I am often asked if it is worth gardening and canning. The cost of tomatoes at my local Walmart is now 4.13 per 28 ounce can. A can of tomato paste is 1.50. For a typical dinner with planned leftovers the cost is now is 18.02. That is 4 cans of tomatoes and 1 can of paste, this doesn't include vegetables, meat, or spices.
If I use my canning stores, I can make a large pot of sauce that will be dinner and lunch. I have a teenage boy, I don't need to explain, boys are bottomless. I can make that same amount of sauce with meat and vegetables for as low $ 4.45 or less. Each jar of 32-ounce tomatoes cost 25 cents.
Those 25 cent jars can be tomato sauce, pizza sauce, crushed tomatoes in a recipe, or tomato sauce. A good box of organic soup is 4.79 at my local Walmart. Progresso is $ 1.96. I can make an equal amount of better tasting soup for around $ 1.25.
By using our canning stores, I save money, the finished product tastes better, and I don't have a ton of cans. Our kids aren't developing a tin palate.
My husband has a can of mushroom soup that has been on the shelf forever that is a running joke. He decided to make a beef dish with canned of mushroom soup. I looked at him like he was insane. I explained how easy it was to make a mushroom sauce with a few ingredients, nothing tastes worse than canned mushrooms. If I say to my husband I don't feel like cooking, my husband will say, "Let me get the rice and mushroom soup. "I always create a meal quickly.
There are so many things you can freeze, dry, and can to make your food budget stretch in the winter months. One doesn't have to have a garden at home. You can rent a community garden spot, got to orchards, and farmer's markets. I have gotten fruits and vegetables on clearance.
You can home can dry beans. I have done this when my canner load was coming up short. Our Walmart had been terrible with canned goods as of late. Our local City Market is charging more than it should.
Tonight, I made pasta. Rao's is my favorite brand. It is over 7 dollars now at Sprouts. I have stopped buying pasta, I make it by hand for about 2 dollars. Ravioli is around 4 dollars to make because I make a triple batch with good cheese and meat.
Honestly, it about 2 weeks of time to can everything that needs to be canned for the year.
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