Canning Oranges

We bought a case of oranges yesterday for the purpose of canning oranges.  It was clear full when I started.

First we pealed them and then separated the slices.

I made some orange juice from concentrate and used it as the liquid to pour into the bottles.

While peeling we shaved some of the orange peels to make pot pourie.

Next I packed the bottles and poured the orange juice to within one inch of the top.

Of course we sterilized the bottles first and then as I filled them I put them back into the oven at 250 to pre-heat them for canning.

I then put the lids and rings on them and put them into the steam caner for 18 minutes.

That was a mistake and I had to re-process all of them in a hot bath caner for 20 min. because they were not sealing as they should.  I also put the lids on too tight the first time I put them in the steam caner.  Nice and snug but not too tight!!!

They turned out fantastic!  I was so excited to see that caning oranges was so easy!  In all we canned 14 quarts and 3 pints.  Holly then made some sweet smelling salsa from the peelings and added cloves and cinnamon and put them in a small crock pot to make the house smell very nice.

She also made some orange sweet tea to drink.  It is supposed to be good to get rid of headaches.

I still had about 25 oranges left so I made Orange Julius for everyone to drink.

The kids really loved this part of the project!

And this is what the case of oranges looked like when I finished!

What a fun project!

I can't wait to put them on our shelves and then use them on cold winter nights for fresh caned oranges, Orange Julius or any number of things like putting them into orange jello, or just making a cold glass of sweet orange juice. 

The next day we sprinkled salt on the orange peels, (waited 1 hour) then stuffed them into jars and filled them half full of white vinegar and then the rest of the way with water. We shook them up and put them on the shelf.  In about a month they will be sweet orange scented household cleaner!

Make your own Can Food Storage Box.

I will show you how to use most any size box and make it into  a food storage box for your storage room.

SEPTEMBER- Canning Peaches, Apples, Plums and Prunes!

I have a new peach tree that just started producing peaches this year.  I picked nearly a bushel of peaches from it and I have now canned nearly two cases to eat this winter!

 Today was September 22, 2012.
Then on September 24 we canned quite a few jars of Raspberry-Plum Jam.

There was still time so we canned more peaches...

Then on September 26th we canned more Plum Jam and Apple Pie filling.

While we were at it we decided to make a Plum, a Prune and an Apple pie!

On September 27 I canned 11 quarts of Peach Pie Filling!

SEPTEMBER- Canning a variety of Jams.

This morning I went out and picked a lot of fruit from my garden and today we made 15, 20 oz. jars of all kinds of Jam.

 

We made several combinations of raspberry and peach, peach and prune, and peach and Plum.

 

SEPTEMBER- Canning Peaches & Prunes

I had a bumper crop of peaches and Stanley prunes this year.

 

After canning a case of 12 quart peaches I picked a few Stanley prunes and canned 11 quarts of them.

 

All of this fruit is starting to fill up my food storage shelves!

SEPTEMBER- Canning Raspberries and Drying Plums

My Raspberry patch is producing really good this year.

Today I canned 6 small jars of raspberries and I froze the rest.

 

This is the largest crop of Stanley prunes my tree has ever produced!  They look more like giant grapes all over the tree.

I cut a bunch of them in half and set them out in the sun to start them drying.

My other plum tree is producing a crop of very juicy and sweet plums too!

SEPTEMBER- Canning Jalapeno Peppers

This year when I bought what I thought to be Bell Peppers turned out to be Jalapino Peppers.  So I picked them and canned and froze the peppers.

AUGUST 25-27- Making Peach, Prune and Raspberry Pie

My early peaches are coming on fast so I went and picked them.

Then we made peach pie!

Next we made Peach, Plum and Raspberry desert!

I love harvest time!!!

AUGUST- Smoked Trout and Canning Salsa and Dill Pickles

We went fishing in the High Uintah Mountains and I brought back some trout and smoked them in my smoker.

Then we made some home made salsa.

We chopped up some cucumbers and zukini and made some Pickle Relish.

Next we made some dill pickle spears and dill slices.