Canning 301: The Pressure Cooker Method

OK if you have mastered Canning 101: The Boiling Water Method and then you are ready for the Pressure Cooker.

You will need:
A Pressure Canner
Rack for cooking
Timer
Tongs
Jars and Lids
Food to Can

Prep your food and your jars.  See Canning 101 for steps.

Pour 2 to 3 inches of boiling water into the bottom of the pressure canner.

Place jars on rack set at bottom of canner.  Jars must not touch the bottom of the pot.

Fasten pressure canner lid.

Turn heat to maximum.  Let steam exhaust for 10 min.

When the first inch of the steam jet is nearly invisible, close the vent.

At 8 lb. of pressure lower heat slightly.  Let pressure rise to 10 lb.

At 10 lb. pressure (or according to your recipe) start timing.  Hold pressure for full canning period.  Adjusting the temp as needed.

Remove canner from heat and let cool.  Do not pour cold water on it or remove the lid.

When pressure is zero, open vent, then lid.  Tilt lid slightly so the steam will rise away from you for safety.

Set jars on rack or towel leaving space between them.  Tighten lids if needed.  Allow to cool completely the check lids to ensure they sealed.

Store canned items in a cool dark place, and enjoy!

I found this handy dandy picture explanation on the web so I thought I would share it with you.

When I awoke....

The first thing I remember when I started to wake up was the nurse telling me that Kendra was beautiful.  I said Kendra?  Don't let Ryan name the baby!  Then I went back to sleep.  Again when I woke another nurse said Kendra is beautiful.  Again I said Kendra?  No, no, no that is not her name!  Don't let Ryan name the baby!  Then I feel asleep again.  I'm not sure how long I was out but when I awoke the third time I was a little more lucid and asked how the baby was?  The nurse again told me that Kendra was fine, and this time I said where is Ryan?  He is not allowed to name the baby!

In Ryan's defense because everything was so rushed we had not talked naming the baby.  I just assumed we would talk about the name before making anything permanent.  When I talked to Ryan about the name he said he had already texted, emailed, and told everyone that her name was Kendra. Then with that they brought the baby in and I finally got to see and hold her.  She was beautiful and healthy I was so happy.  I was worried because she was a month early and the amniocentesis results came back that her lungs were not ready that she was going to have all kinds of problems but I was holding my perfect little baby girl and she was healthy.  No tubes hooked up her and no visible problems.  Then because I wanted to have some say in her name I agreed to live with Kendra but changed her middle name. And just as I was holding Kendra for the first time my mom walked in to my room and held me.  I was so happy she was able to be there.

 

Minutes later doctors nurses kept coming in to check on me and my doctor, Dr. Hancock said that they were still running some test on the cyst but that it did not look cancerous to him however there were some abnormalities that they were looking into.

 

After several doctors, nurses, and interns checked on me and the baby.  I was finally able to get some peace and quite with what felt like PAINFREE for the first time in a year.  When they would ask me how I felt I always said "GOOD, GREAT, VERY LITTLE PAIN".  One doctor said I was the first patient he had ever talked to after birth and major surgery that described themselves as PAINFREE.  But after being in the pain I was in for so long I did really feel great.  Until I had to move then I realized yes I still have pain but I was hopeful that it would go away once I fully healed from the surgery.  Life was good.

 

Until I went in for my 3 week post surgery check up with Dr. Hancock....

Canning 101: Boiling Water Bath Method

I love canning, it is so much fun.  I love to can with friends and family it makes it so much nicer.  It is also a lot easier to do than you may think.

What you need:
Canning Pot with Lid
Mason Jars
Rack or Basket for Canning Pot
Timer
Tongs
Cooling Rack or Towel
Produce to Can

The water bath method of canning is only good for foods that are high is acid (apples, tomatoes, peaches, and pickles).  If you want to can foods that are low in acid (beans, meats, corn) then you will need to use the Pressure Cooker Method.

First of all everything needs to be really clean.  The jars, lids, and produce (or whatever you are canning).  So wash everything.  I really like to put the jars and lids into the dishwasher so they getting super cleaned and up to an hot enough temp to kill anything that may be on them.  And then I give my fruits and veggies and quick wash to remove any dirt or particles.

Next is the fun part.  You get to make whatever it is that your canning (applesauce, peaches, pie filling, jams, etc.)  Coming soon a post of some of my favorite canning recipes.

Once you have prepared you produce then you pack it into your jars.  It is important to leave enough headroom (that is the space at the top of the jar) for the product to expand to.  Usually most canning recipes will tell you how much headroom you need.  You want the produce packed into the jars pretty tight.

 

Wipe the rim of the jars so they are really clean, then put lids on them.

 

While you are prepping your produce you also want to prep the water.  By filling your canner halfway with hot water.

Then load your jars into a wire basket or onto a metal rack.  You don't want the jars touching the bottom of your pan.

Next add boiling water to 2 inches above jars.  You don't want to pour directly on the jars they may crack.

 

Cover the canner with a lid and bring the water to a rolling boil, start the timer.

Reduce the heat, but maintain a rapid boil. Add more boiling water if needed.

When processing time is up, remove jars immediately with tongs or the entire basket.

Tighten lids if needed.  Set jars on a towel or rack leaving space between them.  Do not touch till cooled.

Don't forget to check to ensure the lids have sealed by pressing the center of lids once cooled.  If it pops then it has not sealed and you will have process it again.  If there is no pop then it has sealed.  Hooray, canning success!

 

The Whirlwind of Doctors and Birth

After the ultrasound showing that my cyst was now so huge that it no longer could be measured I was wheeled off to room to wait, not allowed to leave the doctor office but just wait.  I was so glad my dad was with me at this time because I was in a fog of emotions and pain, I could only remember parts of what the doctor were telling me.  A team of doctor were quickly assembled to review my case and consult on the best path for me to take.  They determined that by the weekend I would need to deliver the baby and have the cyst removed.

Since I was not full term I was sent to the Hartford Hospital to get a amniocentesis done, so they could determine if the baby's lungs were going to be developed enough for delivery.  This time Ryan took me to the hospital and we got a little turned around so Ryan stopped to asked the police/security at the Hospital where we needed to go, without stopping to think we found ourselves with police escort to the valet parking.  Where security meet us at the car and I was then whisked away by them left to wonder where Ryan was but at the same time not worried to much I knew he would find me, he always does.  In the end we made it together to get the procedure done.  At this point my pain level had increased 10 fold.  The narcotics were no longer working and breathing cause so much pain that I had a constant flow of tears running down my face.  I was mess.

After preforming the procedure the doctor asked me if she could call my doctor and let him know how much pain I was in.  She said if you were my patient I would deliver you right away regardless of what the results of the test were.  As I waited in the hospital bed being monitored after the procedure and waiting for my doctor to let me know what I needed to do next, all I wanted was to have my mother by side.  Ryan was great however the nurses showed him some techniques he could do to help lessen my pain and he called my mom who left immediately to be with me.

Of course Dr. Hancock said that I needed to go right away to the Manchester Hospital without stopping, where my team of doctors were being assembled prepping for my delivery.  When we arrived I no longer could move on my own accord.  Things were moving so fast, I was so scared.  It was not how I had envisioned my birth.  I wanted to do a all natural water birth with no stress where everything goes exactly as I planned and the baby was healthy with no complications.  But instead I found my self hooked up to IV with even heavy drugs/ narcotics being pumped into me and signing my life away when I consented for them to do a C-section and major surgery removing whatever they felt needed to when they got in there.  Things like having a full hysterectomy, removing my gallbladder, my appendix, along with all kinds of other body parts.  Also I had determined the best thing for me to do was to be completed knocked out.  Which meant I would not remember the birth of the baby but it allowed them the time to take care of the cyst removal and whatever else they needed to do.

I remember there was one intern who kept coming in with all my doctors prior to the surgery and he was so excited.  He told me that he was the lucky intern that got picked to follow my case.  He said that all the other interns really wanted my case because it was rare.  Thanks intern you really know how to calm a persons nerves.  They prepped me for surgery, Ryan gave me a blessing.  My dad brought Emily by to see.  I gave hugs and kisses to all and was told that my mom would be here before I woke up for surgery.  And with that I was taken away.

The OR was so cold.  They lifted me onto the operating table, extended my arms outstretched and strapped them down as well as the rest of body.  The anesthesiologist asked me what music I wanted to listen to I choose country.  He turned the music on.  I looked to my left and saw about 20 interns filling into the OR as happy and excited as Christmas morning in the pack the one lucky intern who was in my room earlier.  As turned back to look at Dr.  Hancock he said they were all so excited to get to see not only a C-section but major surgery.  And I heard their teacher or the doctor in charge of them start explain how this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them.  I'm just glad I could provided that experience for those interns. 

Then shaking because of the cold Dr. Hancock told me that normally they would wait tell I went under to prep my belly but that they needed to now before I went under so that the could deliver that baby the fastest as possible.  They did not want the baby to get any of the anesthesia drugs, so they had to be fast he said.  Then they proceeded to wash my belly with even more cold stuff.  I was shaking so much and was so scared.  I wished I could see Ryan and that he could stroke my face and calm me down, but he was not allowed in the OR.  The assured me he was waiting right outside the OR and that the baby would be taken to him as soon as it was delivered.  So I focused on Taylor Swift singing "It's a love story" and I was gone.

Photos + Quotes = Elegant Greeting Cards

I love graphic design, actually design of anything.  I think I have a pretty good eye for what looks good and what doesn't.  Plus I love quotes and feel good statements.  So... I combined the two and created this series of greeting cards from photographs either I took or my friend Amy took. 

I made them on the computer in a program called Publisher by Microsoft.  The program already has in it a greeting card template (that's where I got the idea, to make my own).  I simply put my photograph into the template, found my favorite quote, did some basic graphic design stuff, added a back logo, and BAM the result is elegant greeting cards for any occasion.  I printed a whole bunch at once so they would be ready for me to use when needed.

Great gifts for tons of different occasions (bridal shower, weddings, birthdays, house warming, etc)