Pressure Canning: First Contact

   I've never canned a thing in my life. So when my DH was home sick today, I upped my plans a day. As you recall, I made homemade chicken stock from a carcass left from Sunday night's dinner. I had planned on canning it Tuesday. With the Mark and Sarah safely watching Dora the Explorer in the next room, I dove in and gave it a try today.
   I prepped my jars, lids, and stock. Then step by step canned it per the instructions. It was scary at first, seeing as there are so many exploding pressure canner/cooker stories floating around. But after I started recognizing the clues mentioned by other canners, I felt more at ease. Actually, I can't even remember why I was so scared!! You've got to watch my "baby" in action:
 

  After all that fizzle sizzle, I let the canner cool down on its own. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought. After acclimating the jars, I set them out to cool for a few hours, and here is the end result- two pints of  beautiful, homemade stock! 

                    

                                           

I already have four quarts worth of squash ready to can Tomorrow:)

Cheers!

Mama Homesteader