Hello from Maine

[Mainely4Knitting]

Glad to know that you have been canning for yrs. I guess the two here that I know of that have been caning for some time is Old_Anorak and myself. There olso others that are into canning. I will be getting with Old_anorak and see if we can get a canning class going for the national meet. Just glad to have you with us.

I didn't know there was a national meet - that's great! Not that I'd be able to attend, but it sounds fun.

I have so many questions for all of you, but also feel I can offer some valuable knowledge and help, not just canning, but other things as well. Just wish I could type more at a time, I have such a hard time doing it at all - but it will all come back with time and patience I suppose.

 

[jimLE]

the thing of it is,we are in a normal world..but yet we gotta go with the flow and do our best with what we have..and in some cases folks barter for what they get..which is good as long as everyone gets what they need..

 

[Chicknladee]

Well, hopefully we'll all be here for a while but if you are going stir crazy and have a spare $35 (+/-) and figured you'll be long term without use of your hands for typing you could invest in Dragon NaturallySpeaking software...supposedly it works great (although I'm sure there is a hefty learning curve)

 

[old_anorak]

Mainely, raw packing is nice because you don't end up with overly cooked meats and you can add the seasonings you like when you open the jar. Raw packed chicken breast makes the best chicken salad, I mean, it's slap your sister good.

Chick... Dragon Speak is nice, but it don't speak hillbilly for beans. I gave up arguing with it and gave it to a friend who lived in New Jersey, it could apparently understand yankee.

 

[Mastercajun]

Mainely, raw packing is nice because you don't end up with overly cooked meats and you can add the seasonings you like when you open the jar. Raw packed chicken breast makes the best chicken salad, I mean, it's slap your sister good.

Chick... Dragon Speak is nice, but it don't speak hillbilly for beans. I gave up arguing with it and gave it to a friend who lived in New Jersey, it could apparently understand yankee.

U was sur be rit abot da dragon. It don comprastand coonass eder.

 

[Mainely4Knitting]

Well, hopefully we'll all be here for a while but if you are going stir crazy and have a spare $35 (+/-) and figured you'll be long term without use of your hands for typing you could invest in Dragon NaturallySpeaking software...supposedly it works great (although I'm sure there is a hefty learning curve)

That is an alternative, but I don't really have the money right now. I did buy that program back in '09 - although I'm sure they've changed it since then. I worked with it for quite a while and was ready to throw it out the window before i got done "training" it, lol. I knew it was probably me, but I didn't have the patience to continue... that was about $70 down the drain at that point in time.. woops!
I appreciate your thought, though. The doc said to just keep working with my hands/fingers, etc and I'll get it all back in time.

 

[Mainely4Knitting]

Mainely, raw packing is nice because you don't end up with overly cooked meats and you can add the seasonings you like when you open the jar. Raw packed chicken breast makes the best chicken salad, I mean, it's slap your sister good.

U was sur be rit abot da dragon. It don comprastand coonass eder.

I've never tried it any other way, but I do know it made the best chicken sandwich I had ever eaten, when i tried it for the first time.
I suppose it's all a matter of what we're used to.

Now you know what you guys did, right? I'm just going to HAVE to try raw pack now LOL!

 

[old_anorak]

My work here is done. I would suggest that you cut the little gristly tendon thingy off of the tip of the tenderloin.

It really makes it so much easier when you've got a good deal on meat at the market or if you home butcher, you can just pack it in your jars, add a bit of salt (I sometimes will add other seasonings too) and into the canner it goes. I think the only meat you really need to cook first is ground meat. I don't much care for the texture of canned ground meat, but I do use it in casseroles.

 

[Mainely4Knitting]

My work here is done. I would suggest that you cut the little gristly tendon thingy off of the tip of the tenderloin.

It really makes it so much easier when you've got a good deal on meat at the market or if you home butcher, you can just pack it in your jars, add a bit of salt (I sometimes will add other seasonings too) and into the canner it goes. I think the only meat you really need to cook first is ground meat. I don't much care for the texture of canned ground meat, but I do use it in casseroles.

It does sound easier, for sure. I don't mind the canned ground meat in soups, casseroles or sauces.

 

[jimLE]

Well, hopefully we'll all be here for a while but if you are going stir crazy and have a spare $35 (+/-) and figured you'll be long term without use of your hands for typing you could invest in Dragon NaturallySpeaking software...supposedly it works great (although I'm sure there is a hefty learning curve)

my moms been thinking of getting that dragon for her self..i need ta check into it.and if it dont cost to much.i'll get it for her

 

[jayjay1]

Hi - me and my room mate at Uni decided to drive from Belton, TX, to Maine one summer - had a hand written sign on the back of his 4x4 "Maine or Bust" , well, we made it, lots of horn tooting from cars on the way. Stayed at a park on the sea, camped out, fished, smoked a corn pipe ( 'baccie only ), ate lobster, what a great time we had. Bought lobsters straight off the boats. Those were the days. Loved Maine, and saw so much of the USA, had a great time. Good memories forever!!

 

[Mainely4Knitting]

Hi - me and my room mate at Uni decided to drive from Belton, TX, to Maine one summer - had a hand written sign on the back of his 4x4 "Maine or Bust" , well, we made it, lots of horn tooting from cars on the way. Stayed at a park on the sea, camped out, fished, smoked a corn pipe ( 'baccie only ), ate lobster, what a great time we had. Bought lobsters straight off the boats. Those were the days. Loved Maine, and saw so much of the USA, had a great time. Good memories forever!!

When I was really young, I went to Bar Harbor, but since then I've stayed mostly north of Augusta. We have a saying here in Maine... there are 2 Maines - north and south. Sometimes southern Maine is referred to as "the other Maine" LOL. But I think its that way because the parts of the state are so different. Up where I am, we are so far from the coast that is is like a different country LOL.

Sounds like a great time and a great vacation you had! I love lobster, but am allergic so I can't enjoy it any more.