This October the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre hosted its annual Women’s retreat at Woody Island Resort, just a few hours outside of the city. This provides Aboriginal Women in our community the opportunity to reconnect with nature, connect with peers, and learn from one another’s experiences. At each retreat we learn a new skill: last year we learned how to skin and clean small game (rabbit and partridges), and this year, thanks to the Food Security Network, we learned the ins and outs of safe bottling and canning.
Home Canning/Bottling Gifts: Food Safety
Home canned (bottled) foods are wonderful gifts to share with friends and family. An edible present in a reusable jar is fun, practical and eco-friendly. If you’re giving canned foods as gifts, there are a few things you can do to put the person receiving them at ease when it comes to food safety. Never eat home canned foods that you’re not confident are safe.
What to do with brine?
I get a twinge of guilt pouring the brine down the drain from a previously delicious jar of pickled beets or pickles. There has to be something to do with that liquid! It's very concentrated though and not easy to use. Do you re-use brine from pickled things? Here's a recipe for Pickled Beet Juice and Maple Vinaigrette.