Virginia

Can't get it to score mine, so I am either perfectly OK, or a total mess maybe.

I have never heard of this test, but it is good to know.

Welcome, I once lived in Mississippi.

This week I used a yellow cake mix that expired in 2005. I did not bake as usual, but used as the topping on a Pumpkin Crunch, so it did not need to rise, but it tasted fine, and we are all still living. I did a dry taste test before using. It passed the smell and taste test, so I used it.

I guess we are keeping them all in Arkansas.

Just made a quick trip to WM for DGD, passed the canning isle. I have never seen so many jars, lids, etc. any place before. They must have 5 or 6 times the amount they usually carry. Almost a whole isle of canning supplies.

I have done it, and it is OK. Potatoes are never as good as fresh, IMHO, but still good for a change.

I have old Mirro, Sears, Presto, and was given an old AA. I like them all, and have no problems with them, except for the gasket wearing out. Like Darlene, the old Presto (my grandmother's) had a broken handle and my Daddy made a wooden one.

I can chicken in broth all the time, and generally we heat it with noodles and such. However, on occasion we eat it just from the jar on sandwiches. I am very careful to can according to the newer charts and cannot recommend that others eat without heating, but we have never had a problem. I don't know of anyone that ever had a problem with home canned foods. My grandmother, mother and aunt all canned for years and I have done it since a girl with one or the other of them, so at 63 I have a lot of years under my belt. Still better safe than sorry. Quite a few recalls of commercially processed stuff lately.

My family particularly likes a taco soup I can now, always canning at the longest processing time for the ground beef in the soup, and corn, which is also a long canning time.

My family has canned this recipe for years with great success. However, since coming here and reading all the stuff out now about flour in canning, I have decided not to do it anymore. Family is kinda sad.

I still have the Blue Book that it is in.