>>>I just can’t seem to get into canning,<<<
I will probably only can about 35-40 cases this year. Apple sauce, limas, corn, chili, spaghetti sauce, string beans, wax beans and apple pie filling along with a bunch of peaches and any meat that comes along. I am getting a backlog of pickles, beets, tomatoes, peas, & squash, so have planted more root crops this year. Sweet potatoes, white potatoes, red potatoes, turnips. I have quite a few pumpkins planted, and butternut squash planted too.
The other day, as I was clearing out some storage space, I found a box that had been sitting there for about 15 years.(Yes, I am a pack-rat) I opened it and found my old dehydrator! I remember that I couldn’t find it so I wound up buying another, then this year when I found and bought the $6.99 one, I now have 3. So, this must be the year to dehydrate everything in sight.
I agree!! Dry everything. If it doesn’t stop raining soon, I’ll have nothing to dry. Have never dried extensively, but I think this is the year to give it a try. Have tried crock-pot roast with dried vegetable soup mix and it was delicious, giving the gravy an excellent flavor. With home-dried veggies, should be even better. Just wish I had a root cellar as you do. Would only can if we should lose power for an extended period and I could take things from the freezer and can. We do have a propane powered generator so could take my time canning. Something screwed up. Hope this isn’t a double post.