Gardening can be a rewarding and fulfilling hobby, especially if you’re interested in self-sufficiency and preparedness. One way to get even more value out of your garden is to incorporate meal prep into your gardening efforts. This could involve cooking and preserving the produce you grow, as well as storing it for the long term.
Canning and preserving are excellent ways to store your garden bounty for the long term. Canning involves preserving food in jars or cans by sterilizing the container and heating the contents to a temperature that kills any bacteria or other microorganisms. There are two main methods of canning: water bath canning and pressure canning.
Water bath canning is a good method for preserving high-acid foods like fruits, pickles, and jams. It involves boiling the jars of food in a pot of water for a specified amount of time.
Pressure canning, on the other hand, is a method that is used for low-acid foods like vegetables, meats, and soups. It involves using a special pressure canner to create a high-pressure environment that is able to kill off any bacteria or other microorganisms that may be present in the food.
In addition to canning, you can also preserve your garden produce by freezing it, drying it, or making it into a pickle or jam. Each method has its own pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different options and choose the one that best fits your needs.
When storing your preserved food, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. First, be sure to label and date your jars or cans. This will help you keep track of what you have and when it was preserved. Second, store your preserved food in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. A basement or pantry is generally a good choice. Finally, be sure to rotate your stock so that you’re using the oldest items first.
In addition to preserving your garden produce, it’s also a good idea to have a variety of non-perishable food items on hand. These could include things like grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. These types of foods have a long shelf life and can be used to supplement your preserved produce or as a standalone meal.
To get you started on your meal prep journey, here’s a simple recipe that’s easy for beginners:
Garden Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:
- 2 cups diced tomatoes
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Add the diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to the saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Use the tomato sauce immediately, or can it using the water bath method for long-term storage.
Enjoy your homemade tomato sauce over pasta, rice, or as a base for soups and stews. It’s a delicious and healthy way to use your garden produce and add some variety to your meals.
Overall, incorporating meal prep into your gardening efforts can help you save money on your food bill, as well as provide you with a source of nourishing and delicious meals. By learning how to preserve and store your produce, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all year round.
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