Can Your Own Convenience Food

Quarts are good for days when you want to open a large amount for a meal. I have a family of 6 (living at home) and they're mostly teenagers. So sometimes I have to open several quart jars for a meal. These also make for quick meals for the kids when I'm out. Pint jars are great for light meals for 1-2 people, or snacks for teens. I have a hard time keeping my shelf full because the kids are always eating a pint of something as a snack! When they were big enough to make something like Hamburger Help, but too little to brown the meat and drain the grease, they could use a pint jar of already cooked hamburger! Being able to 'cook' a real meal for the family empowered them and built a great deal of self-confidence. Half-pint jars of ground meat are perfect for a homemade pizza. Use sausage, ground beef, ground turkey - whatever works for your family.

You can buy 5-pound bags of cooked and diced chicken at poultry outlets. I buy several at a time and put them in the freezer until I have time to can them. It is so easy to put the already cooked chicken into clean jars and process. Now you have canned chicken for salads, Chicken Helper, chicken/noodles, soup, casseroles . . . the list is endless.

Ground meat is very easy to can. Place the raw meat into clean jars and press down, leaving a 1-inch head space. Using a butter knife, slide it down the side of the jar, gently pressing towards the middle to expel air bubbles. Process. Imagine not having to brown the meat before you cook anything. I have to admit the ground meat isn't very attractive in the jar!

I've canned small chunks of leftover ham, and then used it scalloped or au gratin potatoes, or used on top of a baking dish of mashed potatoes, and then topped the whole thing with ham gravy. Warm up and served! Better if you use real potatoes, quicker if you use instant!

10 # ground meat
10 envelopes of chili seasoning mix (I make half of them the really cheap ones; you can use your own chili seasoning of choice)
20 cups cooked beans
5 quarts tomatoes

Mix it all up! The meat does not have to be cooked through because it will cook during the canning process.
These amounts are approximate. Just use your own chili recipe and quadruple it! Have it for dinner that night, and can the rest.

yield: approximately 13 quarts

This is the absolutely best canner available. It holds 7 quarts, or 19 pints! There is also a model that holds 13 quarts!! If you have a large family or are going to do a lot of canning, that is the model to go with. See the youtube video below.

1 #10 can of dry beans, cooked and soaked over night, lightly drained. (Beans swell as the cook, so it's necessary to cook them first.)
1 64 oz. bottle ketchup
3 TBLSP onion salt
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
3 TBLSP mustard
4 packages hot dogs, sliced

Mix it all up, serve it for dinner and cook the rest! Of course you can use your recipe!!

Yield: approximately 2 quart casserole for dinner, 7 quarts and 7 pints to can.

1 #10 can dried beans (3-5 pounds), cooked and soaked overnight lightly drained. See 'Bulk Beans/Weiners" for explanation.)
1 #10 can corn
6 quarts tomatoes, undrained.
15 packages taco seasoning.

Mix it all up . . . you know the rest.

Yield: Approximately 10 quart jars, 4 pints, and enough for dinner.

Place 1 cup dried beans in quart jar. Add 1 tsp. salt. Fill jar with water leaving 1 inch head space. Stir to release air bubbles. Place lid on jar, turn jar upside and let stand for several hours - all day or over night. The beans swell as they soak, and when you turn the jar upright, it dislodges any beans that may have swollen together. Process as per instructions.

Variation: Add a package of taco seasoning to the jar. When you want bean burritos or taco pizza, or refried beans, open the jar, mash and use as desired!

I've made gumbo several ways, but never the same way twice. I've used a variety of meat in a variety of combinations: chicken, sausage, venison and pork. Mix it up, process it in the wonderful All American Canner, and set it on the shelf. It's ready to serve over rice.