4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (2024)


4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (1)

We had a class Thursday night at Preparing Wisely in Mesa Arizona and I added 5 new recipes to the seven meals that I have already shared for the convenience meals in a jar that are "just add water".
The blessed part of these new additions is that they are still the same homestyle food that my husband calls "normal people food". I think it's a cut above normal...but not so gourmet that it will intimidate my in-laws who prefer mild food. I don't use a lot of sodium or go too crazy on the seasoning here, so adjust as you need for your family. I like to add more to my personal jars.I know a lot of folks who are trying to plan food storage that will be stable for several years. Some want a full year on hand for emergencies like personal unemployment or natural disasters. The best part of adding the new meals is that now we have enough to do a 2 week menu plan instead of just one week. So one can do 24 jars of each meal and have dinners for a "years supply" of dinners...give or take. I keep it in denomination of 12 because canning quart jars come in 12 jar cases! One can be certain it's easy to organize.

Last Monday I added the first of the five new recipes. It wasCreamy Chicken and Veggie Casserole in a Jar.The next four are here today. This is basic stuff folks...but hopefully it will save you some time and money when you're making some shelf stable meals for your family. They're great for camping, emergency situations (like floods, hurricanes...) or Tuesday night. Whatever your life is like, these fit. You control the ingredients. So, let's jump into these ones.{Side note...have you ever used freeze dried cheese? It's amazing! It's crazy stuff...and totally real cheese...just freeze-dried to preserve its freshness.}

NOTE:The repacking of Freeze Dried Meat must be done within 24-48 hours of opening the can and must be done in a dry environment. Once repacked you must use an oxygen absorber to make sure there is a vacuum oxygen-free environment.

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (2)

Meal 1: Saucy Baked Ziti with Sausage and Mushrooms

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (3)

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (4)

Saucy “Baked” Ziti

with Sausage and Mushrooms

In a quart jar:
2/3 cup tomato powder
1/3 cup dehydrated onion
1T Chef Tess Italian Seasoning
1/3 cup freeze dried sausage
2/3 cup Freeze dried Hamburger
1 cup Ziti (3 ounces)
1/3 cup freeze dried mushrooms
2/3 cup freeze dried Mozzarella cheese (in a snack baggie)
Directions: Place contents of jar (except for cheese) in a covered skillet or pot with 4 ½ cups water. Simmer 15-20 minutes until pasta is tender and sauce is thick. (Solar oven 30-40 minutes covered). Place contents of cheese bag in a bowl and spray lightly with water. Sit for 5 minutes. Uncover cooked pasta mixture. Top with cheese. Cover again and allow cheese to melt, about 5 minutes.Serve hot.

Meal 2: Beefy Spanish Rice

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (5)


Beefy Spanish Rice

In Quart jar with oxygen eater:
1 ½ cup freeze dried hamburger
1 ½ cup long grain rice
½ cup freeze dried bell pepper trio
½ cup dehydrated onion
1 ½ tsp Chef Tess All Purpose seasoning, 1 tsp dehydrated minced garlic
1 T dehydrated minced ancho chilies
1 ½ tsp salt
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup tomato powder
1 bay leaf
Directions: Add contents of jar to 5 ½ cups boiling water. Cover and simmer low 25-30 minutes until tender. Top with cheese or sour cream if desired.

Meal 3: Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (6)

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (7)

Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole

2 cups quick cook beans(these cook in 20 minutes!)
1 cup long grain rice
½ cup freeze-dried bell pepper trio
½ cup dehydrated onion
1T Chef Tess All Purpose Seasoning blend
½ tsp cumin seed
½ tsp oregano leaves (or 1 drop oil of oregano)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
½ cup cheese sauce powder
¼ cup powdered tomato
Place contents of jar in a deep covered casserole and add 6 cups of very hot water. Place covered in a solar oven or conventional oven 30-35 minutes.


Meal 4: Golden Cheese and Sausage Potato Casserole

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (8)

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (9)

Golden Potato, cheese, and Sausage Casserole

In a quart jar:

1 cup cheese sauce powder
½ cup sour cream powder
1/3 cup dehydrated onion,

1 ½ tsp dehydrated minced garlic
1 cup freeze dried sausage (or ham)
2 cups (4 ounces) dehydrated hash brown potatoes
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp cracked fresh pepper
1 bay leaf

Combine contents in a deep casserole with 5 ½ cups hot water. Cover 10 minutes. Bake in solar oven 1 hour covered or in the microwave 15 minutes uncovered. May top with additional cheese, crushed corn flakes or crushed crackers if desired.

There you go. Make some meals in a jar!

Always My Very Best,

Your Friend Chef Tess

4 New Convenience Meals in A Jar Recipes! (2024)

FAQs

How long do meals in a jar last? ›

The Shelf Life of the Meals in a jar is around 5-15 years, depending on the ingredients used. The #10 cans have a shelf life of about 6-12 months after you open them.

What foods can you put in jars? ›

Filters
  • Jams & Jellies.
  • Salsas & Chutneys.
  • Tomatoes.
  • Fruits & Vegetables.
  • Soups & Stews.
  • Pickling & Relishes.
  • Pickles & Relishes.

How do you eat out of a Mason jar? ›

Salads on the Go

Transform your lunch routine by layering salads in mason jars. Start with the dressing at the bottom, add hearty veggies, grains, and proteins, and finish with delicate greens on top. Shake, pour, and enjoy a crisp, well-dressed salad wherever you are. Recipe!

Can you eat 20 year old canned food? ›

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

Can you eat 50 year old canned food? ›

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, canned contents are safe to eat as long as the can is in “good shape.” The Canned Food Alliance agrees, citing 100-year-old canned food that was recovered from sunken ships and tested microbiologically safe.

What is it called when you put food in a jar? ›

Canning, the process of placing foods in jars or cans and heating properly to a specified temperature, is a way to preserve many different foods.

How do you can food in jars for beginners? ›

The mechanics behind canning are fairly simple. You fill a clean jar with prepared food, apply the flat lid and the threaded ring to the jar, and submerge the filled jar in boiling water for a prescribed amount of time. (Times vary widely, depending on what you're canning.)

Why do people put food in jars? ›

In an era of high food prices, some hope growing and preserving their own food will save money. Others want more control over the foods they eat — for better flavor and to avoid common preservatives. Above all else, though, Smith said people choose to can because it brings them pride.

What is the difference between a jar and a mason jar? ›

All Mason jars are not created equal. They are remarkably similar to commercially used jars, but the biggest difference is that real Mason jars have a wider rim that gives them a better sealing surface.

Why do you turn jars upside down when canning? ›

Inversion Canning

Once secured, the jar is inverted (flipped upside down) and left to cool for several minutes before placed right side up. The thought behind the method is the hot food will sterilize the seal while creating a vacuum by allowing air to escape.

Why put salad in a mason jar? ›

Canning jars work well because they don't absorb smells and flavors like plastic, they last forever, and they are tall and skinny—the key to making sure your salad doesn't go limp.

Do mason jars need to be washed before first use? ›

You might want to wash the jars first to make sure there's no gunk from the factory in them. Toss 'em in the dishwasher if you got one. That's really all you need to do. So, just to be clear, when you can stuff, you put the food in the jars, screw the lids down loosely, then heat them in the pressure cooker.

How long do you leave mason jars in boiling water? ›

Bring to a rolling boil, cover the canner and boil for 10 minutes if using 4-, 8- or 12-ounce jars or for 15 minutes if using 16-ounce jars. (Check individual preserve recipes for more specific processing times.) Let cool for 10 minutes before removing the jars from the pot.

How long will food keep in a Mason jar? ›

How long will canned food last in a mason jar? The general rule of thumb is between 12 and 18 months if you want the food at its best. Most canners will tell you that canned foods that still look like they are in their original shape are safe to eat.

Does jarred food go bad? ›

While canned goods past their "best-by" date may not taste optimal, there's no real health risk in consuming canned goods as long as they remain in good condition. Here's why: The food in the container is commercially sterile and a vacuum seal prevents any new bacteria from getting in, so it will not spoil.

How long does cooked food last in a Mason jar? ›

How Long Will Food Last in a Mason Jar? If sealed and stored correctly in a cool and dark place, the National Center for Home Food Preservation says that canned food will retain its quality for 12 to 18 months in a Mason jar. It is important to remember that the condition of the food will degrade as more time passes.

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