Grandma Canned the Best

Remember Grandma’s good cooking, made from scratch? Yes, we understand that was more common a few generations ago, but many people are reviving this connection!

Thanks to the COVID lockdown and the fears of the future, many young mothers and fathers have opened Grandma’s cookbooks to discover the time-honored tradition of home canning and food storage.

Purchasing canned goods in America dates back to 1825 when Thomas Kensett and Ezra Daggert sold their canned oysters, fruits, and meats to New Yorkers. By the early 1900s, homes commonly had a well-stocked cellar lined with glass jars, storing the bounty of garden and orchard in preparation for flying snow and cold weather.

There was little time to run into the grocer’s store to get fresh food on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Foolish would have been the thought to go daily for your next few meals of daily fare. And when the winter storms set in, housewives could think with satisfaction about this treasure store that would last them until the next growing season.

At times we might consider home canned goods to come with a considerably higher cost than what you might be able to pick up at the supermarket, especially on special. But is the up-front savings all that counts?

The Worth of the Home Canning Experience

Perhaps the health benefits of growing your own food comes at least partly from “knowing your farmer” – something that comes built-in with home canned goods.

Engaging in a physical workout that directly produces food for our family also provides mental and emotional benefits. In addition, it encourages neighborly exchanges of ideas and labor. These times can strengthen human relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Revive the dying art of communication via home canning!

As with any new venture, we might not have the best success on the first try. But that’s okay. Every successful chef started with trial and errors. But a family that understands the efforts put into home canning will value the results of hard labor.

Savor the flavor created by you own hands and the hands of your family working happily together for the good of all involved. Memories of your efforts will live on for years to come. It’s worth the experience!

Higher Elevation Does Affect Home Canning

Just a word of caution – remember that water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevation than the 212 degrees boiling point at sea level. This can lead to a problem in home canning — food-borne illnesses such as clostridium botulinum. Low acid foods such as green beans and asparagus must be heated to 240 degrees to deactivate these pathogenic spores to prevent botulism.

Home canned meats and bone broths can be extremely handy for a quick meal. But here again, consider carefully the instructions and temperatures needed to provide a safe product for a lasting shelf life, especially for areas significantly higher than sea level. Align your recipes according to the altitude in which you are canning.

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor

Canned pickled red beets provide great health benefits. Find improved digestion, better blood sugar levels, and heart health from tasty, pickled beets. Beets are high in antioxidants and a good source of fiber for weight loss and overall physical performance.

Canned sauerkraut holds a better pack of fiber along with its wonderfully sour taste profiles! Stack some on your summer picnic sandwiches. Enjoy it along with roast beef or pork chops. Use abundantly in that pot of dumplings and hot dogs. Or simply add it to your favorite soups for a bonus of fiber.

Grab a jar of cabbage-stuffed peppers from your pantry for a quick treat. These pair well with raw goat cheese. Be prepared for those unexpected friends stopping by. That’s one great benefit of a pantry full of canned goods.

Pears preserved by canning can alleviate digestive ailments. High in fiber and good for gut health, pears may also help prevent heart disease and assist with cholesterol troubles.

Canned peaches are loved throughout the year far beyond the summer/fall fresh peach season. And they are simply ready to serve! So delicious and beautiful to garnish a weekly family supper or a weekend company dinner. Enjoy home-canned peaches weekly.

The Blessing of Home-Canned Applesauce

Applesauce crowns the versatility list. Canned applesauce stores many of the same incredible nutrients as fresh apples. Add a bit of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) to unsweetened applesauce for a bit better preservation.

Polyphenols of soluble fiber in the form of pectin may help neutralize irritable bowel syndrome. And furthermore, pectin is a prebiotic which is necessary to maximize the ingestion of probiotics which feed on the prebiotics found in the gut. Apple sauce is good for the gut. Choose a good serving for each meal.

Store up a healthy stock of applesauce. Medieval Europeans served applesauce with pork, fish, and goose. Today some families use applesauce as a daily staple to accompany the first course of their meals. It certainly does pair well with meats and hot vegetables. And applesauce is so versatile you can serve it the second time in the same meal to enjoy it with cake or bars for the dessert.

And last of all, let’s consider applesauce for the early life stages. Many mothers have used their own home canned applesauce for the starter food for their infants. It’s easy to swallow. It’s easy to digest. And its full of great nutrients to help the digestive system grow to handle more complex foods. It’s also perfect for anyone recovering from an illness and looking for soft foods that are easy to digest. Consider no sugar added applesauce!

Health to you and yours!

Home Canning for Family Health

Any health-conscientious parent understands the values of quality food for children. Toddlers need a strong gut for healthful brain functions and development. Building bones that will withstand the possible fractures from the rambunctious activities of childhood should be considered.

Home canning may not be always food from your own garden. But perhaps you can find a trustworthy farmer who has an organic garden or orchard that will sell you some clean produce and fruits.

At times family, friends or neighbors may have extra that they would be glad to share with you. Be sure to compensate them for the investment they have put into maintaining their garden or fruit trees, because it does come with a significant cost. The best food you can find is local and grown by a reputable gardener who truly cares about the health of others.

Happy canning!

Check out Swiss Villa’s Canned Goods today!

Check out Swiss Villa’s home canned goods today!