So my neighbor’s brother runs a farm in a valley fairly close to our house, this afternoon my neighbour brought over about 20 lbs of hot peppers!  He said he knows that I like to cook and that he is sure I’ll find a use for them.  I laughed,  and of course thanked him, and started thinking, “ What the hell am I going to do with all these peppers”?

And then I thought, why don’t I make a few meals with some of them and can the rest? Perfect, that’s what I’ll do! Now, I have never canned anything before in my life… but how hard could it be? Well time to check the internet for some ideas I guess…

Ok, after doing some research, it looks like 2o lbs yields about 20 to 25 jars.  Ha! Think I may have found some Christmas present ideas. Also looks like I’m going to have to do some shopping.  Here’s my list of stuff I’m going to need to overtake this canning project.

Peppers

Jar grabber (to pick up the hot jars)

Jar funnel ($2 at mall kitchen stores and local “big box” stores, but it’s usually cheaper online)

At least 1 large pot

Large spoons and ladles

Ball jars (Publix, Kroger, other grocery stores and some “big box” stores carry them – about $8 per dozen quart jars including the lids and rings)

Salt (optional – I don’t use any)

One 6 – 8 quart pot or saucepan

Now, one more thing it looks that I need for this is a pressure canner, these, from what I’ve read are usually between $75 and $180 dollars. You DO need a pressure canner! If you don’t have one, technically a water bath will work, however every university food science department and the government will tell you that it just is not safe to use the water bath method; it takes the higher temperatures of the pressure canner to kill the botulism bacteria.  So use a pressure canner – it’s healthier and it’s easy.

continued….