Once a Month Canning?

I’ve read a few blogs recently where they focus on canning something different every month. Usually something in season, like Salmon in June or garden produce in August. During the off-season they still find something to can like beans or meats. This keeps the pantry stocked and adds variety, which is always good.

I love the concept and I’m thinking of giving it a try. It’s more motivation to keep me on a regular schedule.

I managed to get my turkey soup canned up on the last day of January (WTG me!) and so I’m ready to figure something out for February.

First thing is to check the pantry and see what’s needed. Well, not fish, for sure. Or jams/jellies, we’re pretty well stocked. I’m down to one jar of canned black beans, out of soup (good thing I’ve got some fresh jars to move into the pantry today) and out of canned beef and moose. I still have some canned chicken.

Soups are an important mainstay in our winter diet. Soup and sandwich for lunch on a cold day is so warming and filling.

I think that’s where I need to focus. Beef stew sounds good but I’ll have to keep my eye open at the grocery store for special deals, that will be my deciding factor. Bean soup sounds hearty and tasty too. Our local butcher, Echo Lake Meats, makes a beef Canadian bacon that is so tender and delicious. It would work to sub out for the ham in this recipe. Mexican chicken soup sounds delightful as well.

Homemade cream of mushroom sounds good too… Or this version of you want a already thickened cream of mushroom soup. And I just happen to have some mushrooms on hand. But I could also make this, decisions, decisions.

Off to gather ingredients!

I settled on making some beef stew and bean soup in pints. Processed 11# for 75 minutes. That will give us a nice variety for our work lunches!

And just like that, I’m off to a great start with once a month canning!!

My canning shirt from my Seester.

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Twenty Three

On a roll.

One more day of snow removal for Dean means one more day home for me. Plus we have a new weather system hitting today that promises up to 6″ more snow from Nikiski south to Homer. Who knows when we’re going back to work!

I ended up with 9 quarts of turkey soup and three pints of dog food. There was enough leftover for a large pot of turkey & noodles last night. Which was a hit with the kids. (For the dog food I put everything in the jar that we didn’t eat, some skin, cartilage, small bones, scrapes of meat, organs and broth, and can it. She will get a spoonful of this mixed into her regular dog food for extra protein and taste. So one jar lasts a while. She loves it and there’s no waste!)

Today I’m going to take advantage of the canning stuff being out and work up a batch of something or other, time will tell what I come up with!

And also figure out dinner… All these other people in this house always want to eat. 🤷🏼‍♀️

If I get bored there’s always cleaning to do. 🙄