To start 2025, Tweed and District Horticultural Society welcomed Nadine Campeau, the dietitian at Gateway Community Heath Centre in Tweed. Nadine facilitates a Collective Kitchen Program at GCHC twice a month to help participants prepare heathy meals that they can take home after the session.
Using a quick and easy recipe, Nadine prepared pickled vegetables for canning. Throughout the demonstration, Nadine discussed the “safety” aspects involved in canning to prevent cross contamination and spoilage.
General Guidelines that Nadine shared throughout her presentation….
-use Mason jars as they can withstand higher heat; each jar requires a metal disk and metal screw band; jars must be sterilized in boiling water
-sterilize any equipment that will be used during the preparation
-always leave the proper headspace; recipe indicates this
-remove air bubbles after filling the jar
-tighten lids “finger tip tight”
-use a jar lifter to place jars in canner and to remove jars
-adjust processing times based on altitude above sea level
-after processing, do NOT retighten bands or turn upside down
-allow jars to cool for 12-24 hours; press centre of disk to see if it is concave; if the centre does not flex up, the lid has a good vacuum seal
-after 24 hours, remove the screw band (properly sealed jars do not require a band to hold the lid in place), wipe the jar and store in cool dry place
After an hour, the pickled vegetables were ready to be tasted.
Nadine briefly talked about pressure canning procedures…. again, she stressed the importance of sterilizing equipment, using good quality ingredients, adjusting time and pressure for higher altitudes; following scientifically tested recipes.
Members can now plan their gardens to incorporate the veggies (cauliflower, peppers, small white onions, carrots, zucchini, celery) that were used in Nadine’s simple pickled vegetable recipe or purchase them from your local grocery store at this time of year. This recipe is a sure hit with almost any meal!
NEXT MEETING:
March 4 @ 7 pm…Carson Arthur, owner of Carson’s Garden and Market in the County and host of Take it Outside with Carson Arthur on CJBQ, will discuss the “tricky” world of bagged soils, fertilizers and amendments. He will also address compost and manure.
NOTE: This meeting will be at the White Building which is located at the fairgrounds in Tweed. Free will offering for non-members.