If I decide to pressure can them..

Sorry April but that is not an option you can choose or not if you car going to can them. Pressure canning is required. No if's, and's, or but's about it. ;)

And yes, they will be quite a bit softer than if frozen. I don't think I'd call them "mushy" exactly but some here would so I guess its a toothy thing. Suffice it to say that I could easily eat them even without my dentures in. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: NCHFP - Instructions for Home Canning of Mixed Vegetables

I took it to mean you wanted them mixed but if not the same link will give you the info on doing GB and carrots separately too.

Dave

I should never try to type when it isn't naptime - things come out incoherently. What I meant was if I decide to can them at all. I would always pressure can them. I just don't want to go through the trouble if the children aren't going to eat them. Like I said, they tend to like their green beans mushy. I would also can them separately, not together. They don't seem to eat veggies that are mixed. Strange I know, but at least they eat them. Thank you for your input though, safety should always come first, particularly with little ones.

No problem ;) - I may have just "assumed" since we have had so many discussions lately about folks who still want to can both using BWB.

Dave

I've frozen green beans once or twice, andmuch prefer them canned. My husband, too, likes what I consider mushy. I love steamed. I just cook them longer. Have the children eaten raw green beans -- just picked? My grandchildren used to love going to the garden for snacks. Cassie even shucked corn and nibbled it still on the stalk. She wasn't tall enough or strong enough to pick it.

When our son was in college, he came home every weekend (surprised us, for sure). When I put green beans on the table, he ate nearly a whole quart by himself. This was really different, and I thought perhaps they were just starving him at school, so I finally asked him. He said, yes, they served green beans but they were "funny" and not right at all. I guess he'd never had commercially canned beans. This from a kid who much preferred pizza and cookies. Kids never cease to amaze me.

I prefer canned to frozen as well.
Maybe just what I'm used to, but the frozen carrots and green beans taste "funny" to me.
Corn, peas, broccoli I prefer frozen (not that I've ever TRIED canned broccoli...blech!). LOL

You can always try just a few jars and see if they like them. Carrots and beans process for the same time, so maybe try a pint or two of each and see if they pass the "Kid Test".

Deanna

I like the old fashion canned beans. A little mushy with a strong flavor. It must have pork but I'm not sure. Anyone know how this is done?

Beans like Boston baked beans?? They are not the same as canning string beans. My recipe for baked beans was posted over a year ago here. I use either salt pork or some unsliced bacon chunks. When I make baked beans they are frozen if I have extra. They take about 6 hours to make and turn out great every time. Never tried pressure canning them though.

Not Boston Baked beans but green beans with pork.

Never had them that way. I like to french cut them and add toasted slivered almonds. Not for canning however.

In home canning, unlike commercial canning, the pork gets added just prior to serving, not as part of the canning process.

Dave

Thank you for everyone's input. I'll try a few cans for the kid tested approval. If they don't like them then nothing will be lost. I'll let you know how it goes in a few months.

I know this is sort of half-off topic, but... My boys are veggie maniacs. broccoli, beans, peas, salad greens, cukes, carrots, whatever, they gobble it up. And if it is the first big picking from the garden of a certain veggie, there is no chance of left-overs. But most kids just don't feel this way about them.

I think the main reason for the difference is that they never ate canned baby food. Oh, I bought a can of peas or carrots once. And I tasted it. And immediately tossed it in the trash. No way would I feed my baby that crap. blech!

I made my own baby food. I just cooked a few extra carrots, potatoes, peas, whatever I was cooking for us. Throw it into the mini-food processor, and viola! Instant baby food. Put the extra in ice cube trays to let them freeze then store them in freezer bags. Then lunch was as easy as popping out a couple of cubes and heating them up. Blended spaghetti was a big favorite! As soon as they were ready, they got whatever we were having, just chopped up smaller.

Yes, they love their veggies, and I admit that I am just a little proud that they are just a bit snobbish about food. I mean really, when your freshman college boy calls and asks for your shrimp scampi recipe to make for his girlfriend, well, it feels good.
Kay