . . . or preserved for later.For all the vegetable gardeners facing baskets overflowing with bright tomatoes, and for all the dedicated farme (more…)

Every important facet of home food dehydrating is covered in this handy reference volume, which provides directions for making dozens of thrifty, healthy, do-it-yourself meals and covenience foods. Starting with a reminder of the “whys” of dehydrating foods, the book inspires its readers forward through chapters that carefully explain the various methods used to dehydrate and preserve foods. Pre-treatments and preparation of fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats are outlined (more…)

Every important facet of home food dehydrating is covered in this handy reference volume, which provides directions for making dozens of thrifty, healthy, do-it-yourself meals and covenience foods. Starting with a reminder of the “whys” of dehydrating foods, the book inspires its readers forward through chapters that carefully explain the various methods used to dehydrate and preserve foods. Pre-treatments and preparation of fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats are outlined (more…)

To many people the idea of growing plants is a crazy concetpt. Hydroponic gardening has been around for thousands of years and many small farms have begun to embrace this method of gardening.
In its simplest form, hydroponic gardening can be envisioned as a plant stuck through the top of a glass canning jar with its roots covered with fertilized water. Despite how simple a hydroponic garden setup can be, there are many ways in which you can accomplish the same task, it all depends on the size of your hydroponic setup.
Here are some example methods of a hydroponic setup:
1) Static – In a static hydroponic setup the plants are grown in a container of nutrient solution this setup is most common in homes were the plants can be grown in glass jars with just enough of the root outside of the solution so it can get oxygen.
2) In its simplest form, there is a tray above a reservoir of nutrient solution. The tray is either filled with growing medium (clay granules being the most common) and planted directly, or pots of medium stand in the tray. At regular intervals, a simple timer causes a pump to fill the upper tray with nutrient solution, after which the solution drains back down into the reservoir. This keeps the medium regularly flushed with nutrients and air.
3)In continuous flow solution culture the nutrient solution constantly flows past the roots. It is much harder to automate than the static solution culture because sampling and adjustments to degree and nutrient concentrations can be made in a large storage tank that serves potentially thousands of plants.
In traditional gardening, the soil works as a storage reservoir for all the fertilization needed by the plants. The soil holds in the nutrients, releasing them to the roots as needed while in hydroponic gardening the hairs of the plant’s roots can sip at the nutrient rich water at any time they need something to eat.
Healthier, Larger Fruit Produced In Hydroponic Gardens
When plants are growing in soil, the roots typically grow larger than on plants in hydroponic gardening. This allows the part of the plant above the soil, or in this case, out of the water, to grow larger and the fruit it bears to grow bigger.
Most plants grown through hydroponic gardening are larger, bear more fruit and have a better taste and texture than the same plants grown with tradition gardening methods.
Here are some examples of the mediums that are used in a hydroponic garden:
1)Expanded Clay – Also known as ‘Hydroton’ or ‘leca’ (light expanded clay aggregate), trademarked names, these small, round baked spheres of clay are inert and are suitable for hydroponic systems in which all nutrients are carefully controlled in water solution. The clay pellet is also inert, pH neutral and do not contain any nutrient value.
2) Rockwool – Is probably the most widely used medium in hydroponics. Made from basalt rock it is heat-treated at high temperatures then spun back together like candy floss. It comes in lots of different forms including cubes, blocks, slabs and granulated or flock.
Rockwool is an excellent inert substrate for both ‘free drainage’ and recirculating systems. In free drainage or run-to-waste systems, the chance of disease spread is greatly lessened. Rockwool is also lightweight and self-contained, which allows plants to be grown at different densities in different stages – young plants can be grown to an advanced stage in a small area before being planted out into the main growing area, thus improving crop turnaround.
3) Coir – Coco peat, also known as coir or coco, is the leftover material after the fibres have been removed from the outermost shell (bolster) of the coconut. It took 10 centuries to make this waste a viable plant substrate. The first description of the coco process dates from the 11th century and was recorded by Arabian traders.
In 1290, Marco Polo described the process of extracting fibres from coconuts. For centuries, this process remained unchanged. Coco peat was a waste product from factories that used coco fibre as a raw material for making sailing ropes, chair seats and mattress fillings.
With static immersion, the roots are below the water level on a constant basis, with the water changed about once a week to maintain fertility in the hydroponic gardening.
With continuous flow, the water is constantly changed in the growing tank, with fresh nutrients continually available to plant roots and with ebb and flow, fresh water is supplied to the growing tank where it slowly drips away into a reservoir from which it is recycled back to the growing tank.

You will receive a bigger harvest from your greenhouse crops if you plant them in the right soil mixture, in the proper kind of pot or other container, and shift or transplant them at timely intervals.
Soils
The first-time greenhouse grower often faces the problem of finding organic material, an essential component of a light and rich potting soil.
The usual recommendation is ⅓ garden soil, ⅓ organic matter (humus), and 1/3 builder’s sand. A compost pile can supply the organic matter-or you can buy rotted manure to mix in the soil.
Failing this, you can purchase bales of peatmoss or bushels of leaf mold. Processed manure is also suitable.
Commercial growers obtain organic material in a way that may be adaptable for you. They cut sod and stack it in alternate layers, with manure and some commercial fertilizer spread between the layers. A man in my vicinity has some rather deep cold frames no longer used for plants.
In these, he places a load of builder’s sand, another of loam, and a third of brown peat.
These materials are forked over until well mixed and allowed to age a year before use. You might try making up a similar mixture in a large wooden box or bin, or in a section of your cold frame.
I think it is an excellent basic mixture, but I add special elements for various plants.
Any time is a good time to start a compost pile; the important thing is to have one.
It will assure a reliable source of humus for little labor and less expense. Into your compost pile can go all kinds of vegetable matter: grass clippings, tree leaves, weeds, vegetable peelings, arid so on.
If the pile is kept moistened and sprinkled with fertilizer or a special bacteria-activator as Activo, it soon becomes fine enough organic material for your potting soil.
Some gardeners dig a pit for compost; others prefer to have compost bins above ground. One manufacturer sells an aluminum bin, 52 by 28 inches, that might suit your needs, especially if you are a city gardener.
When you consider that the small amount of earth packed into a pot must sustain a plant for weeks, months, or longer, you will see the importance of a good soil containing loam, organic matter, and sand.
However, additions of sponge rock for greater porosity, charcoal as a sweetener, aluminum sulphate to acidify, or old mortar rubble (for cacti) can be beneficial for special crops.
The symbol pH is used to indicate the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a soil; pH 7.0 is neutral. Most potted plants grow well in a slightly acid soil with a pH of about 6.0 to 6.5. There are exceptions.
Azaleas, citrus trees, gardenias, and hibiscus, do best in a definitely acid soil. You can purchase a soil-testing kit for your own testing, or have someone at your university or your county agent make tests to determine whether your soil is acid or alkaline, and what (if anything) it needs.
Do not use the same soil for more than 1 year. A sizable amount will go out every year with the potted plants, flats of seedlings, etc., you sell. But crops such as bulbs can be lifted and dried off, and you still have the soil.
In any case, at the end of a year, remove any leftover used soil and pile it outside to aerate and revitalize for some months. Then it can be incorporated again into potting mixtures.
Mixing Soil
Unless you buy or borrow a small cement mixer or similar type of heavy-duty churn, you will have to rely on your own strong arm to mix the soil.
I have found a 16-quart aluminum canning kettle a good “mixing bowl.” In this I mingle the extra ingredients (charcoal, sponge rock, and such) with the basic soil mixture. If the mixture is dry, I add enough water so that it will adhere when I pinch a little of it between thumb and forefinger.
Break up large lumps of soil and peatmoss-but for most potting purposes you need not sift the mixture through a screen.
However, seedlings and some cuttings do better in screened or milled material.
Soil Mixtures-To Buy or Sell
Of course, you can purchase a ready-made mixture from a large greenhouse, but this should be used only as a starter or in an emergency.
Such standard or all-purpose potting soils will not be right for everything you grow.
As you learn to mix soils, you may find them an added source of income. You can buy plastic bags in which to sell your own all purpose mixture to customers. If it is sterilized, it will bring a higher price.

Illustrated with color photographs.

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No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

58 recipes with broad consumer appeal.?Canning Primer? chapter and special tip boxes throughout.

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Review

“Preserving Summer’s Bounty takes a giant step ahead in preserving advice. This up-to-the-minute guide pays tribute to your grandmother’s techniques for ‘putting up’ vegetables, but what I like best are the quick and easy modern methods using the microwave, the freezer and more. These fast answers should lure even the busiest among us into storing the precious harvest of the garden.”–Marian Morash, Author of The Victory Garden Cookbook”Preserving Summer’s Bounty is a trea (more…)

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Review

“Preserving Summer’s Bounty takes a giant step ahead in preserving advice. This up-to-the-minute guide pays tribute to your grandmother’s techniques for ‘putting up’ vegetables, but what I like best are the quick and easy modern methods using the microwave, the freezer and more. These fast answers should lure even the busiest among us into storing the precious harvest of the garden.”–Marian Morash, Author of The Victory Garden Cookbook”Preserving Summer’s Bounty is a trea (more…)

Freezing fruits & vegetables circa 1957.

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The pressure regulator controls the amount of pressure that can be built up in the canner. It consists of the pressure regulator body and two 5-pound weight rings. Completely assembled, it will maintain 15-pounds of pressure.

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The pressure regulator fits onto the vent pipe to indicate when 15 pounds pressure is reached, and controls pressure in the unit. A gentle rocking motion of the pressure regulator indicates that proper cooking pressure is being maintained. This Part No. 09978 also replaces Part No. 09913. Fits Presto Pressure Cooker models: 126407, 128202, 01/PCE4H, 0124104, 0126410, 0128206, 0134108, 0136210, 0216001, 131001, 134001, 134103, 134104, 135001, 135004, 136001, 136102, 136203, 01/PC (more…)

The sealing ring fits around the inside rim of the cover and forms a pressure-tight seal between the cover and the body of the pressure canner during canning and cooking.

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Used on cookers and canners built after 1977. Steam is automatically released by the overpressure plug if the vent pipe becomes clogged and excess pressure cannot be released normally.

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The Back to Basics Jar Lifter is the perfect addition to any home canning kit.

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Avoid jar breakage and pick up and move filled mason jars safely with these jar-shaped tongs.Tongs will accommodate jars up to 6″Dia.Dimensions: 8″L

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Canning is an economical and nutritional way to preserve fresh quality grown fruits and vegetables at home without added preservatives or pesticides. This accessory set includes everything you need to get the job done when used with waterbath canner and canning jars. The set consists of a funnel with an easy fit design for regular and wide-mouth jars; tongs with coated handles for lifting foods when canning or cooking; magnetic jar lifter for safely keeping fingers from touchin (more…)

The Canning Jar Lifter lifts hot jars from water when canning preserves.

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a battery charger

Mirro canning jar lifter.

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The Back to Basics Jar Lid Wrench is the perfect addition to any home canning kit.

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With the Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety LidLifter it is now possible to open a can and never, ever touch the lid! All you do is place the opener on the can and begin turning the comfortable knob. The tool automatically locks in place. The tool cuts from the side leaving a rim smooth, not sharp or jagged. The tiny, strong jaws on the side of the opener remove the lid. Press down on the white button to close the jaws on the lid and when you are ready to drop the lid into the recyclin (more…)

Kuhn Rikon named it Ergo for its irresistibly rounded shape tailored to fit the hand and its big rubber turning knob. Then they dressed it in hip, fun color. Underneath the fashion statement, the cutting wheel cuts from the side leaving the rim smooth, not sharp or jagged. The tiny jaws of the exclusive Lid Gripper clamp onto the lid rim and lifts off the top. Hold over trash container, open jaws and dispose of the lid without touching it with your hands. 5.75-inch Green

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Clamps on jar tops for easy lifting. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without one!Safely removes jars from hot water. Adjustable to fit virtually all canning jars.

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Free WP Autoposter Plugins

Kuhn Rikon named it Ergo for its irresistibly rounded shape tailored to fit the hand and its big rubber turning knob. Then they dressed it in hip, fun color. Underneath the fashion statement, the cutting wheel cuts from the side leaving the rim smooth, not sharp or jagged. The tiny jaws of the exclusive Lid Gripper clamp onto the lid rim and lifts off the top. Hold over trash container, open jaws and dispose of the lid without touching it with your hands. 5.75-inch Red

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The Kuhn Rikon Slim Safety LidLifter safely and easily removes lids, leaving a smooth edge that is suitable for resealing with a plastic lid (dog and cat food cans, coffee cans). The can opener is made of 18/8 stainless steel with a polished finish and the turn knob is comfortable to hold and turns easily. It cuts from the side leaving the rim smooth, not sharp or jagged. The tiny jaws of the exclusive Lid Gripper clamp onto the lid rim and lifts off the top. The turn knob is (more…)

SetWear Water Ops Gloves, XLarge, WaterOps

Water Resistant Gloves Great for Working in Wet or Muddy Enviroments.

Water Ops Gloves features our UltraGrip non-slip palm and fingers with a water resistant synthetic suede backing.

Machine Washable

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The Chick Bator incubator has a clear dome, egg cradle, 110-volt light bulb assembly to produce heat, thermometer, and instructions. Use to hatch eggs that you can obtain locally or over the internet. Chick Bator Capacity. Aprox. 3 chicken eggs,4 pheasant eggs, 2 turkey or duck eggs, 8 quail eggs. Operates on 110 volt electricity. 7″ diameter, 6″ high. Great for classroom projects.This incubator requires egg turning 3 times a day, temperature monitoring and adjustment. Adult sup (more…)

The Brinsea Mini incubator is a small, high quality, low cost, egg incubator combining ease of use, performance and exceptional value. The Mini Eco holds 10 hens eggs (or equivalent) and provides the fine temperature control to ensure consistent and reliable hatches. Temperature is monitored on a purpose built liquid-in-glass thermometer and although factory set, the electronic temperature control allows fine tuning of the temperature setting if required. Humidity is provided fo (more…)

FEATURES:
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TX7, For Specialized Breeders & Pros (Hobbyists should see Model TX6)
One poultry egg turning ring is included in the purchase price of your (more…)

The sealing ring fits around the inside rim of the cover and forms a pressure-tight seal between the cover and the body of the pressure canner during canning and cooking. When installing a sealing ring, work it into the cover in four small sections, for example, top, bottom , left and right. Work it into the groove a small section at a time until it is fully in place. Place the cover on the cooker body. Put one hand on the top center of the cover and push down firmly. Open and c (more…)

Home Canning is a healthy way to fill your pantry with home cooked, preservative-free recipes such as soups, vegetables, baby food and so much more! This all-in-one kit includes the tools, instructions and recipes necessary in order to begin pressure cooking & canning at home. Set Includes Duo 10 quart 18/10 stainless steel Pressure Cooker/Canner, Home Canning Cookbook with recipes, Pressure Cooking Booklet with recipes, Canning Rack, Stainless Steel Funnel, Stainless Steel L (more…)

The sealing ring fits around the inside rim of the cover and forms a pressure-tight seal between the cover and the body of the pressure canner during canning and cooking. When installing a sealing ring, work it into the cover in four small sections, for example, top, bottom , left and right. Work it into the groove a small section at a time until it is fully in place. Place the cover on the cooker body. Put one hand on the top center of the cover and push down firmly. Open and c (more…)

Triple Strength Neck Wrinkle Smoother contains Pro Peptide Factor with triple the amount of peptides and other antiaging ingredients to help target and reduce the appearance of deep, defined lines and wrinkles on the neck area. The cream is also formulated with intensely hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter to deliver supple, soft, youthful skin to the neck.

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This digital document is an article from Frozen Food Digest, published by Frozen Food Digest, Inc. on July 1, 2009. The length of the article is 315 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Linde North America introduces Cryoline[R] PE freezer for portion control shapes of liquid or sauce foods.(Equipment (more…)

Review

VegNews, July/August 2009 “[A] wheat-, gluten-, dairy-, and processed-sugar free collection of raw confections to die for. Most of Desserts’ recipes are fast, easy, and have no more than six ingredients, often fewer. It almost feels like cheating to be able to create tasty, intricate, and stylish treats without going through chef training.”Epicurious.com, 7/16/09 “Phyo’s second book focuses on the sweeter side of raw with 85 recipes (Almond Frangipane Kream and Ras (more…)

The most comprehensive, up-to-date guide to harvesting, storing, preparing, and preserving foods of all kinds. For the self-sufficient farmer or the urban weekend gardener, the third edition of Stocking Up is an invaluable addition to any kitchen. With detailed illustrations and easy-to-follow directions, this encyclopedic resource makes “stocking up” easy. Follow step-by-step instructions for: * Freezing, canning, drying, and preserving fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and (more…)

Worm composting is an incredibly efficient way to convert kitchen scraps, junk mail and cardboard into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Master gardeners agree that compost produced by worms will produce the best results and help your plants thrive. The Worm Factory’s unique stackable, multi-tray design makes it the most efficient worm bin composter around. Worms begin eating waste in the lowest tray, and then migrate upward as food sources in that tray are exhausted. By al (more…)

Review

Still rules the world of books about preserving. (Georgia Straight (Vancouver) 20070816)

Capturing the flavor of strawberries at their ripest, cucumbers at their freshest, and gourmet treats is simple with WELL PRESERVED. This tried and tested collection of recipes for every imaginable kind of preserve is now bigger and better with a new chapter with 16 recipes highlighting Gifts from the Kitchen. Without the use of preservatives and with less sugar (more…)

Authentic Pigment Direct-Dyed Raw-Edge Tote. 1906 100% cotton canvas, 14 oz; natural canvas webbing straps; antique brass hardware; inside hanging pocket

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Le Creuset Halo stovetop tea kettle in an eye-catching enamel-on-steel finish is well-known for its durability. Halo kettle matches perfectly with the rest of the Le Creuset line. 1 -quart capacity heavy gauge steel coated with hard, glossy enamel for a great look in any color non-slip and heat-resistant knobs and handle wide lid area for easy cleaning easy-pour spout eliminates splash handy whistle lets you know when water is boiling Measures 13 1/4;x11 1/4;x11 H; 9.3 lbs. Impo (more…)

Stinky tofu is a well-liked dish in East and Southeast Asia. It is sometimes eaten as a snack, or as a side dish or appetizer, in Taiwan, HK, China, and Indonesia. It is usually found at night markets and roadside stands, though more formal venues can also offer them. Though different recipes exist, the dish will always be sharp, and is even banned in some pieces of hong kong for its intensely strong and deep odour.

And not surprising: in addition to garlic, onions, chili peppers, and any variety of spices, the tofu itself is fermented in a brine made from, variously, fermented milk, veggies, and meat, as well as, doubtless shrimp, mustard greens, and a couple of sorts of exotic Chinese herbs. Even white mold is used in some recipes!

Indeed, brine recipes are sometimes considered a trade secret, which is one explanation why stinky tofu can taste very dissimilar from vendor to vendor. There isn’t any fixed formula for starter bacteria, so regional and individual permutations exist in abundance. For the stinky tofu lover often an acquired taste for those not local to the Chinese world this cornucopia of differences makes it much more fun to order the dish. Stinky tofu in the West is a lot less authentic, given the sanitary concerns involved, but to the non-Asian palate its scent or odour, as the case might be surely not any less nauseating.

Nonetheless despite the smell, many of us find the actual taste quite mild in comparison. Stinky tofu is most often encountered fried, though it could also be steamed or stewed, as the recipe specifies, and even served cold. The dipping sauces can change from straightforward soy sauce and chili pepper varieties to more strange ones that are even sweet in taste. Stinky tofu is garnished infrequently with sour pickled veggies, especially on Taiwan.

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Beef noodle soup is one of the most iconic of dishes in Taiwan, though one popular legend credits its invention to the Chinese Muslims of Xinjiang, or what some still refer to as Chinese Turkmenistan. For pork is the meat traditionally favored by Chinese cuisine, but given Islamic prohibitions and the wild spaces of China’s wild west, beef is the meat of choice .

The Hui people, or Chinese Muslims, make beef noodle soup with halal beef and no soy sauce. Salt, chili pepper, and scallions are used to flavour the dish instead. This version is typically called clear-broth stewed beef noodle soup in Chinese. The addition of soy sauce changes the name to red-roasted beef noodle soup. In this version, the beef is sometimes first stir fried with hot sauce before simmering in the soup as stew. This is also the version approximated by most types of instant noodles labeled beef flavor.

Beef noodle soup is a popular Chinese dish, but like much in East and Southeast Asia, Chinese culinary influences have ranged far and wide such that local variances of many Chinese favorites exist; beef pho is popular in Vietnam, as is beef ramen in Japan. On mainland China, beef noodle soup is often served with easy cold small plates like braised dried tofu, seaweed, or boiled peanuts.

The beef noodle soup itself is mostly comprised of stewed beef, beef broth, noodles, and vegetables. The vegetables are typically Chinese cabbage, spinach, or some other leafy green. Some restaurants use chili pepper, while others rely on traditional Chinese star anise. Mustard greens are occasionally garnished on top. Still other variants call for Chinese sauerkraut ( literally sour [that is, pickled] vegetables ).

There are so many adaptations on the dish, and the idea of the dish, that it helps to be specific when ordering. The same place may serve the full dish as explained above, or just soup and noodles but no beef, or soup and bits of beef but no noodles!

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