Here are six items going up.

1. Pre-prepped veggies. When in the hell did we get so lazy that we can’t cut a head of lettuce. I am guilty of this. I blame the amount of waste created by me doing it. That’s going to stop.
2. Pre-cut and marinated meat. I am guilty of buying pre-cut meat because we do eat wings. Mainly breast and thigh or drumstick. As for marinades, I stay away from these. We have a specific taste so it would be a waste to buy them in a marinade.
3. Name brand cereal. Holy Apple Jacks Captain Crunch. There is going to be a markup of around 44%. This is why I bought cereal back in the spring. I had a suspicion this hike was coming. My daughter laughs at me. Wait till she sees the price hike.
4. Name Brand Spices. I buy the store brand as much as possible.
5. Baking supplies. We saw the chaos back in the spring. People were stuck at home and decided it was time to learn to bake. The only thing I need to buy is cocoa.
6. Baked goods. It’s time to say no. This month I will be making pie filling. I know how to make a pie crust. Fillings can be used in a variety of ways. We just have to get imaginative.

Bibliography

WOROCH, A. (2020, 10 24). The 6 Items at the Grocery Store with the Biggest Markups — And What to Get Instead. The Kitchn. https://www.thekitchn.com/grocery-store-biggest-markup-23004498

https://www.thekitchn.com/grocery-store-biggest-markup-23004498

Hello! For those who don’t know me, my name is Tracie Smith. I have two youtube channels. One is Anarchy Land and the other is Scratch Kitchen. Early this week Linda from Linda’s Pantry and Liesa from Sutton Daze opened open the doors for anyone who does canning to leave their top ten tips and if you do videos to leave them as well. So here we go. 

10. Research. Find why people choose one pressure canner over another. I have a Presto because that was in my budget. And it was what Wal-Mart carried in their store. Learn the difference between them.

9. Learn what your family likes. There’s no point in canning stuff your family doesn’t like. Done it. 

8. Access what size you need. If you have a small family then stick with pints. If you have a large family like Amy Maryon or Jammerrille Stewart then go with the quarts. 

7. Purchase current books. Don’t throw out your inherited books. Rather enter the recipe title in the search bar at www.freshpreserve.com and the updated recipe with coming up. There may be changes and there may not be. Those books have memories. You do need current ones. I have the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning the 2015 version. The Amish Canning Cookbook by Georgia Varozza. The Unofficial Cookbook for Your All-American Pressure Canner by Sandra May.  Of course, I have several Ball books as well

6. Test a recipe. When you find a recipe you want to can, make a small batch for dinner before you go to the time of canning it. If they don’t like it then, the chances are they probably won’t go for it canned. 

5. Start Simple. Get comfortable with the process of pressure and wate- bath canning by canning water. Seriously! You don’t have to worry about ruining food. And you have water in the case of an emergency requiring water. 

4. Create a system for tagging jars. Find a system that works for which will help you keep track of your canning projects.

3. FIFO. First in first out. Put new canning products in the back so you rotate your stock. 

2. Plan & Organize. Plan about a four-hour block of time for the process. Now you can put your meat in a slow cooker overnight or before you go to work and let it cook. Hey, you can even use your insta pot here on slow cook function. 

The last tip is the most important, get familiar with the recipe. Take the time to read it thoroughly. I have ADD and Dyslexia. So I take about two weeks to read every word.

Top 10 Canning Tips VR to Linda’s Pantry

I am not sure what’s going on with Newell Brand Company. Last week there was baking mixes here where the canning jars used to be. So I guess they got something worked out. Now the Heritage Farms chickens were full but pricy. There is a new item at Kroger in the Caribbean Food section. Dellah Global Kitchen. They have simmering sauces, marinades, and dry seasoning blends. We aren’t into Caribbean food that much, but I do want to mention them because they are new.  As I walked up the gravy aisle, I noticed that there was an Indian inspired simmering sauce then a Mongolian Barbeque sauce. Between them was nothing. Goose egg. Same with the Gravy section. There was no Nacho Cheese Sauce and only one Red Enchilada Sauce. Three cans of Green sauce.

Remember: Let’s share information and help each other.

These started as a cute idea that went sideways. I reviewed a recipe and realized what I did wrong. 1. I didn’t follow the recipe to the specific detail, and 2. I should have put the egg in the potatoes. Yeah! I will leave you the video and a recipe I thought I know inside and out.

Yeah! Have a great day and use this as the reason to always have a recipe close by your hands not in your head necessarily. 

MASHED POTATO BALLS https://rasamalaysia.com/mashed-potato-balls/

I am going to cover this at least once a week here on Scratch Kitchen.  Let’s help each other get through this by sharing information. And supporting each other spiritually. 

Okay, over the last week we have seen people saying many things about the possibility that we won’t see canning supplies until Spring 2021. I have spoken about it myself. Now, so many have given their thoughts. There’s nothing wrong with that. I have submitted an email to Newell and I am waiting for their response and I will share it with you. Hopefully they, unlike Insta Pot company, Newell will get back to me. 

Countries, states, counties, and citizens are in a rush to gather up all they can. It’s a race against time. Or so it feels. No, it is a race against time. Over the weekend Antonia noticed that people were bulk buying food again. If you are new, my daughter works as a Courtesy Clerk at our local store. Mainly it was canned items like corn. That brings me to the shortage that caught my eye, Corn. Apparently back in the spring when farmers were told to plow their corps under corn was one of those crops. Well, now the situation we have is that corn is valuable. Seriously, valuable. It feeds us and livestock. So telling farmers to plow under their crops was a huge mistake. That was one of the crops. Now they are selling crops to China, and we are facing shortages as well. The plot thickens! While we are told that we are the land of plenty, our food banks are busier than ever. Donations are drying up. And Second Harvest where most food banks buy by the pound from is having to compete with governments, and us the awful consumers. Those of us who have been prepping for years (December will be a year for me). 

Here is the bottom line, we use to be taught to prepare for everything. Over the past fifty years, that stopped. It never should have. We need to start teaching the next generations to prepare for everything and pray for the best.

Bibliography

Almeida, I., & Murtaugh, D. (2020, 10 14). Countries Rush to Hoard Food as Prices Rise and Covid Worsens. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-14/a-just-in-case-world-is-rushing-to-hoard-food-as-prices-rally

China Purchases More U.S. Corn as Fears of Shortages Increase. (2020, 10 15). Southeast AG Net. https://southeastagnet.com/2020/10/15/china-purchases-corn-shortages/

Hirtzer, M., & Durisin, M. (2020, 10 10). U.S. Crop Report Signals Worsening Global Food-Insecurity Crisis. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-09/u-s-crop-report-signals-worsening-global-food-insecurity-crisis

Malgavko, A. (2020, 10 17). Pandemic fears & rising prices spurring countries to stockpile food – report. RT. https://on.rt.com/asho

South American summer crop program in jeopardy. (2020, 10 13). Grain Central. https://www.graincentral.com/markets/export/south-american-summer-crop-program-in-jeopardy/

CORN SHORTAGE | It’s Bigger Than You Might Think

Yanasa Ama Ventures

‘Syndemic’ COVID-20 needs ‘Social Vaccine’ as global food shortage begins

The Ice Age Farmer

S.4453 – Food Supply Protection Act of 2020

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4453/text

There is a buzz about rather use Insta Pot for pressure canning. NEVER! Prepare food to go into a jar for a canning session, fine. I don’t know why this insanity started but it has and we have to address it. As the title says never use an insta pot for the pressure canning process. Always use the stovetop ones. 

Back in the spring there were a lot of people at home and bored out of their minds so they started baking and canning. Which is great. For people who are experienced canners to actually encourage new canners to use their insta pot for pressure, canning is irresponsible and stupid. The problem is that the inside of an insta pot doesn’t get hot enough to pressure can safely. The Insta Pot is a wonderful tool I love mine and it helped me develop the confidence to pressure can. 

I have only been canning for two years and I consider it a responsibility to share the knowledge I have learned so far. I take that responsibility seriously. For most of the canners, I have been watching and learning from taking this responsibility to heart. I have truly learned a great deal from them and have purchased books they shared. Never have I seen them do something that could harm their families. 

The bottom line, don’t ever use your Insta Pot or whatever electric pressure cooker you have to pressure can!!! 

Pantry Talk: More info on Electric Pressure Canners

Moore2Life

Study Finds Electric Pressure Cookers Not Consistently Safe For Canning

https://extension.usu.edu/news_sections/home_family_and_food/electric-pressure-cooker-and-canning

USU Extension research turns up concerning results for electric pressure cooker canning

https://www.hjnews.com/news/local/usu-extension-research-turns-up-concerning-results-for-electric-pressure-cooker-canning/article_f7a30867-9c7d-5d77-9c5b-f9e1fbb0297d.html