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All Things Prepping, Simple Living, Back to the Basics [Survival Today, an on going thread]
CottonBall

Posted on 09/16/2023 3:07:53 PM PDT by CottonBall

This is an ongoing thread – meaning come back to chat, post information, or ask questions any time. Hopefully the thread won’t stagnate and I’ll do better at posting weekly (or bi-weekly) topics than I have in the past. (anyone willing to post a topic now and then we'll be highly praised and appreciated).

We are in for some bumpy rides, and prepping can only help. If for peace of mind, if nothing else. We have a wonderful gardening thread and a current-events survival/prepping thread, and hopefully this one can piggyback off of those, maybe having a longer discussion about certain topics or … whatever. It's your thread, do what you like with it! (civilly, of course)

Here are granny’s threads, if anyone wants to peruse them:

nw_arizona_granny’s Thread #1

nw_arizona_granny’s Thread #2

nw_arizona_granny’s Thread #3


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: chat; cooking; dc; granny; prepper; preppers; prepping; survival
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To: bgill
Made some vanilla extract with vanilla beans and vodka for the first time today. Hope it works.

I've done that. It works very well.

I also tried it with rum. It worked well, too.

But it does take a while.

641 posted on 11/11/2023 7:15:21 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: bgill; CottonBall

This place as good quality beans at the best prices I have found.

https://www.slofoodgroup.com/


642 posted on 11/11/2023 7:17:30 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: CottonBall

Does it get rid of the black discoloration of the aluminum?


643 posted on 11/11/2023 7:19:21 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: metmom

yes, it did. up to the line that I had the water with cream of tartar, it is like new. shiny silver. above that though, there’s some interesting markings, faint though. it was probably there from the first test, I just didn’t notice it.


644 posted on 11/11/2023 7:23:12 PM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: metmom

great, TY!


645 posted on 11/11/2023 7:23:28 PM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: CottonBall

I buy my regular canning lids at Wal Mart, the generic ones. They’re made in the USA and work just fine. They’re less expensive than the Ball ones. I’ve had home canned soups stay perfectly sealed for 18 months. The food was just fine.

I’ve yet to try the cream of tartar trick to clean the inside of my All American. I’ll give it a try and report my results.

L


646 posted on 11/11/2023 8:49:25 PM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Lurker

That’s great to know, I’ve always wanted to try the cheaper lids, because they are something you just use once and throw away. Thanks for your feedback.

Let us know how the canner polishing up goes!


647 posted on 11/12/2023 6:05:20 AM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: CottonBall

Good tips about cleaning, thanks!

I have only used a Presto canner. A tip for prepping - make sure you have a backup o-ring, gauge, and stoppers. They do tend to wear over time. I replace mine every few years. Presto’s parts page: https://www.gopresto.com/part-finder.php?category_id=3


648 posted on 11/12/2023 6:16:06 AM PST by LilFarmer
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To: CottonBall
There are lots of cheaper one-unit lids, sometimes sold in bulk. If anybody has any input on those, I would love to hear it. I’ve been afraid to try them.

I've purchased a lot of bulk lids over the years. The lids sold at the nearby Amish grocery look like Ball lids without the printed logo. They are heavy and work well. I wish I knew the brand name.

The bulk lids I've purchased on Amazon aren't so great. They are seal well, but they're lightweight and aren't going to last. A couple days ago I opened a can of tomato juice from '22. There was a small rust spot starting to form on the bottom side of the lid. I won't buy any more of those. It's better to pay a bit more for lids that will last.

649 posted on 11/12/2023 7:01:38 AM PST by Augie
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To: CottonBall

I will. Thanks for the thread!

L


650 posted on 11/12/2023 7:30:31 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: CottonBall

You MUST wait until the pressure drops completely in your canner. It does no harm to let them sit in there for a while after, either. When I can soups they’ll continue to boil in the jars for an hour or so after I pull them out of the canner. So don’t rush it.

Patience is rewarded in this case.

L


651 posted on 11/12/2023 7:33:05 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Jane Long; CottonBall

I’ve used Tattler lids for things like jam and pickles. They work really well for high-acid foods, because there’s no chance of metal being corroded by the acids.

My current collection of Tattler lids have never been used for pressure-canning, even though I know they were made to handle that. Back in the early aughts when Tattler lids were still a new idea, I used some to can soup. Only I got a bad batch of the rubber O-rings, and they leached such a strong rubber flavor into the food it took me 2 days to get the taste out of my mouth! I know their manufacturing process has improved drastically since then, but it was a bad enough experience I haven’t been brave enough to try it again yet.

But for pickles, jams, and fruit syrups, they’re perfect.


652 posted on 11/12/2023 9:05:25 AM PST by Ellendra (A single lie on our side does more damage than a thousand lies on their side.)
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To: CottonBall

FREE CANNING JARS

https://www.classico.com/products

Most Classico brand tomato pasta sauces are packed in Atlas style mason jars with standard screw tops.
I say most because we have seen some with lug style tops that are not reusable for canning

Most of the jars we have collected are 24 ounce but we do have some 28 ounce that came from a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club.

I know the experts and manufacturers warn against reusing jars but in our experience Classico jars work just as well as store bought jars.
We have used these jars for canning for many years and never had a problem with breakage or sealing.

The style with screw on lids take a standard canning jar lid and band.

Of course they need to be inspected as you would any jar to make sure there are no hairline cracks, chips or irregularities on the rim that would affect the seal

And we always try to be careful with all jars by not filling cold jars with boiling hot contents or putting cold jars (empty or full) directly in boiling water.

If you don’t buy jar sauces yourself you can ask relatives of friends or neighbors who may use Classico to save the jars for you.
Or you can post a message on Craigslist, community bulletin boards or neighborhood flyers looking for people to save the jars for you.
In our experience people we found who do use Classico sauces were happy to save the jars for us.

Our local supermarket frequently has Classico on a BOGO sale.

We have also called the company at 1-888-337-2420 and they sent us discount coupons.
The last coupons we got were $ .50 each and we used them to save even more at the BOGO sale.


653 posted on 11/12/2023 8:30:07 PM PST by Iron Munro (Sun Tzu: An Evil Man Will Burn His Own Nation To The Ground To Rule Over The Ashes. )
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To: Ellendra

Thanks! I knew you were the one to ask. :)


654 posted on 11/13/2023 6:15:55 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Iron Munro

When my Mom was going through a quart of honey per week, we’d get a local brand that used normal canning jars, just with their label pasted over the “Kerr”. I considered those free jars.

I would bet there are other small brands that do the same, you just have to feel the label to check the jar underneath.

Here’s a twist on that: Does anybody know of a brand that uses plastic jar that would fit a regular-mouth canning lid? Not for canning with, but my blender has a blade assembly that fits a mason jar, and I’d like a few quart-sized plastic jars to make my smoothies in.


655 posted on 11/13/2023 11:55:28 AM PST by Ellendra (A single lie on our side does more damage than a thousand lies on their side.)
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To: Ellendra

I’m glad you found a use, so they weren’t a waste.

I was ridiculously confident when I first bought them. I think I got 12 boxes. I thought how hard could it be? My first batch nothing sealed. Then I panicked because I had all these worthless lids. But that made me practice and practice and figure out what I was doing wrong.

It ended up I had gotten completely lazy with the ball lids. Those things sealed no matter what. With the tattlers I actually had to follow canning directions. When I did that, I had much better success.


656 posted on 11/13/2023 2:25:30 PM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: Iron Munro

That’s great to know! I had some friends that kept giving me the pasta sauce jars, I have a nice little collection and they are pretty but I have been cautious about using them for canning.

It’s hard to get anything free these days, so that’s a great suggestion.


657 posted on 11/13/2023 2:27:23 PM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: Iron Munro

You had mentioned the price of the All-American, hope you don’t mind me putting this here on the forum. I’m just too lazy to go into mail. lol

I really wish I had bought the All-American back when I bought the presto! The Presto has only gone up about 20%. I think the all Americans gone up at least 50%. Oh well I got it anyway. I don’t know how much the good grain mills were back then, but I’m sure I’m losing a similar amount of money for not having gotten a good one.


658 posted on 11/13/2023 2:29:18 PM PST by CottonBall (“Fascism should be called corporatism because it is a merger of state & corporate power" – Mussolini)
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To: Ellendra
Does anybody know of a brand that uses plastic jar that would fit a regular-mouth canning lid?

Mayonnaise and salad dressing jars.


659 posted on 11/13/2023 2:38:32 PM PST by Iron Munro (Sun Tzu: An Evil Man Will Burn His Own Nation To The Ground To Rule Over The Ashes. )
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To: CottonBall
I really wish I had bought the All-American back when I bought the presto! The Presto has only gone up about 20%.
I think the all Americans gone up at least 50%. Oh well I got it anyway.
I don’t know how much the good grain mills were back then, but I’m sure I’m losing a similar amount of money for not having gotten a good one.

I think we all know what you mean and agree with you.

"Back then" was the best time to buy a lot of things I wish we had been able to afford at the time.
But right now is the second best time.

We are being forced into a "new normal" like what happened to us after the 1973-1974 oil embargo when gas prices doubled driving the price of everything else up.
And once the value of the dollar plumets and orices skyrocket there is no going back.

One big difference is that the embargo was largely created by foreign powers and forced on us.
This Bidenomic disaster is homemade and was 100% avoidable and it's probably intentional .

If/when democrats and RINOs finish destroying the economy and what's left of our culture our world will change in ways almost unimaginable just a generation ago.

If the Stuff Hits The Fan gold will still be around somewhere but we can't eat it.
And there won't be big supplies of canners and jars on the shelves of the looted and bankrupt stores at any price.

A good pressure canner, a supply of jars and lids and other prepper/survival tools will be worth more than gold.


660 posted on 11/13/2023 11:39:20 PM PST by Iron Munro (Sun Tzu: An Evil Man Will Burn His Own Nation To The Ground To Rule Over The Ashes. )
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