FOOD

I have a canning question: I canned my first lb. of groud beef rocks.  It was a trial run so I only used 1 lb.  That only 1/2 filled my jar.  It is currently in the refrigerator.  Can I cook more, reheat the 1st lb and add it all together in a new jar?? Or should I just start fresh? -k

I jarred 5 pints of Hamburger Rocks a few weeks ago and the lids sealed and remained sealed until we moved many of our preps to the garage a week ago to make room for a number of houseguests.

All of the seals are now broken - dent popped up and I'm unsure whether or not I should sling the whole mess.

Perhaps I could just use the jar attachment of the vacuum sealer and salvage them but I don't want to store something that may not be safe to eat.

Guess I'll just open a jar and smell, reconstitute and taste a bit of it.
    

Ready Mom...If i were to can them i would put the finished hamburger rocks into the oven pan to warm up with the rest of them about an hour before the others are finished.  That way you will be putting hot stuff in hot jars with hot lids and would have a better chance of getting a seal.

Thought I'd mention SALES! Planning my shopping for the week, I realized that it was Cinco deMayo. (time is slipping by me, lately!) Anyway ... Beans,rice,oils,sauces and the like are all on sale this week for that celebration.  I took advantage of it and bought about 40 cans of various beans and 8 (1lb) pkgs of split peas and lentils.  Will be going back for the BIG jugs of oil.  As long as the flu holds out, we should (which I'm sure most of you already figured out - but those just starting might like a place to start) be taking advantage of seasonal sales.  Next should be cookout type stuff: matches,paper goods,condiments,outdoor cooking products,camping gear (sleep bags for no-heat in cold winter, camp stoves,lanterns, etc.) My BIG hole is canned fruit.  I've been trying to get everything I can on sale and have done really well (cans of veggies 5/$3, beans 5/$2, 2# coffee $2.99, actually found 2# summer sausage at a overstock store good till 2007 for $2.99!) but fruit is pretty expensive and I want lots of that.  My other option is to try canning, but I've never done it.   Anyway ... just thought I'd pass on the sale reminder! Keep shopping/prepping!

Both Dollar Tree and Dollar General stores are good sources of canned fruit.  They also have metals cans and glass jars of juice sometimes which I think store better/longer than juice in plastic.

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Thank you Irene.

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Thank you Chrystle, for posting all those links.

I think its is okay to post the products and websites you have found and like, I see it done a lot. And it helped me!
It takes often a lot of time to research sites, and we benefit from the searching others have done.

P.S. I think it becomes a problem when people promote products they themselves are selling, trying to make money of the people here.

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I have been pre-packaging a variety of potato, rice and pasta dishes and have had a very rude awakening. It takes soooo much more in spices, milk, buillion etc. than I ever imagined!! I am making it all with prep foods, trying to have as much as possible ready to go. I have three shelves full of spices, herbs etc. and would have sworn I had more than enough. Already OUT of some!!! I'm just posting this to give a heads up to everyone.

Chrystle wrote:   WOW, I'm posting too much so I'll take a break after this: Don't forget to add extra toothbrushes to your preps. Whenever anyone's ill, the toothbrush should be replaced when they improve. People might get sick from things other than BF if things get bad.

Just another quick note that I found on that site. (Sorry my wife is now with me and felt that I should post this)

I found this Food Storage Guide interesting reading:

http://extension.usu.edu/files/foodpubs/fn502.pdf

It also has one of the most comprehensive lists (starting on page 13) I've seen of recommended storage times for various foods.

I did an internet search of shelf-stable bacon and found that it is fully cooked bacon and it is produced by Schneiders among others:

Jo,  Do you know the shelf-life of the salt-cured hams?

Thanks Jo...that's nice to know.  I may have to order a couple!!!

Great post Irene, I was wondering about some of the ratios. Jo

Mississipp Mama,

honeybee wrote: I cannot find where I saw it before, so I will ask here.   Can someone tell my why people are saying to buy your tuna in oil, not water?   Thanks