MSU Extension Food Preservation

Canning can be done year-round and is a fun and easy way to make meaningful holiday gifts for friends and family. Before you put that canner away for the winter months, consider making a few holiday gifts.

Michigan State University Extension suggests using The National Center for Home Food Preservation as a reference for a variety of unique and safe research-based recipes that can be created in your kitchen. The key is using research-based recipes and following the directions for safe, delicious results.

Here are some easy-to-make and flavorful suggestions that will make your gift one of envy:

• Apple butter. Great on toast, waffles, ice cream, cake, or served with cream cheese as an appetizer.
• Jams/jellies. The options are endless; who doesn’t like homemade jam/jelly?
• Roasted red pepper spread. It’s nice to have a ready-to-go appetizer at hand when needed. Also, a great topping for sandwiches.
• Chocolate raspberry topping. A favorite combination to be used to top a variety of desserts.
• Pickled "anything"— well, almost. Peppers, carrots, mixed vegetables, asparagus, string beans, cucumbers and more can make an instant appetizer, charcuterie board ingredient or even a bloody mary addition.
• Pie filling. Perfect to eat and give over the holidays.
• Salsa. A favorite among many, just be sure you are following the recipe.
• Herbal or fruit vinegars. These are great for cooking meat or adding to a salad.

By exploring different options before diving into your preservation project, you can set up an efficient activity for an afternoon of productivity. Begin by checking out recommended resources and look for one or two recipes that will fit into what is available in the grocery store or farmers market inventory and what you are comfortable making.

Be sure you have plenty of the recommended sized jars on hand; some stores clear out their shelves and mark them down when the season is over. Remember, some ingredients are not interchangeable, like powder pectin for liquid pectin, so make sure you have a recipe that will work with the ingredients you have on hand. You can use frozen fruit in place of fresh fruit; just make sure you check the label for sugar content. You don’t want to sweeten frozen fruit as this extra sugar could result in a failed set especially when making jams or jellies.

Do not double recipes, especially with jam, jelly, and fruit butter, as the products will not set properly resulting in a poor product. Finally, if you choose to use the small four-ounce jars to make more gifts, remember, unless the research-based recipe specifies a time for them, they will need to be processed for the length of time given for a half-pint jar.

Whether you are working alone or as a team, you will want to clear the counters and make space for an assembly line-style work area. Read through your recipe a couple of times to make sure you are clear on the directions. Measuring, following directions, and a clean work area are all important to create safe gifts your friends and family will enjoy.

Useful gifts for a home preserver

Whether the gift receiver is new to preserving and can use a lot of tools, or is someone that might need some minor updates, many items can be useful for a home preserver.  Tools that can be used for the canning process include:

• Jar lifter.
• Burper or bubble freer.
• Funnel.
• Cookbooks (So Easy to Preserve or the Ball Blue Book).
• Measuring spoons or cups.
• Thermometers.

Additionally, the following items make great gifts, either alone or in combination with other items, and can inspire the recipient to preserve:

• Apple peeler/corer/slicer.
• Food mill.
• Dehydrator.
• Sausage stuffer.
• Apron.

Presentation

Your gift can be enhanced by spicing up its packaging and presentation. Include it with a gift basket and add complimentary items like a spreader, crackers, serving dish or dish towel.  Decorate the jars with snazzy labels or put decorative fabric over the lids.

A special gift is one that comes from the heart. Consider creating something special this holiday season for those who are special to you.