Everything you need to start canning

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1. Camp Chef–We have a glass top stove, which is not recommended to use for pressure canning. We bought this Camp Chef for doing our canning in the backyard. It also saves the hour of heat in my kitchen (during August) to process each batch of cans!

2. Pressure Canner–A pressure canner is necessary if you want to do vegetables or meats. We have one similar to this, but there are many different options on Amazon. If you are only interested in processing fruits, a water bath canner is all you need.

3. Canning jars–You will need glass canning jars in whatever size you prefer. I prefer using pint jars the best for most of my vegetables, because one jar of green beans works for my family for dinner. I will often use quart size for peaches or spaghetti sauce, but even then, I still like pint and can choose if I want to open one or two for that particular meal.

4. More canning lids–Most of the jars you buy will come with a lid and ring. This will work the first time you can something. Once a lid has been used to seal the jar, it shouldn’t be reused. After eating your preserved food, you can use the jar and ring again, but you’ll want to use fresh lids every time to ensure a good and safe seal.

That’s it!! That’s all you need to get started on your canning journey. I follow my specific pressure canners manual for tips, recipes, and processing pressure/length. Other than that, you are good to go. Happy Canning!

Kristen

The post First Canning of the Season first appeared on Just A Mommy Minute.

The post First Canning of the Season appeared first on Just A Mommy Minute.

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time trying to clean and organize my house and work in the yard. My kids are great to help out a lot, but I know it’s not that much fun for them because, let’s face it, it’s not that much fun for me! I decided that I would make sure to at least play one game with them every day. Here are our top 5 favorite games right now.

1. The Bears and the Bees

I just got this game for my birthday last month. It took me a few weeks to decide to open it and figure out the instructions (I’d much rather have someone teach me a game than read the instructions). It became a quick favorite. I ask my kids to play it with me every day. Definitely great for age 7+, but my 4 year old likes to sit with me and help me match colors as well. It has hexagon-shaped cards that you match by color to create a game board. Strategize by giving cards to other players, and try to find places where you can play again to go out first. Very simple to learn, quick to play, and fun!

2. Cover Your A$$ets

Another Grandpa Beck’s game. This is another family favorite. I like that this game works for 6 players. It also says 7+, but my 6 year old had no problems playing, and my 4 year old can play with verbal assistance. It is a game of card matching, and stealing from other players to build your deck of a$$ets. Again, quick to learn, easy to play, not overly complicated, and a pretty fast game.

3. Kingdomino

Build your kingdom with domino-like cardboard tiles. 2-4 players. Recommended ages 8+ (but again, it can be enjoyed and played by speaking instructions/suggestions to younger kids). We love that there is a bit of subtle strategy, and that the game is different every time it is played.

4. Blokus

This game needs 4 players unless you get a separate board that facilitates 2 players. I love to visualize the pieces and how they will fit, but then be blocked off and have to find a new route. My kids usually like to compete for second place, because I always win…..but I completely LOST yesterday. 4th place out of 4. Fun and simple, with simple strategy and good geometric visualization. Ages 5+. 2-4 players, but best with 4 on this normal board.

5. 5 Crowns

Ages 8+, and says 1-7 players. This is another fun card game that is played through 11 rounds. The first round starts with 3 cards, and then each round gains 1 card until you reach 13 (or King). Match card in sets or runs, similar to Phase 10, but everyone stays on the same round and progresses together. First to get all their cards into sets and runs goes down, everyone else has one last chance to get anything put down.

What games do you like to play with your kids right now? We’re always up to try something new!

The post 5 Favorite Games for Kids first appeared on Just A Mommy Minute.

The post 5 Favorite Games for Kids appeared first on Just A Mommy Minute.

With 5 kids under 10 years old, life gets hectic and messy. These 5 products help save my sanity on a frequent and daily basis. These are my must have kid products that I don’t want to live without.

1. A Good Water Bottle

I got tired of having twenty cups pulled out of the drawer, used for a half a second, and then left all over the kitchen. We got our kids these Contigo Water Bottles and used a Label Maker to put their names on them. You could also let them decorate their own with stickers (might come off or fade in the dishwasher), or purchase different colors for each child. I prefer the stainless steel ones that I linked, because it keeps water cool for longer than the plastic. We love being able to grab them to bring in the car or take to the park quickly because they are always sitting on the counter ready to use.

2. Plaque Disclosing Tablets

Our bedtime routine is busy getting multiple kids in pajamas, teeth brushed, flossed, mouthwash, journals, stories, prayers, kiss, and tucked in. I want to make sure my kids have good oral hygiene, but needed to let the older ones take responsibility for their own teeth. These tablets help them learn how to brush well and get rid of ALL the plaque. We usually use one every other week, or so, to make sure they don’t start slacking!

3. Comfortable Walking Sandals

These shoes are one of the most versatile and comfortable kid shoes I have found. Each of my kids owns a pair. They are great for walks, hiking, splash pads, water parks, playgrounds, etc. They can get wet and dry out quickly, but also have good grip in the soles. There are many color options. I also like that they are closed toe, and have an adjustable heel strap. I have not had any problems with the velcro and typically my kids grow out of them before they wear out.

4. Toy Organization

Organization!!! I have tried many different systems with toys. The exploded toy room seems to by my kids’ favorite, but I prefer an organized method. These smaller bins work well for a lot of our toy sets, but these larger ones are nice for building blocks, train tracks, or larger toy sets. Again, use a label maker or put sticker labels so the kids know how to clean up!

5. Pantry Snack Storage

“I’m hungry” and “Can I have a snack?” are two of the most commonly spoken phrases in my house. I like to have healthy and grab-able options for these occasions. These containers sit on the bottom shelf in my pantry, so my kids can reach everything on their own. Some ideas of what I keep on hand are pretzels, granola bars/fruit bars, dried cranberries, mixed nuts, dried mangoes, trail mix, and, let’s be honest…chocolate chips! I also try to keep apples on the counter and string cheese in the fridge.

These 5 kid products make my life run more smoothly with lots of children in my house.

What are some of your parenting ‘must-haves’?

The post 5 Favorite Kid Products first appeared on Just A Mommy Minute.

The post 5 Favorite Kid Products appeared first on Just A Mommy Minute.