Wow, I just visited the Presto site. What a change. They don't even have pressure canners listed on it any more (though they do have parts for older canners). But it looks like presently the only pressure canners made by Presto are the 18-quart and 23-quart big guys. So Mirro is what you want. Their small pressure canners (do make sure as Deanna said that it specifically says "canner") have a round weight like a disk with a 5-pound hole, a 10-pound hole and a 15-pound hole. I think, though, the smallest pressure canner you'll find is a 12-quart. I have one. It's a nice size. It will hold 7 quarts if you later decide to can larger jars. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: Mirro Pressure-Canner

Boned or boneless?

Annie: Fiasco farms doesn't have a link. But....DH has a yogurt maker (the styrofoam box contraption) somewhere under the house and I'm sure there are recipes galore. Never underestimate the inventory of a pack-rat/foodie. Remember the pressure canner I saw up in the garage rafters? I can use 1/2 pint canning jars and the Ball plastic lids, right? LindaC I'll keep one or two packets for those kinds of emergencies. jojo I don't have a dog....unless I'm POed at one of the other family members and feel like pulling a 'Prince of Tides' meal. Heh heh. jcrowley, I'm making up hot choc AND chai mix from the ideas here! PK: Good point and I'm going to start putting it into DS#2's morning 'coffee'. Don't ask. Just leave it as he could use more calcium. Lou you bet I'll use that spoon. Gotta get it from beside the bed though, been using it for something else. Just kidding! jclepine, yup, thats another option. I just unloaded my pantry of other stuff that Food Pantries could use. Rita and Sprout - cutting and pasting good ideas, and yes my headache is gone for today, thanks! I have kosher, vegetarian, low sodium and weight watcher friends so that soup recipe would be a low fat and sodium alternative. Thanks everyone, I know where to go from here (and I'm getting email responses via GW so I will know when someone has added a comment).

Beef roast- 3-4 lb beef arm roast- for tenderness 3 cups water 1 medium chopped into slices yellow-and or- red onion 1 packet dry onion soup mix 1 small bag of baby carrots 5 white round potatoes chopped into cubes whit skins on-explain later 1 can of drained mushrooms(or 2 depending on how much you like them) 2 tbsp salt pepper seasoned to taste 2 tablespoon garlic powder- or you can replace salt with garlic salt 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil basil,oregano,and any other of your favorite seasonings In crockpot mix together 2 cups water, half packet of onion soup mix, salt and pepper and any other seasonings. Put crockpot on high and let soup warm while we move to the next step Have a large skillet- big enough for the roast- place on stove with olive oil and turn stovetop to medium- let this heat up while your seasoning the beef First cut the beef roast in halves. Blot dry with a paper towel.. next take a knife and make slits in the beef against the grain all the way across just enough to score it for seasonings. season the beef the with the seasonings from above.. Braize the beef for about 5-8 minutes on each and everyside of the beef- until it has a nice brown coat. Once browned use a knife to poke slits through the beef to help the flavors cook through. Next step place the browned beef in the crockpot and put crock pot to either A) medium (will take apprx. 6-8 hours) B) leave it on high (apprx. 4-5 hours) Next in the skillet you had braized the beef in, add your potatoes, carrots, 1 cup water, the rest of the onion soup mix, the chopped onions, mushrooms as well as any seasonigs you desire leave skillet on medium and let simmer while coverd for apprx. 10 -15. This is why you leave the skins on the potatoes, it allows the potatoes to get soft yet the skin keeps them intact as they dont crumble..... yet. Once that has simmered simply pour into your crockpot. cooked for the alotted time. The roast and potatoes will be melt in your mouth, and with the onion/beef gravy on top will be flavorfull.