WHAT ARE YOU CANNING TODAY?

[Lazy Gardener]

I've never been able to wrap my head around putting apples in a meat dish. but... you never know what wild and crazy things I'll try as I get older!!! Yes you are right. It's really not difficult to add the seasoning AFTER the canning.

 

[wyoDreamer]

A few years ago I canned 7 quarts of apple pie filling and 7 quarts of apple chunks in apple juice. The apple chunks were gone and I still have a jar of apple pie filling left.
And my recipe for apple pie filling siphoned out just like yours - I even used a ruler to make sure I had the correct head space.

 

[Mini Horses]

Fruit and meat are good together. Pork and apples, chicken and apricots...yum! Many combinations work well. Yes, onions and many fruits are fantastic together. Not unusual...many salsas have both.

I believe the extra sugar in things like fillings cause the product to siphon out... I know it doesn't with jelly BUT that has thickened with the pectin first. It's curious. I like the apples plain so I can use them in different ways with different spices.
Speaking of apples, I have about 8# I need to work up into something.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I am not sure, but I think in might have been the canning starch I am using now. It is a bulk product, purchased from the local Mennonite store. It is basically a generic Clear Jel.
I did a test on it and it seems to expand more than Clear Jel, so I am going to can some Cherry Pie filling and use less of the powder and see if it works better. I wasn't really happy with the final product last time, it seemed very thick, so less will be better.

 

[Britesea]

Fruit and meat are good together. Pork and apples, chicken and apricots...yum! Many combinations work well. Yes, onions and many fruits are fantastic together. Not unusual...many salsas have both.

I remember making a wonderful oxtail stew once that had oranges in it...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I remember making a wonderful oxtail stew once that had oranges in it...

Traditional Carnitas are made with oranges. Oh my - so yummy!

 

[Britesea]

Ooh, I would love a good Carnitas recipe! One with oranges!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

This one sounds very close to a recipe that one of my ethnic customers described to me. The only thing really different is that he didn't mention the cinnamon or the milk (or if he did - I disremember, lol). He did talk about putting water in the lard and the oranges,, the bay leaves and the other spices... This will be the recipe I try when I get the opportunity. If you try it please let us know how it turns out!

https://www.confessionsofafoodie.me/2014/06/how-to-make-the-best-carnitas.html

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Untested by me, but a google search turned this up: Let me know how you like it (if you try it. I may have to give it a go. I've done pulled pork, but it was basic with BBQ sauce and chili powder, etc.)

https://damndelicious.net/2014/10/10/slow-cooker-pork-carnitas/

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons salt, or more, to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 pound pork shoulder, excess fat trimmed
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 onions, quartered
• 2 oranges, juiced
• 2 limes, juiced

 

[wyoDreamer]

That recipe sounds good. I tried one with beer, it was ok but not great. I don't think the beer added anything to the recipe and DH agreed. I may try this if I find a pork shoulder in the freezer when I clean it out this weekend.