Sunday, August 31, 2014

Labor of Love –Canning

We have been busy preserving summer. Tonight  we took on Bruschetta in a Jar. We can’t wait to dig into this come fall, come snow, come gray skies.

Try it yourself. (And while peeling those tomatoes, tap your toes to Greg Brown's 'Canned Goods')

 Bruschetta in a Jar
·        5 cloves of garlic, diced
·        1 cup dry white wine
·        1 cup white wine vinegar
·        ½ cup water
·        2 tbsp sugar
·        2 tbsp basil
·        2 tbsp oregano
·        2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
·        9 cups chopped cored plum tomatoes

1.    Prepare canner, jars and lids. (Clean jars and closures, heat the jars, and place the flat lids in small saucepan, covered with water, simmering over medium heat)

2.    Combine garlic, wine, wine vinegar, water, sugar, basil, oregano and balsamic vinegar in large stainless steel saucepan . Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and boil gently for 5 minutes – Remove from heat.

3.    Prep tomatoes by cutting the stem, place in boiling water for 1 minute, then in cold water. Skin will peel off. Once all peeled, chop tomatoes.

4.    Pack tomatoes into hot jars with ½ inch of top of jar. Ladle hot vinegar mixture into jar to cover tomatoes, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust with small plastic spatula. Adjust headspace if necessary by adding hot liquid so ½ inch headspace remains. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip-tight.

5.    Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 20 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool, label and store.