Dry Pack Canning Recipes

A big thanks to Jan Douglas for this wonderful class. She is an amazing source of knowledge. 

These recipes are for 1 quart jar and serves (4-6) people.

Beautiful jars perfect for good storage, quick meals, taking good to neighbors, gifts etc...

 This is the book Jan loves!

Mylar bags are another version. Get them online out at church canning store and seal them with your iron. Don't forget your oxygen packets!

Caramel Frosting

In a medium sauce pan, add:

1/2 C butter

1 C brown sugar

Bring to a full boil and stir 1 min. or until slightly thick

Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Add:

1/4 C milk.  Beat until smooth.

Add about 2 1/2 C- 3 1/4 C powdered sugar.

Beat mixture until creamy, with more or less powdered sugar for desired consistency.  

Banana Bread/Cake

Cream together:
1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
3 eggs

Then add:
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C nuts, optional

Bake at 350 degrees in 9X13 pan, bread pans, or muffins.

Lemon Bars

Crust:

1 1/2 C flour

1/2 C confectioner's sugar

3/4 C cold margarine or butter

Filling:

1 1/2 C granulated sugar

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 C lemon juice from concentrate

1 tsp baking powder

3 T flour

Additional confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In medium bowl, combine flour and confectioner's sugar.  Cut in margarine until crumbly.   Press firmly on bottom of lightly greased 9X13 baking pan.  Bake 15 min or until lightly browned.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine granulated sugar, eggs, lemon juice, baking powder, and 3 T flour.  Mix well.   Pour over hot baked crust;  bake 20-25 min.  cool.  Cut into bars.  Sprinkle with additional confectioner's sugar.  Store covered in refrigerator.  

Good Fudge

2 C sugar

2/3 C canned milk

1 cube butter

Microwave to soft ball stage- about 10 min.

Add:

1 pkg chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

7 oz marshmallow creme

Put mini marshmallows and nuts in bottom of 9X13 pan if desired.  Pour mixture into pan.  Thin this recipe with milk for good frosting.  

Pumpkin Bars

2 C sugar
1 C applesauce or oil
4 eggs
2 C pumpkin
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another.  Add dry mixture to wet one until creamy.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 min.  Frost when cool.

Frosting:
6 oz cream cheese
3/4 stick butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
3 C powdered sugar

Chinese Chicken Salad

1 head cabbage, chopped (or a 2 bags of prepared coleslaw cabbage)

2 pkg chicken or oriental flavored ramen noodles

1 bunch green onions, chopped

4 T sesame seeds (Could also use sunflower seeds)

1/2 C slivered almonds 

3 Chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Brown broken ramen noodles, sesame seeds, and almonds in a 350 degree one on a cookie sheet.  Mix all ingredients above together and toss with dressing below.  (I would not add the noodles and nuts until just before serving to keep them crunchy.)

Dressing:

4 T sugar

3+ T soy sauce (to taste)

3/4 C olive oil

1 tsp pepper

2 pkg soup mix (from ramen noodles)

Optional:  1-2 T rice vinegar

Layered Nacho Salad

2 large avocados
2 C salsa
1 head of leafy lettuce (or a container of prepared lettuce)
1 (15 oz) can black beans
4 green onions, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
3 C shredded chicken
3 C crushed tortilla chips
1 C grated cheddar cheese
1 C sour cream

Mash avocados with 1/3 C salsa and season with salt and pepper.  Layer the ingredients beginning with lettuce and ending with cheese in a large bowl.  Top each layer with 1/2 of the avocado mixture and 1/2 of the remaining salsa.  (2 complete layers)  Spread sour cream over the top of the salad and sprinkle with cheese.  (Optional:  olives, tomatoes, etc.)

Chicken Salad

2 T Salad Oil

2 T orange juice concentrate

2 T vinegar

1 tsp salt

3-4 C cooked chicken

1 1/2 C mandarin oranges

1 1/2 C pineapple tidbits

1 1/2 C green grapes, sliced

1 C sliced almonds, toasted

1 1/2 C celery

1 1/4 C raw rice

1/2 qt mayonaise

Dice chicken, mix oil, juice, vinegar, and salt.  Marinate chicken in mix and refrigerate.  Cook rice with salt.  Drain and blanch with cold water.   Drain fruit then mix with nuts and celery.  Add rice and mayonnaise to remaining mixture.  

Cherry Jello Salad

1 lg cherry jello

1 C boiling water

1 can cherry pie filling

Stir jello into boiling water until dissolved.  Add 20 oz crushed pineapple (do not drain), 1 can cherry pie filling.  Refrigerate until set.  

Topping:

1 pkg (small) vanilla instant pudding

Add 1 C milk

Beat until thick and add 8 oz cool whip.

Spread on top of firm jello.  

Easy Healthy Mixed Bean Salad

1 can green beans
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans
3/4 C low fat italian dressing

Drain and rinse beans.  Combine in a bowl and add dressing.  Chill for at least 3 hours.  Enjoy!

Raspberry Pretzel Dessert

2 1/2 C crushed pretzels

3/4 C butter

12 oz cool whip

8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temp

1 C sugar

1 can crushed pineapple, drained.

1 lg (6 oz) pkg raspberry jello

Raspberries- about 2 cups or 12 oz.

Melt butter in 9X13 pan, press in pretzels.  Bake at 400 for 10 min.  then cool.  Cream together cream cheese, cool whip, and sugar.  Fold in pineapple.  Spread this on crust refrigerate.  Dissolve jello packed in 3 C boiling water, add raspberries.  Cool in fridge until syrupy.  Spoon this over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate until firm, for several hours or overnight.

Homemade Fabric Softener

Ingredients:

8 C HOT water

4 C white vinegar

cheap conditioner of choice (I used 22 oz suave rainforest)

Optional- A small bottle of Gain Original Fabric Softener for scent

Mix all ingredients in a large container and stir well.  You may store in one large container or multiple for easier pouring.  

Use the same amount as you would for any liquid softener.  You can either put it directly in the load or in a fabric softener ball.  

Homemade Laundry Soap (Liquid)

Homemade Laundry Soap (Liquid)

Use 1/4-1/2 cup for High Efficiency washers, 1/2-3/4 cup for non-HE top loaders

Items and Ingredients Needed

• Rubber Gloves
• 5 gal. Bucket with Lid
• 2 cups Organic Liquid Castile Soap OR 2 bars Organic Castile Soap or Zote or Fels Naptha (3), Grated
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda

Optional Items

• Optional: 10-15 drops Lavender or Lemon Essential Oil
• Or a liquid fabric softener for scent
• 1 cup Oxyclean
• 1 cup Clorox 2 (It can be used on whites or colors and keeps clothes whiter and brighter)

Directions

• Fill 5 gal. bucket HALF FULL with HOT WATER
• Using your gloves, add liquid or Grated Castile Soap and mix well. If using grated soap, mix until dissolved. 
• Stir in Borax, Washing Soda and Baking Soda
• Add Optional ingredients if you choose to use them
• Stir all ingredients well
• Fill the rest of the 5 gal. bucket with WARM water and stir well
• Cover with lid and wait 24-28 hours; gently stir the mixture 1-2 times while waiting period for it to thicken
• After waiting period, mix well then transfer into a smaller re-usable liquid laundry detergent container with a funnel for easier use, optional.

 The mixture may seem a little inconsistent. Make sure to mix in bucket or shake mixture in reusable container to mix solution well prior to each use if needed. 

Store the extra in the 5 gal Bucket and transfer into the other container as you need it.