Make-it-Yourself Monday: Canning beans

Here, finally, is this week's Make-it-Yourself Monday. If you can find tasty ways to prepare dried beans, you'll save a heap of money... :-)

Note: In order to complete this project, you will need to know how to use a pressure canner.

For each pint of canned beans, you will need the following:

1 straight-sided wide-mouth pint jar
3/4 c. dry beans
1/2 t. salt
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic (optional)

Place beans in jars. Fill jars with water. Allow to soak overnight. Drain water and rinse beans thoroughly. Add salt, bay leaf, and garlic. Fill to 1/2" from top with boiling water.

Put flat jar lids in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Make sure jar tops are completely clean and not chipped. Place lids on jars. Fasten with jar lid rings. Put 2" water in bottom of pressure canner. Process beans for 40 minutes at ten pounds pressure. Follow pressure canner directions for cooling before opening the canner.

For more Make-it-Yourself Monday features, click here.