AN EMPTY JAR DOES NOT FILL EMPTY TUMMIES!

WE NEED OUR COMFORT FOODS IN TIMES OF STRESS!

My mother in law passed this on to me and I thought I would post it.

If you have some empty jars around your house, try this.

It does not require any investment in a canner.

Dry Canning in your OVEN

From Wanda Lewis of Mt. Airy, NC, by Michelle Lewis, Kernersville, NC
“I have used it and have eaten 8 year old Oreos, Lucky Charms [Cereal] etc and was I was amazed at the freshness!”[LDS Bishop’s Storehouse handout, Greensboro, NC]

These items have a ten year shelf life if stored in a cool, dry, dark place.

Foods Suitable for 225 degree Dry Canning:

Saltine Crackers Macaroni & cheese dinners Raisins
Ritz Crackers Hamburger Helper Pasta, egg noodles
Cheeze-it crackers Graham crackers Oreos
Grits All dried beans (except Pintos) dry bananas slices
Cereals Plain Cornmeal Plain white flour
Rice Cookies Goldfish crackers
Nilla Wafers Snacks, Rice-a-Roni Instant Potatoes
Oatmeal Nuts, salted or unsalted (anything you can think of!)

For kits like Mac ‘n Cheese, dry instant dinners, Top Ramen, cut the name and directions off the box and place inside the jar. Pour pasta in first. Set seasoning packet or dry cheese on top inside the jar. Seal according to directions below.

Time Table
Pints: 20 minutes
Quarts: 30 Minutes
Half Gallons: 45 minutes

Directions

• Clean jars in a dishwasher. They must be completely dry – NO moisture!
• Fill clean, dry jars to ½ inch from the top with product above.
• Place lids and bands on the jars but DO NOT tighten.
• Use center rack to avoid scorching contents. Do NOT place on bottom rack.
• Place the jars in a COLD OVEN. BE SURE THE JARS DO NOT TOUCH!
• Set oven to 225 degrees. Begin timing when the oven reaches set temperature.
• Prepare a cooling area by placing a large bath towel folded in half on a counter top away from air conditioning vents; use light dish towels to cover jars from drafts that can cause cracking. Process using above time table.
• Use canning lifter tool to remove 1 by 1 from the oven & set on towel to cool.
• Use a hand towel to tighten each ring & prevent burning your hands.
• When you hear a “Pop,” it means a jar has sealed.
• When cool, an old test is to tap the top of each jar lid lightly with your fingernail to test seal. If a lid is not depressed or sound is “thud,” it did not seal. Re-process this jar. Inspect each jar visually for sealing. If raised in the middle, that jar did not seal. When completely cool, return to box for storage.