Canning Basics Workshop

Burnaby Food First is pleased to offer another FREE workshop!

Canning Basics

Friday, September 18
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Brentwood Community Centre (2055 Rosser Avenue / Burnaby - map)

Join Antonietta Gesualdi for this hands-on workshop on canning! Learn the basics of canning safely at home. Participants will take home a sample jar of canning fruit.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

----

Enjoy Burnaby Food First workshops? Want to get involved as a volunteer?

Check out all the great ways you can get involved. All are welcome, and we'd love to have you on board! For more information, send us an email.

Recipe: Apple Butter

Apple butter is a spread that resembles applesauce but is thicker and more concentrated in flavour. It makes a fantastic accompaniment for toast or can be turned into a spread for baked goods. Try combining and chilling a 1/2 cup of apple butter with 1/4 cup of softened butter and letting it come to room temperature before using.

This recipe is from the Canning for the Sweet Life workshop in September, taught by Francesca and Antonietta of Foodwisdom.

Apple Butter
Adapted from Fannie Farmer Cookbook.

To email, print, or text this recipe, click here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. apples (or apricots, plums, or peaches)
1 cup water
3/4 cups demerrara sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves, ground
grated rind and juice from 1 lemon

Tools

Large pot
Potato masher
Large wooden spoon
Knife
Jars with lids and rings
Sieve (optional)

Source: Bakin' on the Side

Instructions

1. Core the apples, and slice each apple into 8 pieces.

2. Mix together with the water in a pot. Cook over medium-high heat until the apples are soft, then turn the temperature down to low.

3. Mash the softened apples with the potato masher.

4. Add the remaining ingredients.

5. Continuing cooking the mixture over low heat and mashing the apples until they have fully dissolved.

6. Stir the apple mixture continuously to ensure that it does not burn.

7. If you want a smooth apple butter, push the mixture through a sieve with a ladle.

8. Fill hot, sterilized jars with the apple butter.

9.  Put on the lids and rings on and process in a hot water bath. Please see the Hot Water Canning guide for instructions. At full boil, let the jars cook for 20 minutes. This time is for kitchens at sea level (where we are), and for every 3,000 feet above 1,000 feet sea level, extend the boiling time by 5 minutes.

Workshop Review: Canning for the Sweet Life

Thank you all very much for coming out to our Canning for the Sweet Life workshops on September 5 and 6. We had lots of fun learning how to make delicious Italian prune plumes and yummy apple butter.

Ingredients for Italian prune plums
Credit: Sofi Martinez

                                                   
Led by the great folks at Foodwisdom (www.foodwisdom.ca), Antonietta and Francesca, participants learned the skills of whole fruit canning and preserving.

Workshop participants listening closely
Credit: Sofi Martinez

At the end of the night, everyone got to take home a jar or two of what they made -- we hear the Italian prune plums are delicious on yoghurt!

Italian prune plums in progress. Yum!
Credit: Sofi Martinez

Keep watching the blog for more information on other upcoming Fall workshops. Hope to see you there!

For copies of the recipes used in this workshop, please visit our Recipe page:

Apple Butter
Canned Italian Prune Plums

Canning for the Sweet Life: Spots Still Left!

Canning for the Sweet Life
Learn how to can local fresh whole fruits

September 5 / 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Byrne Creek Secondary / 7777 18th St. (map)
Topic: Spiced Pears

September 6 / 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Cranberry Commons / 4272 Albert St. (map)
Topic: Apple Butter

As the kids head back to school, delicious local apples and pears from some of BC’s finest organic producers head to market. Come learn how to store the bounty, with Chef Antonietta Gesualdi of Foodwisdom, as she demonstrates how to make spiced pears and apple butter. Either of these will make for a great treat in the school lunch box in February.

To register, send us an email or call (604) 570-3623.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**


Workshop Review:
Canning for the Sweet Life

Summer Workshop Series

Burnaby Food First is pleased to announce our next workshop series! Each workshop has two dates to choose from. All workshops are FREE.

Canning for Life
Learn the basics of jams and chutneys

August 8 / 5-7pm
Newcomers Centre / 7009 Kingsway (map)

August 20 / 6-8pm
Cranberry Commons / 4272 Albert St. (map) 

Join chef Alice Macpherson to learn about the benefits of canning your own food, including about what's going into your food and what you are feeding your family, as well as the cost savings of buying produce fresh and in season. Join us and make your own batch of jam and another of chutney for yourself and your family. All materials are provided, and participants take home two 250 ml (8 oz.) jars of finished product.

Modern Pantry Canning
Learn how to make fresh, local relishes and salsas

August 13 / 5-7pm
Newcomers Centre / 7009 Kingsway (map)

August 27 / 1-3pm
Cranberry Commons / 4272 Albert St. (map) 

Eat local and save money by learning how to preserve fruit and vegetables in season with Chef Karen Dar Woon. Using produce from local farms, participants will make and take home Ginger Plum Sauce, Sweet Virginia Pickle Relish. This workshop requires very basic kitchen skills.

Canning for the Sweet Life
Learn how to can local fresh whole fruits

September 5 / 5-7pm
Byrne Creek Secondary / 7777 18th St. (map)
Topic: Spiced Pears

September 6 / 5-7pm
Cranberry Commons / 4272 Albert St. (map)
Topic: Apple Butter

As the kids head back to school, delicious local apples and pears from some of BC’s finest organic producers head to market. Come learn how to store the bounty, with Chef Antonietta Gesualdi of Foodwisdom, as she demonstrates how to make spiced pears and apple butter. Either of these will make for a great treat in the school lunch box in February.

Please help us spread the word to your friends!

Spaces are limited. Register now by emailing us or by calling (604) 570-3623. When registering, please tell us the name and date of the workshop you are interested in, the name(s) of who will be attending, and provide a contact phone number or email address.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

See you at the workshops!