Today I had the pleasure to judge at our local fair for Home Arts. My area was canning, dehydrating and honey. Beautiful home products were brought in.
We had wonderful group of gals and great questions were asked. What do we look at? What are the criteria?, etc.
Well just in case you wonder as well what we use as guidelines, here are a few.
- Is it a standard canning jar
- Is it a standard canning lid
- Is the jar clean (not sticky or residue on the jar or rim)
- Is the jar labeled: contents, date, processed how and time
- Was the correct processing method used (hot water bath, pressure canner, correct time processed)
- Was it a USDA recommended recipe
- What does the product look like.
- Is it uniform in size
- Is it uniform in ripeness
- Does it hold it's shape (if that pertains)
- Is the liquid clear or murky
- Is there sediment in the bottom of the jar
- Is the headspace correct for the recipe
- And then there are additional items if it is jelly, jam, conserve, butter: consistency, thickness, etc.
It is great fun and I'm always so pleased to see the lovely produce put by by such talented people.
That was my morning so this afternoon I came home to get some of my own 'putting by' done.
We lost two branches from our peach tree (very sad). I didn't want the peaches to go to waste so I left them outside to ripen on the picnic table. They were small but still tasty so I decided to make peach fruit leather with them.
So I pitted them, whirled them in the blender with a vitamin C (which is ascorbic acid to prevent browning), some spices, honey and a little splash of water. That is now out in the dehydrator.
I also had purchased some meat for the weekend that we didn't use. My freezer is getting full. So I decided to can my meat. I have nine pints in the pressure canner right now processing.
If you too would like to can meat, it is really easy, go HERE to the National Center for Home Canning Meat.
That has been my day of judging and putting by. I hope you are having a beautiful time harvesting the seasons' bounty as well.
a little bird
Ha - I've heard the term 'putting up'.. but not really 'putting by' :) What an honor to be a judge. I have never entered a thing at a local fair. And yep - we are enjoying our kitchen! (although I'm not a big 'canner'. I have done some - but not a huge amount. Love having it on hand tho!
ReplyDeleteI guess it's from 'putting food by' and just shortened to 'putting by'. Funny how that works. It really is fun to judge. I love to can, dehydrate and freeze. Putting by is my hobby.
DeleteHow fun...
ReplyDeleteI love that picture of all the can stuff. BEAUTIFUL...
Would be so pretty framed and hanging in a kitchen.
I love this time of year too.. Ours is about finished. Fall is heading our way.
Hope you have a blessed week.
We are a bit cooler here. So our produce is still coming. Three apple trees, two peach trees, beets, corn, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and grapes. That should keep me out of too much trouble... Happy autumn to you. Do your trees turn in MO?
DeleteRobin, Our trees do turn.. such pretty gold, orange, red and brown colors..Beautiful, I love it. But, I am in Mississippi..smile
DeleteHope you have a blessed week.
Robin,
DeleteI am in Ms.. and yes, our trees do turn.. I just love the browns/yellows/ oranges.. beautiful.
We too have a big garden and lots of fruit trees. Such a blessing [and lots of work.lol]. I have 2 gallons of grapes that I MUST work on today.. [being lazy]. Have a blessed day..
Robin,
DeleteI am in Ms.. and yes, our trees do turn.. I just love the browns/yellows/ oranges.. beautiful.
We too have a big garden and lots of fruit trees. Such a blessing [and lots of work.lol]. I have 2 gallons of grapes that I MUST work on today.. [being lazy]. Have a blessed day..