Canning-tacular giveaway: Food in Jars book & Ball Canner Kit
Summer just snuck up on me, and I feel sort of unprepared. Spring lingered longer, rains fell. Blueberries came and went (already).
I live in Texas and it’s summer for about 9 months of the year, so summer isn’t usually a surprise, but that’s enough about my confounding climate zone. It’s nearly officially summer, which means the possibility of preserving wherever you are.
First off, I’d like to start this giveaway out with a small quiz:
This year’s July 14 is a special date because:
A. it’s Bastille day, vive le France!
B. it’s the 100-year anniversary of Woody Guthrie’s birth, vive le revolucion!
C. it’s National Can-It-Forward day, where canners across the country will seal some jars in solidarity, vive le Canvolution!
D. it’s my birthday, vive le cake!
E. all of the above
You got it right. The answer is E.
I’m so jazzed for this giveaway, a can-tastic (yes, I just went there) prize pack from Ball Canning paired with my good friend Marisa’s first (and very fine) book, Food in Jars: Preserving in small batches year-round. This is the perfect prize for newbies and old hats alike. And if you already have a canning set-up in place, then wouldn’t the Ball kit be a nice prize for an aspiring canner in your life?
You’ll get this 21-quart canner pot that includes the rack:
;)
And this utensil kit (half-filled jar of jam not included):;)
Aaaaand a copy of this great book:
The Food in Jars book is every bit as delicious as the blog by the same name, but tactile, with a sturdy hard cover and beautifully printed pages to turn. I had the pleasure of seeing the galleys for this book when Marisa visited in November of last year, and I must say, Running Press did a lovely job putting this book together. Moreover, Marisa’s recipes are simple and straightforward yet incredibly inventive with flavors. This book reads like afternoon tea with Marisa, like you’re sitting at her kitchen table and she’s pulling out jar after jar and telling you about each of them.
I’m especially excited to make her cranberry ketchup (must use last year’s fruit in the chest freezer!) and intrigued by the cantaloupe jam (hello exotic Creamsicle). I like the inclusion of other recipes, the non-canned goods and gifts you can put in jars, too. There’s a cinnamon vanilla sunflower butter that sounds delightful!
I just love how Marisa reminds us that canning is totally on our terms, that you don’t need tons of produce (and a car to drive it all home), a fancy kitchen or much equipment to make things you and your family like to eat. I hope with this giveaway you’ll find a way to make preserving your own, to wrap it into your life, whether it’s a small batch of dilly beans or a few jars of fig jam, or an entire closet tiled in the bounty of the seasons.
In order to get you your Canning-tacular prize pack in time for July 14, we’re running this giveaway through midnight CST, July 5, 2012. Enter by leaving a comment on this post, telling me What’s your favorite thing to put in a mason jar? Don’t forget to add your email address to the box on the comment form where I ask for it. No email address, no winner (because I can’t reach you).
Hey, while you’re at it, pop on over to Local Kitchen (through June 22) AND Punk Domestics (through June 20) for another couple chances to win Marisa’s book!
Canning, Cookbooks, Giveaways, Small-Batch Canning
Reader Comments (328)
Iced coffee to drink!
Anything I can get my hands on, I can. But lovely peaches in the middle of winter is something to love.
My latest favorite to put in a Mason jar is homemade yogurt, using a recipe from the Food in Jars blog. I never could get my yogurt to work before -- thanks to FiJ for the great tips!
Pickles have to top the list but love everything. Pepper relishes, jams and one of my favorites is vegetable soup. This is my first year with a big garden and canning it all.
Since I've yet to can, my favourite thing to put in mason jars lately is fresh berry smoothies!
I've never actually canned anything, but I love using mason jars for storing dry goods. I also like to mix drinks in them (non-alcoholic because I'm allergic to alcohol). My favorite of late is sparkling water with homemade ginger syrup and homemade rhubarb mint syrup. So delicious and refreshing!
Blackberry cordial! Week 1: 2 cups berries 1 cup sugar in quart jar fill with vodka (the cost effective brand) put on lid shake well. Place in dark area for 2 weeks. Week 2: strain berries thru seive, do not smash. Add 2 more cups berries 1 cup sugar cover with first weeks juice top off with vodka and forget about it for a while!
Awesome by it self (a little at a time) I frequently add to 7 up, makes a great spritzer!
family and friends eagerly await their 'allotment'
As hot as I can handle salsa. Mmm.
I'm new to canning but think I would like to can some fresh peaches!
I love to put Peaches in Mason Jars. For peach cobblers and pies.
Rhubarb/jalapeño chutney and Purple Basil & Orange jelly, tomato jam....come on summer!!!
Salsa!! Jam!! Pear preserves!! Pickled beets!! Oh my!!
Spaghetti sauce, for sure!
Grape Jelly or tomatoes!
Any kind of pickles--yum.
iced coffee and iced tea and snacks for the workday!
I love to make dilly beans!
This year's favorite has been ginger-fig preserves. Next year? Who knows! Thanks for the giveaway!
July 14th is my parents' anniversary - 33 years this year - vive l'amour!
Anyway, my favorite thing in a jar is homemade yogurt. oh so good.
I live in Colorado where our fruit trees do well with our cool evenings to make for delicious peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, apples and concord grapes. My favorite food that I can in Mason jars is concord grape jelly. It is so good.
I Love Strawberry Jam making with my girlfriend! memories in the making
Well, you didn't say "can in a mason jar" so my honest answer is, goat's milk and kefir grains. Right now though I am preserving the 21.5lbs of strawberries I've picked in the last 3 days!
i have to admit that i've been mostly using mason jars to store bulk food...but last saturday was a monumental day for me: i whipped up my first (ever!) small-batch of strawberry jam. and THAT it is now my favorite thing to put in a mason jar : )
I love canning anything but especially jams and jellies.
spicy carrots! thyme, onion, new mexico chili pepper and carrots in an apple cider brine. perfect with a sandwich for lunch!