- Bread and Butter Pickles – How Much Cucumber Do You Really Need?
I picked a little over 4½ pounds of cucumbers from the garden for a batch of bread and butter pickles. I thought I had the right amount, but once I started slicing them, I realized my estimate was off. Here’s how the batch came together and how the pickles turned out after a week in the jar. - Can You Freeze Garden Peas Before Pressure Canning?
My garden wasn’t producing enough peas for a full canner load, so I froze the first batch. Here’s what happened when I canned frozen and fresh peas side by side. - Pickled Beets – Preserving Beets From the Garden
This easy homemade pickled beet recipe walks you through preparing the beets, making the pickling liquid, and canning the finished jars. - Easy Homemade Red Sauerkraut: From Cabbage to Jar
Follow my process from preparing the purple cabbage to packing the finished sauerkraut into five pint jars. - How to Make Haskap Jam (Honey Berry Jam) at Home
Haskaps make an excellent homemade jam with a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Follow along as I make a batch using fresh haskaps, pectin, sugar, and a boiling water canner. - Sour (Lacto-Fermented) Corn
Fermenting sweet corn is easier than you might think. See how I made three jars of sour corn with a simple 2.5% salt brine and just one week of fermentation. - Pressure Canning Cream Style Corn At Home
I bought enough corn to fill one canner load and ended up with enough for two. If you’ve ever wanted to can homemade creamed corn, this step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process. - Beans in Molasses Sauce for Beginners (Real Kitchen Version)
If you’ve never pressure canned beans before, this is a simple way to start with a classic molasses-style sauce. - Canned Chicken for Sandwiches, Salads, and Quick Meals
I roasted a chicken specifically for canning and turned it into shelf-stable chicken that’s ready for sandwiches, salads, soups, and more whenever I need it. - A Simple Homemade Chicken Stock For Beginners
If you’re new to pressure canning, chicken stock is one of the easiest and most useful things you can make. - Beef In Wine Sauce Turned Out Better Than I Expected
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this Ball canning recipe, but after one bite over mashed potatoes I knew I’d be making it again. - The Best BBQ Sauce Isn’t Bought in a Bottle
This homemade canned BBQ sauce has deeper flavor, better texture, and none of that overly processed taste. - No Ferment Deli Style Pepperoni at Home
Skip the fermenting and drying but still get that classic pepperoni flavor and texture. A simple homemade version that slices great for pizza or snacking. - Traditional Homemade Dijon Mustard
A straightforward kitchen process that turns basic ingredients into something sharp, smooth, and shelf-ready. - Canned French Onion Soup
First time trying this one from the Ball book. I wasn’t sure about a couple ingredients, but I followed it through and pressure canned the batch. The flavor surprised me.
Blog
Hi, I’m Gary Caine. I grew up in rural Saskatchewan in the 50s and 60s, where growing, preserving, and making your own food wasn’t a hobby-it was just part of everyday life.
Those early years shaped how I live to this day.
When I’m not in the kitchen or working on a project, you’ll usually find me outdoors fishing, hunting, or camping, enjoying the same simple, hands-on lifestyle I was raised with.