[samiam1972]

Would one of you come to my house someday and can with me? I can read and read and read but until I try it, it will never make sense. I know I’m going to mess something up!!! :0)

Anyone have any fabulous recipes for blueberries? I froze a gallon size bag of them for use in pancakes, muffins and smoothies but am wondering what else I might do with them should I receive another batch of them. Is this hijacking a thread? I apologize if it is!

[Petronski]

I recommend freezing the blueberries in one-quart bags.

A gallon of berries is a lot to use in one throw, but a quart of berries is just about right for a small pie, batch of muffins or breakfast-type use.

[bgill]

Start off learning to can with something simple. Tomatoes are no brainers as are beans and peas. Clearing off enough counter space for pickles is the hardest part.

After that, try your hand at preserves and jellies. Preserves are easier than jellies because you don’t have to stain them. However, here’s a tip to help use up as much of the fruit as possible. Strain your fruit for jelly but save the pulp. The pulp can then be made into preserves or fruit butters such as apple butter, etc. (hope you know this isn’t butter made from cream but fruit spreads, right?) Butters are such comfort foods. They want a little extra spice such as cinnamon or nutmeg to give that homey warmth taste.

If you have lots of tomatoes, make tomato preserves... yummmm!

Then try your hand at meat.

For those who find they have some old preserves, make filled cookies. I use the filled cookie dough recipe from an old 1950’s Betty Crocker cookbook but you can make a basic sugar cookie dough (but not too sweet). Roll it out and cut into 3-4” circles. Put a spoon of preserves in the middle of the circle and cover with another circle of dough. Seal the edges, prick the top with a fork for vents and bake. These are the best! They put poptarts to shame.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Anyone have any fabulous recipes for blueberries?”

Here’s 394 recipes using blueberries. That should keep you busy for a while, LOL!

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?foodido%5B%5D=1410&srwci=

Send me some Blueberry Sorbet when you get to it. :)

[JRochelle]

Speaking of blueberries, I just spent my morning picking them. Beautiful berries, and the price was pretty too, 60 cents per pound.

There is always blueberry pie. You can’t go wrong with that.

[CottonBall]

Would one of you come to my house someday and can with me? I can read and read and read but until I try it, it will never make sense. I know I’m going to mess something up!!! :0)

LOL! I felt exactly the same way. In fact, my canner sat in its Amazon box for weeks until I felt 'brave' enough to take it out.

I'd say, just jump in with both feet, not worrying about the end product. Follow your canning book once step at a time - that way it's lees intimidating.

I'm at the point now - after only about a month - that I really enjoy canning. And especially hearing the pings as the jars cool, telling me that the vacuum seal is being set and the jars will be ok!