Canning And Pickling

Hi Folks,

Thought I'd post a little update on the goings on around my neck of the woods. Canning and gardening season is in full swing. In spite of all the rain we've had, the gardens are thriving except for the stuff that grows low on the ground like my squash vines and cucumbers.. But I'm not complaining, the Lord has blessed us with plenty. I've been canning white half runner beans and putting up corn in the freezer. I'm getting some cabbage from my brother and his cousin when they come in for Kraut. They planted around 60 cabbage and if nothing happens they'll have plenty to sell and share. The signs are bad for Krauting anyway until the end of this month. My mama taught me the sings pretty well while growing up and I'm just glad I listened to her. When pickling or krauting the signs have to be just right or it will ruin in spite . The signs are good in the Head, Neck, Arms and Thighs. When they get down in the lower extremitities they are all bad signs except for the Thighs and they're not the best but I have put it up then.

 I chop my cabbage by hand as fine as I want it fine and pack it in jars, not to tight and add a teaspoon of Salt and a Teaspoon of Sugar  to each Quart and a half Teaspoon to a Pint of each. The sugar is for keeping it White. My mama was very particular about her Kraut being white. Then add some warm tap Water from the faucet and take a Butter or Steak knife and slide it down  the sides and in the middle of the can while pouring the water slowly from a cup until it fills to the top. Put the lids on and don't tighten them to tight. This gives it more chances to work off.

 Last year I made my Kraut and put it in a cool place underneath our old Building that we call The Old Mill House. It's where they used to grind corn before we moved here.It's not in operation anymore and not the Old Gristmill my grandpa and daddy run. It's long since gone and sit on the exact spot where my house is today. My brother and uncle built this one and used to run it on Saturdays for people to have fresh Cornmeal. We inherited it so to speak.

 The Kraut worked off really good and was the best I've ever made. Everyone else around here didn't have any luck with their Kraut and I shared mine.. So this year I've got to try and make plenty.. I love doing it and putting up Pickled Corn and Beans too. It's time consuming but so worth it. The pickled corn and beans have to be put in an old time Churn Jar or something familiar for 9 days to work off . This is after you boil your ears of corn and wilt your beans down in a pan. The beans doesn't have to be cooked , Be sure and put a cup of salt for every gallon of beans and corn.. and fill the jar up all the way to the top so the water will cover it all. Tie a white clean rag around the top or maybe even two, and I have seen my mama put a big flat rock on top or anything heavy like that to keep it all under the water. She never did carry Pickled Beans and Corn outside of the house, she just sit them in the corner somewhere to work off. They don't run down the jar like Kraut. I don't put Kraut in a churn jar but some people do. Mama always said it was to much trouble, go figure. lol. ( Of course when you can everything from soup to hay like she did I guess you skip corners sometimes). After 9 days is up take it out of the Churn and put it in a big pan on the stove and get it to boiling really good and put in jars and seal. 

I've never like Pickled Beans and Corn or care for Kraut that much. I like Raw Kraut out of the jar but not cooked, but my family sure does love it, especially on a cold, winter day. My mama used to say with anything you put up or can, it will beat a snowball anyday... She used to can so much stuff that she would go back to some of her earlier cans , especially Tomatoes or something of that nature and take the Rings off and leave the Flatties (which had already sealed by then) and use them on other cans.. I don't know if many people have heard of this but you can do it and it saves buying more. Of course, back then they did lots of ways to get by . 

I posted this because some people have been asking about how to do it and I was going to put it up when I got the time. Hope this will be helpful to a lot of people. I'll be back to posting Poems as soon as I get my head on straight..lol.  On top of all the Canning I've been trying to Layout my New Book. I'm hoping it will be done soon and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. This is the first one I've Self Published. The last one was done for me. I have someone helping me or I wouldn't know squat. It will be sent to the Printers soon, hopefully. Ya'll take care and don't work to hard.. Blessings, Susie