Monday, December 14, 2009

Cook Big or Stay Home

Betcha don't have one of these!


Isn't she lovely? I've named her Golda. Harvest Golda. She's helping me make some convenience food.

What? Pressure canning doesn't sound like convenience food?

Ah, but it is. See, it's convenient for me to make a big old batch of chili right now. It might not be convenient for me to do it later. It will, however, be convenient for anyone to pop open a jar and nuke it when they want it. Even if I'm not around. Like, you know, in case I actually take a shower, get dressed and go somewhere.

Hey, it could happen.


Homemade Canned Chili
(makes 7 quarts)

10 lbs ground chuck (wait 'til it's on sale)
4 cups of chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
12 cups of V8 juice (you can also add tomatoes if you don't have a teen who hates them)
1 cup chili powder
3 tbsp salt
hot pepper flakes to taste
cumin to taste

Brown meat. You may need two large stock pots for this. Drain off excess fat. Add onions and garlic; cook slowly until onions are tender. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes. Skim off excess fat, if necessary, before canning. Ladle hot chili into hot jars, leaving 1 inch head space. Remove air bubbles. Adjust two piece lids. Process pints 1 hour and 15 minutes, quarts 1 hour and 30 minutes, at 10 pounds pressure in a stem-pressure canner.

To serve: Add cooked or canned pinto or kidney beans heat and serve. OR pour contents into crock pot; add one block of Velveta cheese; cook until melted, stir. Serve as party dip with tortilla chips. (I don't know anyone who doesn't like this dip, but your waistline may suffer.)

10 comments:

Sara said...

I'll have to try that. Your Golda is pretty, I just have a big silver one. I did vegetable soup, and it's so convenient to just pop open a jar and heat.

Materfamilias said...

That looks so yummy. You've been busy.
Terri

Nancy K. said...

Oh, MY! That DIP sounds wonderful!!!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Mmmmmm - chili cheese dip ;-D

Dixie said...

Wow...I never thought about canning soup. Being just the two of us now a pot of soup is too much. We end up eating it for days. I like Golda, she's a beauty.

Jayne said...

That's a good idea! Golda is quite the looker, too.

Terri said...

You are soooo brave! Pressure cookers scare me - we had a faulty valve on one when I was a child and it exploded all over the kitchen! Miraculously, no one was hurt but I have never forgotten it!

Conny said...

You're right - I don't have one of those, but I sure would like to someday. With all the talk of explosions though I am a bit ambivalent - perhaps I should wear safety glasses and a long-sleeved shirt, just in case.

Renee said...

When do you sleep?

Karen Patrick said...

I have a "Golda" too. But I never thought of naming her. Mine was purchased in roughly 1979 but works as good today as she did then. I mostly use her (among lots of other things) for the 2 bushels of potatoes that I can every year. My brother grows them and I can them. I splurged on an electric potato peeler this year. They are only about $30.00 +/- and are worth every penny. I really enjoy your blog.