I canned Fifteen Bean Soup yesterday. I had bags of dried bean soup mix, frozen tomatoes from last fall, home canned stewed tomatoes from last fall, and dehydrated stew mix vegetables, so I decided to make some "meals in jars" using my pressure canner.
The beans soaked up more of the tomatoes than I anticipated, so these jars hold more of a "starter" than actual soup, but I don't mind that. When I serve it, I'll plan to add some of my pressure canned beef or chicken, and then add a bit of beef or chicken stock, as appropriate.
Of the thirteen pints I put into the pressure canner, two didn't seal. One jar went into the fridge, and part of the other became my dinner. I hadn't added any salt to the jars, opting instead to season it as it heated. That way when I open the other cans, I can season them to accommodate the other ingredients I'll add as I cook it.
I'm very happy with how the soup turned out. It was a hearty, tasty, and simple meal. When Handsome gets home, I'll also make buttermilk biscuits as a side, and then the meal will be complete. The jars sat overnight on the counter, so this morning I'll clean the outsides of the jars with vinegar, make sure the rest of the jars have viable seals, label them, and then put them away in the pantry. More good eats. Just what the doctor ordered!
Today is Carly's Birthday! We'll celebrate with Handsome and our girl once they're back home, but I wanted to recognize that it's her special day. Happy Third Birthday to The Kid.
