Talk about pressure.
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| 1944 American Advertising Promoting Home Canning |
During World War II, my Granny Lucille just couldn't walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as she wanted, nor could she fill up her car with gasoline whever she liked. All these things were rationed. Americans were only allowed to buy a small amount - even if they could afford more.
The American government introduced rationing in an attempt to be sure everyone got their fair share since certain things were in short supply during the war.
War ration books and token were issued to each American family, dictating how much of certain items one person could buy. A wartime edition of the American Woman's Cook Book contained revised recipes and gave advice on dealing with food shortages.
My Granny Lucille canned her home grown fruits and vegetables before, during and after World War II. She learned canning from her mother, Katherine.
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| Granny Lucille's Family Granny was about 10 years old in this photo. She is in the center, just behind and to the left of her mother. Circa 1915 |
Granny Lucille taught her daughter (my mother) Natalie, how to grow and can her own food. Their kitchens looked like laboratories with steam rising from the pressure cookers they used to sterilize the Mason jars.
I was always afraid of those pressure cookers, so I am not preserving one of my grandmother's and mother's American traditions of canning fruits and vegetables.
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| From Left: Natalie (Marcia's Mom), Marcia (Center Back), Granny Lucille (Marcia's Grandmother) Front Center: Kristin (Marcia's Daughter) Photo Copyright 1976 Marcia Norwood |
If you're ready for a challenge - and want the adventure of preserving an American tradition - here's a link to videos showing you how to use a pressure cooker for canning food in jars.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pressure+cooker+for+caning+jars&qpvt=pressure+cooker+for+caning+jars&FORM=VDRE#
I'll even throw in Mom's recipe for Sweet Relish...in her own handwriting. At the very bottom of her recipe, Mom writes simply: "Seal in jars."
Yeah. Right. Sounds simple. Let me know how that works out. The relish is delicious, by the way.
The glass Mason jar used in canning and preserving food was patented in 1858 by John Landis Mason, a Philadelphia tinsmith. It's also called a Ball jar, after the Ball Corporation, an early manufacturer of the jars. They are also called fruit jars...jam jars...or glass canning jars. They are commonly used in home canning.
Even though I don't use Mason jars in canning...I use them to make homemade candles, everyday food storage, quirky organizers, and vintage-style pretties with adornments and embellishments.
I picked up a free brochure from my local HOBBY LOBBY store, with some great ideas for crafting with Mason jars.
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