By Debbie Wagner
A big part of the holidays is making and preserving memories, and this month’s Vintage Debbie question is specifically about preserving food. There is no doubt that recollections of holidays past invoke memories of being around the table with families and friends, enjoying a variety of delicious aromas and tastes.
Some of you may remember your parents or grandparents preparing and serving food that they canned themselves. Canning was once a necessity. These days, it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to interest in home gardening, family farming and homesteading. Enjoy the following answers to my question about canning.
I wish each of you has a wonderful holiday season filled of special memories.
What do you remember about canning in your family? Do you still keep that tradition?
“I remember snapping beans and the pressure canner going in the summer. My dad always put in a large garden. My mom canned a lot and it helped feed us over the winter. My great grandmother and great aunt also canned.”
– Denise Mannino, Beaver County
“Learned to can at an early age and I still can today. The end result is so satisfying. It’s a pleasurable feeling of gratitude.”
– Nettie Doutt Chaffee, Beaver County
“I remember canning tomatoes with my grandma. My grandpa could grow anything and Grandma could cook anything. She made amazing tomato sauce and showed me how to process it using a cylindrical-shaped funnel. I found one like it at a garage sale and snagged it so I could can tomatoes like Grandma did.”
– Angela Clay, Ohio
“Grape jelly. Stewed tomatoes. Ketchup. Pickle-Lily. Vegetable chop was everything left in the garden. This makes the best relish for barbeques, potato and macaroni salad, and deviled eggs. Grape pie filling is my favorite.”
– Karen Martino, Zelienople
“When I was first married and rented a duplex in West View, I canned tomatoes and green beans from our little garden. There’s nothing like homemade canned tomatoes for making sauces. Healthy food with no preservatives. I miss those simple days.”
– Kathy Seaton, Pittsburgh
“Never had any experience canning when I was growing up but I’ve canned tomato sauce, beets and pickles. I’ve also made jams and jellies.”
– M. J. Isles McCurdy, Butler County
“I remember my mom’s tomato processor. We always had a garden and we’d can tomatoes using this giant metal processor that clamped to our Formica kitchen table. The shelves that used to hold the canned goods now hold Christmas decor.”
– Jenda George, Pittsburgh
“Year in and year out, my dad’s parents canned enough apple butter and peanut butter to fill an Amazon warehouse. The apple butter was especially good.”
– Richard Gallagher, Beaver County
Vintage Debbie is a vintage history buff and performance artist with a unique style of era-specific music, dance and dress. She entertains area seniors through an interactive and fun music memory experience in Beaver, Lawrence and Butler counties. To learn more, follow Vintage Debbie’s World on Facebook, search Vintage Debbie’s music videos on YouTube, or view videos of her performances by visiting pittsburghseniornews.com. To book her for an event, email wagner.debbie@ymail.com.