The Durf Pantry

From the garden to the jar—and everything in between.

My love of canning started long before I ever had a kitchen of my own.

I grew up as a farmer's daughter, and my mom was always putting something from our garden into jars. My dad would plant little patches of sweet corn each year specifically so we could can or freeze it. I didn't realize it at the time, but those afternoons in the kitchen were teaching me something that would become a tradition I truly love.

When my husband and I were first dating, we discovered that we shared that same love of canning. His reasons were a little different—he doesn't like processed foods and enjoys knowing exactly what goes into the food we eat.

Somewhere along the way, canning became something we could enjoy together.

Why We Can

For us, canning isn't just about filling jars.

It's about knowing what's in our food, saving money, making the most of what's in season, and having a pantry full of things we've made ourselves.

There's also something incredibly satisfying about opening a jar in the middle of winter and remembering the tomatoes, apples, peppers, or other produce that went into it months earlier.

And yes, it can save a LOT of money.

One year, we found cases of Roma tomatoes at a local produce market for just $8 a case. We stocked up and turned those tomatoes into pasta sauce, salsa, chili base, pizza sauce, tomato juice, and ketchup.

I even turned some of that tomato juice into Bloody Mary Mix.

That's my kind of grocery shopping!

Before You Start Canning

Every spring and summer, I start thinking about what I want to put up for the year.

One of the first things I do is take inventory of what I still have from the previous year.

I keep a simple spreadsheet that tells me:

• What I've canned
• The size of the jars
• How many jars I have left
• What we used the most
• What I probably don't need to make as much of this year

That little bit of planning helps me decide what to grow, what to buy, and what to put up when produce is at its best—and usually at its cheapest.

Last year, my sister's apple tree was a huge blessing. I was able to make plenty of apple butter and apple pie filling, and those jars became some of my favorite things in the pantry.

Let's Fill Some Jars

Whether you're an experienced canner or you've never put a jar in a water-bath canner before, I hope you'll find something here that makes you want to give it a try.

I'll be sharing canning recipes, preserving ideas, tips, seasonal projects, and ways to make the most of garden and farmers' market produce.

And remember—you don't have to grow everything yourself.

Sometimes the best deals can be found at your local produce market, farmers' market, or even by taking advantage of a neighbor's bumper crop.

A Little Canning Advice

If you're brand new to home canning, please take the time to learn proper canning methods before you begin. I recommend having a trusted, up-to-date canning guide on hand and following tested recipes and recommended processing times.

Canning is one of those skills where doing it safely matters just as much as making something delicious.

So grab your jars, fire up the canner, and let's get started.

Welcome to The Durf Pantry.

Good food doesn't have to start at the grocery store. Sometimes, it starts in the garden.

[My Recommended Canning Book →]