For some people, canning is a late-summer tradition. For Sue Jacquith of Gretna, it's a passion — and one that has already produced around 200 jars this season.

Jacquith shares her love of canning and some of the creative recipes she has been making, including zucchini jam, zucchini pickles and what she describes as her favourite, zucchini salsa.

Her creativity doesn't stop there.

A recipe of her own

One of Jacquith's more unusual creations is a pickle recipe she is still trying to name.

"I'm trying to give it a name because it's my own recipe," she said.

"It's like a honey spicy dill pickle made with cucumbers."

Jacquith said the recipe is the result of experimenting in her kitchen, where she develops recipes and then has a small group of testers provide feedback.

"Everybody wants that recipe but when you're just in your kitchen and you go "Oh, this, this, this, this, this", you don't really, you know," she said.

She keeps track of her successful creations in her own canning book.

picklesSubmitted photo: Sue's pickles

Her kitchen is her happy place

While Jacquith gets some help with preparation from friends and family, she does most of the canning herself.

She said a close friend, Wanda, helps with preparation, while her "sister from another mother" also lends a hand.

"She's kind of like the prepper," Jacquith said of Wanda. "She can slice apples faster than anybody I know."

For Jacquith, much of the work is part of the enjoyment.

"When you're in the moment your kitchen is your happy place," she said. "That's my happy place."

She estimates she can make 25 to 30 jars in about three hours.

Related stories:

  • Winkler Ribfest ready to smoke your tastebuds

  • More salsa, bachata and merengue on the menu for Pembina Valley dance group

canningSome of Sue's self-canned goods

Sharing the harvest

With hundreds of jars being produced, Jacquith isn't keeping them all for herself.

"I believe in sharing and I believe in caring," she said.

Jacquith said she shares with family and also gives food to people who need it.

She recently brought more than 20 jars to her daughter in Alberta and also gives food to low-income families.

"It just gives them a little head start for the winter," she said.

For Jacquith, that's an important part of why she continues to can.

"I just like to share what I make."