This week's book review emphasizes safe canning.
As most readers know, I'm a passionate canner. I'm also passionate about safe canning. To that end, this week I would like to extravagantly recommend what I'm calling my "new canning bible": The USDA's "Complete Guide to Home Canning."
Each chapter has a comprehensive table of contents. The chapters cover:
• Principles of Home Canning
• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Fruit and Fruit Products
• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products
• Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Vegetables and Vegetable Products
• Preparing and Canning Poultry, Red Meats, and Seafoods
• Preparing and Canning Fermented Foods and Pickled Vegetables
• Preparing and Canning Jams and Jellies
Each chapter is color coded, and the guidelines for each food item are detailed and easy to follow.
In short, if anything could be called a canning "bible," "The Complete Guide to Home Canning" is it. Highly recommended for both novice and experienced canners.
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This week's product review features the solution to an annoying problem.
A couple of years ago, I noticed a large wolf spider on our bathroom floor. Because it was right against the baseboard, it was difficult to catch. I tried placing a (round) cup against the (square) right-angle of the floor and baseboard, and of course the spider evaded me with ease and disappeared behind the toilet.
I remember the frustration of that moment, because right away I went to the computer and started doing an internet search for bug-catchers, something that would let me live-catch them and wouldn't harm the critter. When spiders or wasps or even moths get into the house, I don't want to kill them; I only want them out of the house. Surely there was some sort of contraption that would work for a catch-and-release program?
Well, I found it: Something called "My Critter Catcher."
I had no particular expectations for this gizmo. When it arrived, I was amused to see it came with a plastic spider so I could "practice" catching arachnids.
Well, by golly it works. I've caught spiders, moths, wasps, beetles, flies, and various other insects and arachnids. The long handle makes it easy to reach high places. The nylon bristles hold the critter firmly but gently, and I can carry it outside and release it unharmed.
Here's the bristles in the closed position:
And in the open position:
The Critter Catcher has its limitations. It only works on hard surfaces (floors, walls, ceilings) and not soft surfaces (curtains, carpets). It works moderately well on screens, though since screens have a bit of "give," sometimes it takes several tries.
If you prefer to live-catch critters rather than outright killing them, this is the tool for you.
(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)
(Don't forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)
Appreciate the heads up on the USDA Canning Bible.
ReplyDeleteI personally like and have used, literally for decades, the “Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving”.
Ok so here's is the time when I stir the pot a little, not trying to start a political war here, but.
Is it not the USDA that approved things like Titanium dioxide, Propylparaben, Potassium bromates, FD&C Red No. 3, brominated vegetable oil. Just to name a few of the thousands of other 'possible' toxic “additives” that go into our foods?
And a LOT of them now illegal to put into foods?
Or how about the EPA approved Roundup and a LOT of other chemicals that went into our foods that led to thousands of cancer victims?
Can ya tell I have a slight issue with taking the USDA word considering their history.
Honestly, I would love to investigate a side-by-side comparison the Ball book and dozen of other "Canning Books" to the USDA‘s.
As the saying goes, “Trust but Verify.”
Be responsible for what you do in life,
Especially when it comes to the foods you eat and process for storage.
👍
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look up that critter catcher. I had a grabber that I was using to pick up the contents of a garbage can that the pups had knocked over and then tore up all around the front sidewalk. Since husband was in the hospital for @3 weeks, I hadn't had time to mow because I was traveling an hour + each way, then spending hours at the hospital. I decided to pick up the trash in the knee-high grass with the grabber. I surprised a water moccasin. The pups came running to investigate. I was afraid they'd be harmed, so I grabbed water moccasin with the grabber, picked it up, and released it on the other side of the fence. I don't recommend this. Water moccasin was very unhappy about it.
ReplyDelete