My First Canning Experience
YES! I did it! I canned for the first time ever this past weekend. I have to say, it was much easier than I thought it would be. Strangely enough, the only thing that took a good amount of time was the cooling down of the jars. I have always seen my mother canning since I was little. Jelly, tomatoes, salsa, sauce, cucumbers, peppers, anything she could, she was canning. Still does to this day. I mean even HER mother and my Dad’s mother canned! I used to watch it when I was little and the women in my family would say “some day you will being doing this too, Raven”. They were right! (as most women are π )
Since the crop of tomatoes is coming to an end I thought I would make one last batch of salsa, but this time I wanted to make it HOT. I enjoy hot salsa more than I enjoy mild ones. I think that mild salsa can have some great flavor but honestly, if I have the choice, I will always reach for the hot.
I am going to just give you the ingredients as to what I used but I am not going to put any quantities in the recipe. That way if you choose to make it yourself you can adjust to how you like your salsa to taste. π
Ingredients for Hot Salsa:
Olive Oil
Pepper
Salt
Water
Red Pepper Flake
Cayenne powder
Chili Powder
Fresh Garlic
Onion
Tomato Paste (can)
Tomato crushed (can)
Red bell peppers
Habaneros
Hungarian hot peppers
Cherry hot peppers
Italian Fryer Peppers (not spicy)
Fresh Tomatoes
(whew! that was a lot of peppers now that I think about it! haha)
Super easy directions, very similar to my salsa in an earlier post. Actually I think it might be exactly the same, haha, but I will put it here anyways….
Directions for Salsa:
Place olive in large sauce pot on medium heat. Put garlic, salt, and pepper, into the pan and let garlic start to brown. Place chopped onion in pan and let the onion start to sweat. Once the onions start to change color put in tomato paste along with your red pepper flake, cayenne, and chili powder. Fill small tomato paste can with water and place in pot as well. Mix tomato paste well with onions and garlic until it resembles pasta sauce. Pour in crushed tomatoes. Let simmer on medium to high heat for about 10 minutes.
Place all your chopped peppers in you pan and stir. Add more salt and pepper to taste. (I like to save some of my peppers and let the salsa cook so that I can try it after it cooks for a while. This way if it is too hot I can add more tomatoes or if it is too mild I can add the rest of the peppers) Add your fresh tomatoes and well. Bring your heat down to medium low and let simmer for about 2 hours.
After the salsa has cooked take a little out in a small bowl and try it. Normally you will have to add more salt, pepper, or more peppers.
Place in your jars or in containers or just eat right from the pot.
So there you have it, my first canning experience! It was a good one and I am glad I didn’t mess anything up haha. Hopefully someday I will be just as good at canning things as all the other women in my family. π
23 Comments
Priscilla - She's Cookin'
You did it! That is so cool that you’ll have some homemade salsa through football season! My mom canned every summer but was always afraid of the pressure cooker. If you don’t need a pressure cooker – then maybe I’ll try it once it cools down here. You’ve inspired me π
Emily @Cleanliness
I have been wanting to can! You have inspired me!
Roxan
That’s awesome! With the holidays just around the corner homemade jarred foods would make wonderful gifts.
RavieNomNoms
I know that was what I was thinking! I even made labels for them haha π
fooddreamer
Good for you! Canning is actually kind of fun, isn’t it? I did 5 pints of applesauce this weekend, it will be nice to have some homemade ready to go in the winter.
RavieNomNoms
It IS actually fun, I didn’t think it would be but I had a great time doing it π
Coffeebeans
Dear Ravie,
Your salsa must be very tasty. I’m sure that everyone who will receive such a present will be very happy!
This year I decided to can some “zacusca” which is a salsa made of peppers, onion, tomatoes and eggplants, all mixed with spices. It turned out that it was a good idea because my zacusca is so good! Next year I wiil put my recipe on my blog! π
Have a nice day!
Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron
Oh wow! I never can anything and from reading your post it seems easy. I should make an attempt to try this and I can hand deliver to my beloved friends!
Magic of Spice
Very impressive…I have never tried canning, and I know I should. The hot salsa looks amazing π
Kristen
I am always so pleased to see people conquer their fear of canning. Like you said, it’s a lot easier than people think. Your salsa looks lovely…..you weren’t kidding when you said you like it hot..wow that is quite a list of peppers!!!
5 Star Foodie
Wow, excellent job! I have yet to master the art of canning π
Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet }
Congratulations! I too just learned to can this year – what a sense of accomplishment. Love the salsa recipe – this is a must make. I have not seen the jars with the handles – where did you find those? Nice job and look forward to hearing about your next canning adventure.
RavieNomNoms
Actually my boyfriend’s dad had them sitting in his basement and said that if I wanted them I could have them. My mom has been trying to find the jars with handles but has had no luck. I must have hit the basement junk jackpot with those jars! haha π
whatsfordinneracrossstatelines
What a great job you did! I love all the colors you used, I bet it’s gonna taste so good when you open up one of those jars. Yeah, you’ll be a canning pro in no time!
-Gina-
the constant hunger
It’s funny ’cause I attempted to make my own salsa last night with tomatillos and it didn’t turn out too tasty. I will definitely use your salsa recipe next time. Delicious!
Carol Egbert
I bet you will be really happy in March when you need salsa and you go to your pantry and find it
Chef Dennis
congratulations on a successful canning experience!! I love those jars with the handles….and I bet your homemade salsa was delicious! your images were beautiful…..thanks so much for all the effort and sharing this great experience with us!
Rick
Your more ambitious than me. I would never bother canning anything.
Joy Zhang
You knwo I’ve never tried canning! You are pretty awesome for making and canning this awesome salsa. While you’ll be enjoying this delicious salsa say…December — I’ll be starting at my screen and regretting not doing it this summer π WOE IS ME. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I will have to keep it in mind for next season!
Nancy aka Spicie Foodie
Good for you π I have yet to really can foods for long term keep. Love the salsa!
Evan @swEEts
Congrats on your first canning experience!! π Exciting stuff.. are you addicted now? I’m trying to figure out what good fall veggies/fruits to can!!
RavieNomNoms
I wouldn’t say I am addicted JUST yet, but I can feel myself looking for things to can now haha
Dionne Baldwin
YAY! You got to can! This salsa looks awesome! I like hot salsa but I’ve never made it with habeneros. My grandmother on my dads side used to can A LOT and so did my mom and dad. I only canned some jam and then stopped. No reason, just no surplus enough to can. I really miss my dads pickles, maybe I can beg him to make those next year if I start now…