Citrus Season - How to can Lemon Juice

 

Citrus season in New Orleans is drawing to an end.  My Meyer lemon trees are dripping with fruit.  I've been picking and sharing, but I'll have to get a move on if I'm to save most of the harvest.  This red wagon load represents only maybe one tenth of the harvest?

I've begun by sharing of course, but also by canning the juice.  Last year I froze the juice into cubes, but Hurricane Issac left us without electricity for 10 days.  The record was 18 days after hurricane Gustav.  They had the electricity on quicker after Katrina!  The cubes mostly melted before I could return home and fire up the generator. 

 

My goal is to rely less on preservation methods that require electricity.  Our electrical supplier is not the greatest.  I know they are loudly proclaiming that they are not at fault for the Superbowl blackout....but I couldn't help but laugh when I heard about the ordeal.  I'm just glad everyone stayed calm.  I wonder if they thought about the Hurricane Katrina victims huddled in a darkened Superdome with the storm howling outside?

 

Sessie made the deer from pipe cleaners.  My girl loves to make tiny animals from anything!

 

 

 How to Can Lemon Juice:

 

Sterilize Jars, bands and lids

(I used 1/2 pints, you can always open 2 if needed)

 

Juice lemons

strain Juice

 

Heat juice almost to a boil and simmer for a few minutes

Ladle into warm sterilized jars

Put lids and bands on.

 

Boil in a water bath for 5 minutes for 1/2 pints and pints...10 minutes for Quarts.

 

Don't start timing until the water comes to a boil.

 

Canning by water bath can only be done with high acid foods.  You put the prepared and filled  jars in a large pot and cover them with water about 1 inch above the top of the jars.  Start timing the bath once the water has come to a boil.

 

The best book for learning to can is the Ball Jar Blue Book. 

 

I will let you know how the juice works for me.

 

This Greeted me today when I went out to the garden....A friendly huge Louisiana Cock Roach.  Even my cat Josie avoids these things.  I can't stomp them....the crunch sickens me.  I run the other way or ask Byron or Sessie to come smush them.  Please Mr. Roach stay out of my house.

 

 

Now that your hungry here's some broccoli I picked.  The plants are still sending out plenty of shoots.  Once you harvest the main head leave the plant.  It will provide you with yummy shoots for the longest!