Growing, Harvesting and Canning Black Beans

I love black beans and I always try to have cooked ones on hand.  I prefer to home can the dried ones so I can control the salt and the cost. It is also a good source of food nutrients if you have a power outage and no access to water and/or heat source to cook them in.  They also don't require a freezer and will keep for at least 12 months on the shelf.

Canning dried beans yourself is so easy.  I use organic and this year I even GREW some organic black beans. (More on that later.)

Growing, Harvesting and Canning Black Beans

Dried black beans (scan 2/3 cups per pint jar)

Water

Salt (optional)

Pressure Canner (Beans cannot be water bath canned)

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce will taste so much better than anything you've ever eaten from a store.  My family doesn't mind a little bit of tart so we don't add any sugar at all. If you prefer a sweeter sauce find a sweet variety or you can use a little bit of sugar.   

We have found that if you see an apple tree, ask the owner if you can pick their apples.  Most time we find they will give them to you rather than have to mow over them or keep picking them off after they fall.  

Many times people don't know what kind of apple tree they have.  They may have moved in and it was already there.  Not every apples makes good sauce.  I usually take a box and test them out first.  Some have no flavor, some have a weird texture.  Once we know we like them we sauce them.  If we don't we press them for cider.  Still no waste!

If you are ready to make your own applesauce with no additives, no preservatives, no sugar and most likely no chemicals..scroll on down!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Wash your apples well, especially ones that have hit the ground. 

Freezing Sweet Corn

Freezing sweet corn is easy to do and the best way, in my opinion, to preserve it.  There are many who can it in jars but the cooking method for that I think takes away from the freshness.  My mom shucks and removes the silks from hers and freezes them on the cob.  I don't have space to do that so I remove mine from the cob to freeze.  This is my method.  There are some who add extra ingredients to their corn, like sugar, but if your corn is sweet it doesn't need it.

Freezing Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Water

Salt

Large pot

Sharp knife or a kernel cutter tool

two large bowls that nest in each other

measuring cup

zip shut quart freezer bags

jelly roll pan

basket

Dehydrating Tomato Skins to Make Tomato Powder

Waste not, want not!

So you've made some Roasted Marinara Sauce and have some extra bits of skins, seeds, and other goodies that didn't make the cut? It's really simple to make tomato powder.  The uses are endless. Mix even amounts of powdered tomato and water to make your own tomato paste.  Add the powder to soups and stews for some added tomato flavor. I thought this would also be good added to meatloaf mixtures.  I am sure you can come up with even more ideas!

Dehydrating Tomato Skins to Make Tomato Powder

Roasted Marinara Sauce Leftover Bits
OR
Tomato skins removed during your canning process.

Roasted Marinara Sauce

Some of you have asked for my roasted marinara recipe and so I will offer a guide on how I make it. There are no exact measurement as each batch can be different depending on the intensity of the flavor of your tomatoes, onions, and peppers.  I make each batch and taste it until I am satisfied. 

You'll notice no garlic in my recipe.  Italian ladies everywhere are shaking their heads.  You are welcome to add it to your sauce.  My husband cannot have garlic so I do not use it and it is still very tasty.

Roasted Marinara Sauce

Red and Yellow Tomatoes (need to be mostly reds due to acid level needed)
Green  or Yellow Peppers (1-2 per baking dish)
Sweet Yellow Onions (1-2 per baking dish)
Olive Oil
Fresh Basil (good handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Fresh Oregano (small handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Fresh Parsley (optional) (small handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Salt
Sugar
Cayenne Pepper (few dashes per batch)

Sweet Lime Pickles

These pickles take a few days to make but they are yummy!  I started mine at 5 pm on a Wednesday and processed them on Friday morning. They are crispy and a fun color!

Sweet Lime Pickles

7 pounds cucumbers (wash, cut off ends, slice 1/4" thick)

2 cups pickling lime

2 gallons water

2 quarts white vinegar

9 cups sugar 

1 teaspoon canning salt

1 Tablespoon mixed pickling spices*