I got a little bit excited and then a little bit disappointed
Yesterday I paid a visit to Lakeland to follow up to see exactly which Ball jars they had in stock and planning which jars would be suitable for me to use for different projects i.e. the tiny ones for making home made cheeses (the fruit cheese) or membrillo, jam or equally for bottling blueberries and cranberries where only small amounts of fruit are needed. I had become very excited about the Ball bottling jars and wondered whether or not this was a precursor of things to come and when I found the Ball Blue preserving book produced specifically for this country and had a look at the recipes I was filled with hope and got very excited about being able to produce such goodies in my own kitchen. Recipes like bottled, crab, clams,chicken and beef. Logic dictated to me that surely they were now going to stock Pressure Preservers or Pressure Canners otherwise the recipes in the book would be of no assistance to me at all. However it is a beautiful book and only £5 and will come in useful in the future one is destined for my book shelf.
So I contacted Lakeland to find out whether I was barking at the moon and they have confirmed to me today that they have no plans to sell Pressure Preservers/Canners at present however they have passed it on as an idea for their buying department for the future. I am not sure I can wait that long so a Pressure Canner/Preserver is now high on my list even if I have to import one from the States.
Catch you soon.
Pattypan
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Import one thats what I did through Amazon its a shame they dont stock them, they would fly off the shelves i am sure :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn
DeleteI think that is what I am going to do. I have been toying with the idea for quite sometime. I was looking on Amazon last night. This is getting dangerous. You know its bad when I am researching canning recipes.
I pointed out to Lakeland that I thought a lot of people would take them up on them if they stocked them. We shall have to wait and see but I think I will have obtained one before then.
Take care
Pattypan
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We don't use pressure cookers to can with the Ball jars, in the US. A canning pot full of boiling water will do it..is that not in your book?
ReplyDeleteHi Lynda
DeleteWe have something called a pressure cooker here in the UK - but it is not a Pressure Canner/Pressure Preserver However Pressure Cookers are not considered safe enough to bottle vegetables, meats, pates etc as high enough temperatures cannot be achieved and we are actively discouraged from processing these without the right equipment - especially vegetables and meats. I do use it for making marmalades.
The method you refer to is known as hot water bathing in the UK- this I use on a regular basis for fruit and for cordials and syrups but not for meats, vegetables or low acid foods, Even my mum did not used to process vegetables when I was little and she used to do a lot of bottling. I have found recipes pre me being born but no one in real practice that I know of has bottled vegetables for years.
In the UK we have an equivalent to the Ball jars they are known as Kilner jars but we are limited on sizes - whereas you have a little more choice with the Ball ones. We have not seen them for sale very often so it is nice to have a little more choice.
They have not long published the UK version of the Ball Blue Book of Preserving for the English market which is what I was really interested in as it has a lot of meat, fish and vegetable recipes but without the canner and the higher pressure required there is the risk of botulism.
I bottle tomatoes on a regular basis but the tomatoes are roasted in the oven first and then processed by the hot water bathing process and lemon juice is added to the jar to help with low acidity.
Pattypan
The blogger at Doing it for Ourselves in Wales bought her own pressure canner. She should be able to give you advice on where to purchase one.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah
DeleteHope you are keeping well. Thank you. Dawn McHugh of Doing it for Ourselves has commented and I am going to pick her brains as well.
Take care
Pattypan
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I have many times nearly ordered one from the US!
ReplyDeleteHi Compostwoman
DeleteI nearly did before but I don't think I am going to be too long before I actually get one this time round. I have been after one for quite some time. Hope you are keeping well.
Take care
Pattypan
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