CANNED VEGETABLES
Some housewives hold that when canned vegetables may be bought for the low price at which they now stand, it is mistaken economy to attempt to “put up” such articles at home. But there are two sides to this question. In the first place there are small country places where it is next to impossible to buy many kinds of canned vegetables, and the dwellers in such localities must, of necessity, do their own canning. A still greater consideration is the fact that vegetables preserved in tin cans are not as delicate in flavor as those put up in glass. Imported peas, beans, etc., may be purchased in glass jars, but these are so expensive as to be beyond the reach of the economical housewife. Let her then supply herself with a number of wide-mouthed glass jars with properly fitting rubber rings and tops, and she may snap her fingers at importers and domestic grocers.
Tomatoes, canned whole (No. 1)
This is a delicate process, but the result amply repays one for her pains.
Stew small tomatoes tender and squeeze from them every drop of juice. Strain this juice through a flannel jelly-bag, without squeezing the bag. Season, and set aside until needed. With a thin-bladed, sharp knife remove the cores from the center of large, firm, smooth tomatoes. Lay the tomatoes, side by side, in a deep bake-pan, and pour cold water around them until it covers them entirely. Set in a moderate oven where the contents will heat gradually, and cover closely. When the water begins to boil, the pan may be removed, and the tomatoes carefully taken up. Put them very gently into large-mouthed quart jars. Bring the strained juice to a boil, skim well, fill the jars to overflowing with this, and screw on the tops.
These tomatoes may be stuffed and baked in the winter, and will be found to be as fine in flavor as the fresh vegetables. Tiny “egg tomatoes” may be canned in the same way, without removing the cores, and form a dainty garnish for such dishes as beef à la jardinière.
Tomatoes, canned whole (No. 2)
Select firm, ripe tomatoes; immerse in boiling water for a few minutes and slip off the skins. Have ready a large kettle of boiling water. Into this put enough tomatoes to fill just one jar. It takes about six tomatoes to fill a jar. Cover and allow them to remain eight minutes. Pack into a hot jar, fill up with boiling water and seal at once. They keep well and taste almost like fresh ones.
Canned stewed tomatoes
Scald the tomatoes and remove the skins, laying the vegetables in a colander, that the juice may drip away. Put into a porcelain-lined kettle and bring to a boil. Stew for fifteen minutes, pour off any superfluous liquor, season with salt, and pour the tomatoes, boiling-hot, into the cans. Seal immediately.
Canned corn
One of the most difficult vegetables to can is sweet corn, and I would advise the housewife not to run the risk of throwing time and labor away upon the attempt to preserve this vegetable. I, myself, have observed the utmost care in canning corn, only to find, after the lapse of a few weeks, that the vegetable had begun to ferment and was uneatable. It may, however, be safely canned with tomatoes, and thus prepared, makes a delicious scallop and a pleasant addition to vegetable soups and to stews.
Canned corn and tomatoes
Boil two dozen ears of ripe corn until the kernels are tender. Remove from the fire and, while still hot, cut the corn from the cob with a short knife. Peel two dozen ripe tomatoes, and chop into small bits. Mix the corn and tomatoes together, salt to taste, and put over the fire in a porcelain-lined kettle. Bring to a hard boil, cook for a minute and pour at once into quart jars. Seal immediately.
Potted corn
Boil the ears of corn for ten minutes after the boil begins. Remove from the water and cut all the kernels from the cobs. Put a layer of the corn in the bottom of a jar, and cover thickly with a layer of salt. Put in another stratum of corn, then more salt, until the jar is full—having the top layer of salt. Pour over all melted lard, and when this is cool, cover closely with paraffin-paper fitted over the top of the jar. Keep in a cool room until wanted. This corn must be soaked for six or eight hours before using. It will then be fresh and sweet.
Canned asparagus
Into an asparagus boiler put salted water, and when it boils hard lay the asparagus in it. Boil until tender, but not broken and soft. Lift out carefully, stand on end (with the tops up) in fruit-jars, fill the jars to overflowing with the boiling water, and seal immediately. Be sure that tops and rubbers are in good condition, and keep this delicate vegetable in a cool, dark, dry place.
Canned beets (No. 1)
Take early beets that have grown quickly, cook and peel as for immediate use, slice and pack in fruit jars. Be sure that rubbers and tops are in excellent order. Boil good cider vinegar that is not too strong, adding pepper and salt to taste, and a tablespoonful of sugar. While boiling, pour over the packed beets in the jars, fill to overflowing, and immediately screw down the tops tight. Wrap in brown paper and put in a very dark place. They keep well, and are superior to beets bought later in the season.
Canned beets (No. 2)
Prepare the beets as for immediate use. Leave on two or three inches of top to prevent bleeding; also be very careful not to cut or break the skin. Boil, and when done (which should be done in one-half or three-quarters of an hour) pour off the hot water, and replace with cold. Let the beets cool in the water, so that you can handle them. While the beets are cooling, put into an agate or porcelain kettle enough vinegar for the quantity that you are preparing. Add two cupfuls of granulated sugar to a quart of the vinegar, with pepper and salt to taste. Slice the cool beets, put them into the hot vinegar, let them remain on the fire until heated through, then put into air-tight jars.
Canned string beans
Remove all the strings from both sides of the beans. Cut the beans into inch lengths and cover with water. Boil until tender, but not soft. Season with salt and pepper. Take the beans from the pot with a perforated spoon, and put them in jars standing in a pan of hot water. Boil up and skim the liquor remaining in the kettle, and fill the jars to the brims with this. Seal at once.
Canned lima beans
Shell, cook for fifteen minutes in boiling water slightly salted. Then proceed as with string beans.