Getting Crafty in the Kitchen: Five Tasty Canning Recipes

Summer is officially over, which for folks in the northern hemisphere means the end of tomatoes, watermelon, berries and other summery produce. If your garden has been productive, or the farmers market or CSA is overflowing with fruits and veggies, now is the time to preserve all of that good summery food!

Not only do canned foods help stretch your food budget, beautifully canned produce makes a lovely handmade gift around the holidays. Here are five tasty canning recipes to preserve the bounty of the season.

1. Tomato Jam

Marisa at Food in Jars has an amazing recipe for tomato jam! What an unusual way to preserve those heirloom tomatoes.

Next >> Pickled Watermelon Rind

2. Pickled Watermelon Rind

Nothing says summer like watermelon, and this recipe from Paula Deen ensures you put even the rind to use!

Next >> Lemon Pickle

3. Lemon Pickle

A staple in Indian cooking, lemon pickle is sour, tangy, and a great condiment when you’re serving curries. Try combining a small amount of lemon pickle with Veganaise before making your next potato salad. You won’t be sorry!

Next >> Pickled Okra

4. Pickled Okra

Pickled okra makes a great garnish for a Bloody Mary or a topping for a salad. They’re also wonderful devoured all on their own! Alton Brown shows you how to make your very own pickled okra.

Next >> Blueberry Jam

5. Blueberry Jam

I think berries are the thing I’ll miss most about summer. If you’ve managed to snag some late-season blueberries, this simple, two-ingredient blueberry jam recipe from Martha Stewart will help stretch that seasonal fruit a bit longer.

Of course, there are ton of other fun ways to can that summer bounty. Just make sure you’re using safe canning practices. We’ll talk more about how to keep your canning safe, tomorrow.

[Image Credits: Mason Jars. Creative Commons photo by chiotsrun, Tomato Jam. Photo via Food in Jars, used with permission Pickled Watermelon Rind. Creative Commons photo by dorywithserifs, Lemon Pickle. Creative Commons photo by lenore-m, Pickled Okra. Creative Commons photo by sashafatcat, Blueberry Jam. Creative Commons photo by mistersmed]