The Pioneer Woman's Salsa (and how to can it!)

Step 1

Place all ingredients into a large food processor or blender (may have to process in batches). Pulse (or blend) until you reach the desired consistency you prefer. Taste the salsa; add more seasonings to suit your taste. If not canning this, refrigerate (covered) for 1 hour, then serve with tortilla chips.

Step 2

Fill canner or large, deep soup pot (with metal rack on bottom) over half full with water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Step 3

Wash canning jars in hot, soapy water. rinse well; drain. I put the clean jars on a dish towel on a baking sheet in a preheated 250 degree oven for about 25 minutes to heat up.

Step 4

Prepare salsa according to above directions. Place salsa in a separate large cooking pot.

Step 5

Once jars are heated, bring salsa to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer/low boil for 5 minutes. While this is cooking, place the jar lids in separate saucepan, cover with water and simmer over medium heat (do not boil) for 4-5 minutes. (Keep lids hot until ready to use).

Step 6

Work with one jar at a time: Insert funnel into mouth of jar. Ladle the hot salsa into hot jar. Leave 1/2 inch headspace from the top of the jar to the salsa. Slide a non-metallic utensil (plastic knife or rubber spatula work well) into salsa 2-3 times to remove air bubbles. Re-adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding more salsa (only if needed for 1/2 inch headspace).

Step 7

Wipe rims and threads of jars with a damp cloth so no sauce or food particles remain (food particles left on rim could cause jars to not seal). Place lid on jar (I use a magnetic utensil). Place screw band on jar. Tighten to fingertip tight (do not over-tighten). Place filled jar onto rack in canner. Repeat process until all jars are filled.

Step 8

Once all jars are in canner, adjust the water level until it covers the tops of the jars by at least one inch. Cover canner with lid; bring water to full rolling boil over high heat. Once water is boiling HARD, start the timing (15 minutes) for processing the salsa. Keep up the rolling boil throughout the cooking process. Process half-pint jars for 15 minutes. At end of processing time, turn the heat off. Remove the canner lid. Let the jars cool in the canner for 5 minutes before removing with tongs.

Step 9

Lift jars out of canner carefully. Place the jars on a dish towel on counter (where they can be undisturbed) for 24 hours to cool down. Within an hour or so, you should hear a "ping" sound as the jars seal. After 24 hours, check to make sure all jars have sealed, remove band from jar, wipe clean, label, then place in pantry for long term storage.