A few weeks ago I received an email from a dear lady, Ruth, who works for a small publishing company, asking if I was interested in publishing a "Canning Granny" Cookbook. I put out a small "feeler" question on Facebook to see what you folks thought... would you buy it? what would you like to see in it? etc.
Combining your wonderful feedback, my own ideas, and Ruth's suggestions... here's what we've come up with... it's still an idea... nothing's been signed... yet.
Reader's ideas and suggestions...
• Full color, step by step... like the blog
• Not too expensive
• Something different, not just a re-hash of the Ball Book and other canning books
• E-book as well as hard copy
• Recipes submitted by readers and Facebook followers with the contributor's name and state listed with the recipe (LOVE this idea!)
So, here's the concept...
I'd like to publish a Canning Granny (and friends!) Cookbook including recipes submitted by readers as well as my own recipes...
There are TONS of canning books out there with jams and jellies, pickles, fruits and veggies... so, trying NOT to just be a re-hash of those...
This book will be "Meals in Jars"... recipes for canning meals that are full meals or would only need making rice or noodles or adding milk or cream to the product after opening... for busy days when you don't have time or feel like cooking a full meal... just open a jar, boil some noodles, and eat! Or for times (like the recent Hurricane Sandy) when you have limited means of cooking and need something tasty and nutritious that you can heat up fast and have a meal in minutes.
I plan to include in the book... basic canning processes briefly... maybe include frequent or unusual questions and answers... and a few anecdotes about me and my life scattered here and there, just for fun.
Whatcha think?
So... if you're interested in participating in this cookbook project, here's what I'd like for you to do...
Send me, via email, at canninggranny@gmail.com...
Your "Meal in a Jar" recipe(s), including your Name and the State you are from...
The recipes need to be your own creation (or a friend or family member's), so we don't copy recipes from other cookbooks... we want these recipes to be unique.
The recipes need to be "canning safe!" While I sometimes indulge in "outlaw canning," this collection will need to be "approved." No grains, no "unapproved" thickeners, no dairy, no noodles... nothing "questionable."
Ideas include soups, stews, casseroles, bean dishes, meat and chicken dishes...
Please include complete instructions as well as how much it makes (quarts, pints, etc.)
So... whatcha think?
Interested?
I think this will be fun (even though right now I feel just a little overwhelmed by the idea! YIKES!)
Again... my email address is canninggranny@gmail.com
Let's get started!
I love a "step by step" book. I like to see what the mix should look like as I make a recipe. Not stupid, just getting older and like photographic evidence of whether or not I am doing something right.
ReplyDeleteI'd buy your book in a heartbeat!
I'm a visual learner, too! Haven't canned in years!
DeleteYes! I'd most definitely buy your book!
ReplyDeleteEven before I scrolled down to see all of your blog entry for today, I thought, "Meals in Jars...I hope she writes a book filled with recipes for meals in jars." Then when I saw the rest of your message, I saw that that was exactly what you had in mind. Yipeeee!
Go for it!
I can all the jellies,jams, relishes, salsas, applesauce and would love to take my canning into another direction with the meals in a jar. I would defiantly buy your book. I love the idea of the color photos I wont buy a cookbook unless they have the pics in them I find them boring lol. I think you have a wonderful idea and should run with it. Please keep us all updated as to when the book with be out in stores.
ReplyDeleteI make a great apple sauce but it includes alcohol. Would that be ok. The alcohol cooks out but the favor stays.
ReplyDeleteLove meals in jars! I like the emergency prep part of it, too! So many folks are into storage/preparedness lately. Especially in light of recent events. Soups. Don't forget soups!
ReplyDeleteMeals in jars sounds great! What I need (and maybe it's out there somewhere already) is a step by step "making friends with your pressure canner". I have a nice one but I'm still uncomfortable using it. How much water do I put in? How do I know it won't boil dry and get ruined? (How long does it take to exhaust a quart of water at different temperatures?) I would like to be as confident with my pressure canner (as you seem to be) as with boiling water bath canning.
ReplyDeleteGo see Patrice Lewis's blog. She has put together booklets on this very subject.
Deletehttp://www.rural-revolution.com/
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Winston
Wendy I read 2-3 inches, also don't put the gauge on it until steam has escaped for ten minutes, then put gauge on,the right pressure, and wait to time it till after it sputters real good. Then set timer, when finished, remove from heat, wait til it simmers down some then carefully remove gauge, make sure all steam escapes first, before opening canner lid. (could cause very serious burns if this is not followed (waiting til ALL steam escapes first)
ReplyDeleteI want to follow up on this recipe book, I am very interested in it! I will be sending in recipes!
ReplyDeleteDo it! I will buy it, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a canning book such as this. And not to let it overwhelms you.. You just take one step at a time, and do one thing at a time, & you will be fine!! Great, even.. though you already are. ;) Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea! I would love a book about whole meals in jars. What a great time saver! More power to you. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! I've been trying to find a book with canned "meals in a jar" recipes for at least a year. I would definitely buy this book...and a few more for gifts.:) Can't wait to hear more about publication.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I think there is a real gap in the market for this. I don' t buy many books new but I would buy this one!.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you a couple of my thoughts. Most of these recipes would involve pressure canning, of course. I think it would be amazing to have really detailed instructions on using different types of canners. I don't mean brands, but weights vs. gauges, etc. Especially if there are step by step pictures. I would follow your recipes, then flip over to the pressure canner instructions and follow them to the letter. I think this would be so amazing. It would really put pressure canning in the "hands of the commoners." LOL
I would be interested in submitting a recipe, too. It's an unusual one that wouldn't be all over the internet already. The trouble is I've already blogged about this dish, but didn't include the meat so I wouldn't have to pressure can. I wouldn't be able to give the amounts and how many quarts it would make, as I don't have any more bulk-from-the-farm tomatoes and peppers to do it over again. Can I give you the link and you tell me what you think? Should I ask for a volunteer tester or canner to make some to get all those details, or should I make it again, and with the meat this time? (I'd probably need to know you were reasonably interested first as it'd be a lot of work I wasn't already going to do, but would be willing if it had to be.)
http://preputilityvehicle.blogspot.ca/2012/10/books-available-oct-7-2012and-canning.html
Thanks so much for "listening"
Natalia
http://preputilityvehicle.blogspot.ca/
Checked out your recipe and blog (GREAT blog by the way!) and I would definitely LOVE to include your recipe! Thank you! ~~Granny
DeleteThanks, Pamela :) I'm so glad you like it/them both. I spend a few hours a day looking for and posting those books and love to share. I want more people to see them!
DeleteAs for the recipe, I'm glad you like that too! Can you clarify though, that I will have to make it again? Would you have to make it to photograph for the book and make sure it worked? If I would need to, how soon would it have to be done? I would have to bug you for details on making sure I was doing it safely. When you're ready, could you let me know exactly what you need me to do different from what I did in the blog. Thanks!
Natalia, I don't want to cause you extra work... if you want to remake it and figure the exact amount of ingredients, etc., including meat, I'd appreciate it. If you are not planning to make it any time soon, you can just send me what you have via email and I'll try it for myself with the meat added... I'd still like to put YOUR name on the recipe either way, if that's OK with you. Thanks! ~~Granny
DeleteAnother little opinion--I would want to can meals-in-jars that were basically from scratch--or at least not opening cans only to put them back in jars.
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY agree with that opinion! Thanks! ~~Granny
Deletei would definately buy the book. i wish i had a phone to take pic. of what i do i luv the pic.
Deleteof people's good's. i like the idea of canning other thing, that other people has canned there is so many recipe's and i would luv to try them.
And here's an unrelated question I'm posting separately because of its unrelatedness! ;)
ReplyDeleteI looked up canning sausages on your site and found them! yay! Anyway, I then thought that it was a no-no to include grains. Since most sausages have some filler, like breadcrumbs, in them, is this somewhere where it's okay?
I'm thinking of getting a sausage-making company (what are they called again?) to make me bulk sausages for canning, for cost reasons. And do a whole bunch in one long stretch as I still find pressure canning kind of daunting.
And another question---I'm really on a roll today!--do you know anywhere in Canada that people can get their gauges checked? Apparently you used to be able to at Home Hardwares, but not any more.
I never thought about sausage as having filler when I canned it (I also canned meatballs... and meatloaf! OMG!!!!!) I'm not sure about the rule there...
DeleteI do not know where Canadians can get their gauges checked either... sorry I'm not much help at all, am I? :) ~~Granny
I don't have any recipes but I am going to buy the book as soon as we can! (Are they taking pre-orders yet??!! LOL!)
ReplyDeleteWhy pay for a book when you can get them for free?
ReplyDeleteA lot of people would like something as specialized as this, that you can't find anywhere else, in paper! I get so many recipes for free from the internet, but this is specialized, and they will all be tested and photographed. That's why I would buy it, and I rarely buy new books.
DeleteI don't have any recipes for you for this but I love the idea! I hope you get it put together, I would love to read it! That is excactly the kind of canning book I am looking for!
ReplyDeleteSo exciting!! Whatever you decide to put in it will be wonderful!! I certainly want on the preorder list!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea! The reason I frequent your site is you are canning things other then jelly and pickles lol. I love those but I am way more interested in meals at this point in my canning. I would buy it!
ReplyDeleteI love all that you do for us! I have an imginary gift for you on my blog. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAww thanks! ~~Granny
DeleteI haven't canned in yrs! But I want to; I admit, hving so many fb friends w/o power for WAY TOO LONG! made me paranoid. Would love to can the foods I am eating now. Home made meals. YES do it! I will BUY it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, please pics of equipment --nvr used a canner. & process pics. I will go thru my moms recipes.
I just discovered your website. I would love a canning book that featured meals in a jar! The idea of having a practically instant meal without questionable ingredients is awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi,love the book idea. Go for it! Please include recipes for "everyday" meals. My guys will not eat "strange" foods. Of course, their idea of strange is different from mine.
ReplyDeleteCan I place my order now...I am.so.excited to.get this cook/canning book and get started.
ReplyDeleteGranny... don't know if you are including recipes on how to use some of the canned meats, like hamburger, stew meat, pot roast, etc. I can figure this out but there are a lot of newbies who would take a jar of canned meat in broth and say, "what now?" Maybe your next book can be how to use all these wonderful things we can. Love your site. I also get recipes on line but I do have a "small" collection of cookbooks. I'd be honored to include yours on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeletePattyK
I keep waiting for the notice that it's out! Then I saw that this post was just from November. Guess I'll need to wait a little longer, haha... Hope it's coming along well?
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to have a book like that. I agree with the other commenter above that there is a real void in the marketplace when it comes to pressure canning, particularly whole meals instead of just individual ingredients. I would definitely buy it!!!
ReplyDeleteawesome idea for the book!! i DO hope you do it!! yay!! i like the ebook idea but would also buy a hard copy so i could mark it up. i'm sorry i don't have any recipes to submit but my girlfriend has one of her grandmas and I'll ask her about it.
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to publish! I would buy and get presents for others!
ReplyDeleteHere is my idea for the book after a weekend of canning. The recipe pages need to be wipeable. I am notorious for spilling stuff or dropping things on my cookbook. That said a three ring binder format would be good too so a cook can pull just the pages he or she needs for that meal and not have to balance a book somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMy current idea for keeping recipes in view is putting cork board on my kitchen cabinet doors and push pinning the recipe at eye height. Very difficult to push pin an entire cook book to the cork board. LOL
Now off to find a way to mount an ereader or tablet to the cabinets for the erecipies.
I would so buy this book! Is it out yet? This post is old so maybe??? Lately ive had a obsession about hard back physical cook books an how to books. What if god forbid we lost power for a few months??? Its not likely but what if? Id rather have it an not need it rather than the other way around.
ReplyDeleteI would love love the meal in jars! All ive been finding(ive been looking) is the same old soups an such an since my hubby aint much of a soup stew guy this would be awsome!!
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Lately ive had a obsession about hard back physical cook books an how to books.