August 13, 2013

Can-It-Forward with Ball Jars + Canning Discovery Kit Giveaway!

Blueberry Pie Filling

I am a big fan of preserving. Over the years I’ve written about many of my favorite jams, jellies, and pickles and I’ve linked to the recipes below. I even included a few never-seen-here canning recipes in my cookbook. In addition to my own recipes, I am a devotee of Marisa McClellan’s blog, Food in Jars, and cookbook of the same name. I also frequently consult my Ball Blue Book and Well-Preserved for recipes and answers to my myriad of canning questions. I’m fairly sure preserving is one of those things I’ll always practice but never master. The nuances of each recipe and idiosyncrasies of produce ensure that no canning batch is ever truly a slam dunk. Every year at least one or two variables has to be adjusted to accommodate sour fruit or soggy cukes. No two batches are ever exactly the same. Which is exactly why I love it.

I frequently package my canned jams and sauces to give away at the holiday season. It is one of my favorite gifts to give because for me it is like giving someone a slice of my warm kitchen. I want to share and spread the yumminess far and wide, especially during times of celebration, or even in times of need.

Can it Foward 2013

It makes me happy to note that preserving foods is making somewhat of a comeback. Not that it was ever out of style, but for many years we were, as a nation, so infatuated with the canned foods in the supermarket many people gave up canning their own foods at home. However, now you will find something of a wonderful preserving resurgence taking place. People are growing food in their own backyard and preserving it like crazy. Not only is it ultimately healthier, it also helps unsure that we know what we are feeding our children without guessing how the food is processed in a large distribution plant.

Today I am thrilled to be partnering with Ball Jars Brand, makers of terrific canning jars, to promote National Can-it-Forward Day. The amazing Ted Allen is hosting a live webcast on August 17th. I’ve embedded the screen here and it will go live the morning of the 17th. They’ve also set up a great user-friendly website that showcases awesome canning recipes and provides helpful tips and tricks for all kinds of home canning. You can join the fun on Twitter using the hashtag #canitforward and by following @BallCanning.

800 pix WIDE:

In addition to the cool webcast and online content, Ball Jars sent me their new FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker to test out. I am used to the stir and test with a frozen plate method so this machine was a real eye-opener. All you do is add the ingredients, press a button, and the jam comes out perfect every time. As you can see here, the first thing we made was a delicious gooey peach jam. It was incredible! While this machine won’t replace my hand stirring method, it is great for making small batches of preserves, especially if you are a novice.

Now for the truly exciting news: today Ball Jars would like to invite one lucky reader to win a Canning Discovery Kit. This includes:

·         The Ball Canning Discovery Kit: A kit is designed to demystify the home canning process and make fresh preserving accessible for even the most novice canner.

·         The Ball Blue Book Coobook

·         One case of the Heritage Collection Jars: These limited editions jars commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Ball brothers’ Perfect Mason Jar and come in a beautiful vintage blue tint.

To Enter to Win:

1) Leave a comment sharing which favorite food you would like to preserve for winter. It can be anything from fruit to vegetables to sauces!

2) Like Ball Canning on Facebook.

3) Like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook

4) Subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter (upper right hand corner)

5) BONUS: Tweet giveaway: Win a Canning Discovery Kit from @BallCanning and @TheNaptimeChef {insert URL here} #canitforward

6) Contest runs from August 13th at 7:00am through August 20th at 7:00am. Winner will be announced in the Friday August, 23rd newlsetter. US Residents only please.

Some Naptime Chef Preserving Recipes for Summer:

1) Rhubarb Lavender Jam

2) Merrill’s Strawberry Jam

3) Eternal Summer Apricot Jam

4) Peppermint Hot Fudge Sauce

5) Bread & Butter Pickles

6) Strawberry Rhubarb Skillet Jam

7) Blueberry Pie Filling

8) Apple Pie Filling

92 Responses to “Can-It-Forward with Ball Jars + Canning Discovery Kit Giveaway!”

  1. Cori R. says:

    I would love to can fresh peaches. My son can’t get enough when they are in season and I would love to make some without all the added sugar in store bought peaches. Great and useful giveaway. Thanks.

  2. christophersorel says:

    We make a tomato, eggplant, onion and pepper saute then can it. Along with blueberries in simple syrup for topping or pies in winter

  3. christophersorel says:

    Like Ball Canning on Facebook.

  4. christophersorel says:

    Like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook

  5. christophersorel says:

    already subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter

  6. Robin Chesser says:

    I would love to can blueberries for pie filling, I adore blueberry pie!

  7. ilonaskitchen says:

    Would love to preserve strawberries!

  8. Ann Neftin says:

    Raspberry jam!

  9. Robin Chesser says:

    I like Ball canning on Facebook.

  10. Robin Chesser says:

    I subscribe to Naptime Chef.

  11. Robin Chesser says:

    I like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook

  12. Nancy L S says:

    I’ve got blackberries coming out of my ears ! Gotta give ’em away and get busy making refrigerator jam (thanks to your friend recipe girl). I need this online canning class and would love to win the set. Thanks for the chance! PS- Absolutely love your Peppermint-Chocolate Fudge sauce!!! I made some for us and hostess gifts last Christmas.

  13. Nancy L S says:

    I subscribe to your Naptime Chef newsletter

  14. Khanh says:

    I really want to make some blackberry and thyme jam!

  15. Khanh says:

    I like Ball Canning on Facebook!

  16. Khanh says:

    I like you on Facebook!

  17. Khanh says:

    I subscribe to your newsletters!

  18. robin goudy says:

    Spaghetti sauce!

  19. robin goudy says:

    I like you on FB…

  20. robin goudy says:

    I subscribe to your newsletter…

  21. robin goudy says:

    I like Ball Canning on FB…

  22. Marilyn B. says:

    I would like to do some spaghetti & pizza sauce as well as some soups.

  23. Marilyn B. says:

    I like Ball Canning on Facebook. (Marilyn Blewett Blevins)

  24. Marilyn B. says:

    I like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook (Marilyn Blewett Blevins)

  25. Marilyn B. says:

    I subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter. MBlevinsNC(at)gmail(dot)com

  26. Blessie Nelson says:

    Mango fruit is one thing I love to use as a pickle and jam for my canning in winters

  27. Blessie Nelson says:

    I like Ball on fb – blessie nelson

  28. Blessie Nelson says:

    like you on fb – blessie nelson

  29. Blessie Nelson says:

    email subscriber blessienelson(at)gmail(dot)com

  30. Brandi Francisko says:

    I would like to preserve all my FRESH salsa for winter! Nothing like eating salsa you grew on a winter day!

  31. Brandi Francisko says:

    Liked Ball Canning on Facebook

  32. AnnaZed says:

    I subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter to this box: margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

  33. Robin Lewis says:

    I would like to can tomatoes to make pasta dishes with. I would also like to can peaches!

  34. Meghan says:

    Blackberry jam!

  35. Margaret Anderson says:

    I would love to can my own tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce.

  36. Miranda says:

    I love canning diced tomatoes for the winter months.

  37. Miranda says:

    liked ball canning on facebook

  38. Miranda says:

    following you on facebook 😀

  39. Miranda says:

    I’m already subscribed to the newsletter

  40. Greg Allbee says:

    I’d like to can some tomatoes while they’re still good. I’ve also been wanting to make pickled okra!

  41. Beth Reisfeld says:

    Definitely marinara sauce, made from summer tomatoes.

  42. Allison says:

    I love pickled beets!

  43. Allison says:

    I like you on Facebook!

  44. Allison says:

    I liked Ball on Facebook!

  45. Allison says:

    And I already subscribe. 😉

  46. Christine Mayfield says:

    I would love to can apples

  47. Christine Mayfield says:

    I like Ball Canning on FB

  48. Christine Mayfield says:

    I like Kelsey B on FB

  49. Christine Mayfield says:

    I am a subscriber

  50. AnnaZed says:

    I like Ball Canning on Facebook as Margot Core

    (I’m worried that I am double posting, but I don’t see my posts from yesterday)

    margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

  51. Alice says:

    I would love to pickle some of my green beans! 🙂

  52. Alice says:

    I like Ball Canning on Facebook.

  53. Alice says:

    I like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook

  54. Alice says:

    I Subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter

  55. Alice says:

    I tweeted! 🙂

  56. john hutchens says:

    I would like to make jam out of all the erries I have picked over the past few weeks

  57. john hutchens says:

    I Like Ball Canning on Facebook

  58. john hutchens says:

    I Like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook

  59. john hutchens says:

    I Subscribe to The Naptime Chef newsletter

  60. Organicall You says:

    I want to make some fresh tomato sauce!

  61. Organicall You says:

    I follow you on FB – Organicall You

  62. Organicall You says:

    I like Ball Canning on FB – Organicall You

  63. Noreen says:

    I want to can some blueberries for pie or as jam

  64. Noreen says:

    Liked ball canning on fb

  65. Noreen says:

    Liked you on facebook

  66. Sarah Newton says:

    My favorite thing to preserve for the winter is applesauce. There’s nothing better on a rainy Oregon December day than to heat up a pint jar of summery applesauce and curl up in front of the fire, the taste of sunshine-warmed apples making me smile. 🙂

  67. miranda says:

    strawberry jam would be fun

  68. miranda says:

    liked Ball on FB

  69. miranda says:

    like Kelsey on FB

  70. miranda says:

    newsletter subscriber

  71. Gary says:

    I’d like to make tomato sauce

  72. Gary says:

    like Ball on FB

  73. Gary says:

    like you on FB

  74. Beth Jackson says:

    delicious recipe!! http://www.ataste.net

  75. Anne says:

    I’m in Maine, where the delicious, tiny wild blueberries are in season right now, so I’d love to make some blueberry jam and blueberry syrup to carry the season through the winter.

  76. Anne says:

    I like Ball Canning on Facebook.

  77. Anne says:

    I like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook.

  78. Anne says:

    I’m an email subscriber to The Naptime Chef.

  79. Anne says:

    I tweeted about your giveaway and added your URL to the tweet:
    https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/369636473017860097

  80. Elizabeth B says:

    Well, they’re not my favorite, but we have a lot this year…cucumbers! My girls love pickles so I’ll try my hand at canning them this year….

  81. Elizabeth B says:

    I Like Kelsey Banfield on Facebook @elizabeth be

  82. Elizabeth B says:

    i Like Ball Canning on Facebook @elizabeth be

  83. […] Can-it-Forward Day 2013, 2014, & […]