Every year about this time I start to get the itch. I think you know the one. I glance around the kitchen at the bushels of tomatoes picked fresh from my garden, the peaches overflowing in baskets from our yearly “pick your own” adventures, and the berries galore taking up space in my freezer and fridge. Instantly my mind turns to canning. Salsa, jam, pickles, pie filling, you name it. When the urge hits, it grabs me with a vengeance.
This year I was contacted by Ball Canning (they must have sensed my imminent yearning to preserve) and asked to help get the word out about National Can It Forward Day. Who knew there was such an awesome event completely devoted to one of my favorite fall activities? I couldn’t possibly say no. So here’s the scoop:
Starting tomorrow, Saturday the 17th of August at 10am EST, there will be a live podcast put on by Ball Canning and Food Network personality Ted Allen that will be streamed live from Union Square Greenmarket in NYC. I should hopefully have it embedded right here on the little ol’ blog by that time but if not, you can access it HERE. During this podcast you will be able to ask your your most burning canning questions and have them answered in real time! There will also be a giveaway on the hour every hour throughout the podcast. Click on the link above to get a preview of some of the stunning goodies they’ll be giving away. Twitter will also be a buzz under the hashtag #canitforward. In addition, I have a little booty of my own to give away. Check it out…
Up for grabs is a Ball Blue Book canning guide, a home canning discovery kit, and a coupon for a dozen free canning jars. I also have have 10 additional blue books that aren’t a part of the official giveaway but that I’d love to share with any reader who might be interested in learning more about canning. Just let me know in the comments. US residents only for the blue book requests please.
UPDATE!! Sarah J. is the winner of the Ball giveaway; congrats! If anyone else would like me to mail them a free Ball Blue Book, email me with your address and I’ll get it out pronto. 🙂
To wrap up, I’ve added a few of my past canning adventures below for your flavor preservation pleasure. Enjoy the recipes, have a great weekend and I hope to see you tomorrow as we all learn a little bit more about the art of canning and maybe take home a prize or two in the process!
To enter the giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment below letting me know you’re in. For additional entries you can:
Like Mommie Cooks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and/or Pinterest (one extra vote for each works for me if it works for you)
Like Ball Canning on Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest (same deal as above)
The contest will be open until Midnight on Sunday the 18th. I’ll announce the winner the following day. Blue books will be available until they’re gone. 🙂
Canning Pickles (click on picture for links to posts)
Wonderfully Pom Strawberry Jam
Super Slow Cooker Cran Apple Butter
Note: Ball Canning provided me with some fun free products including a super slick jam and jelly maker. As always, all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
I am in! I also did seven extras…Twitter, FB, Google+ etc… I have been canning for the last week and sharing like crazy. The rest I am keeping for winter. Oh they will taste so good this winter! Today I picked apples and made 3 gallons of applesauce. Tomorrow I will be peeling even more apples. I will probably have enough to make another 6 gallons of applesauce. I picked enough blackberries to make another batch of jam. I also have some peaches to make into jam. Tomatoes are starting to ripen like crazy. I need to make some more salsa. Busy, Busy, Busy…but so worth it! I like to gift my friends with a fresh loaf of bread and a jar of my jam. It’s wonderful to see their face light up. Happy canning everyone! Angie
I am determined to try something new each year. I have done Strawberry Jam for a few years now. Last year I did Spaghetti Sauce and just today I did some pickles. I am so excited to keep learning how to preserve fresh and local food. I would be interested in the blue book and of course the entire giveaway 🙂
I like you on Facebook.
I follow you on Instagram
I follow you on twitter as well.
I love to can and can always use new supplies.
follow pinterest @saramama
follow twitter @saramama
follow Ball on twitter @saramama
follow Ball on pinterest @saramama
Like ball FB
sara peterson davis
I want to can some tomatoes, tomatoes and more tomatoes – whole, salsa, pickled, sauce – you name it.
I like Mommie Cooks on Facebook where I am Margot Core.
I follow Mommie Cooks on Instagram where I am @margotcore.
I follow Mommie Cooks on Twitter as @AnnaZed.
I follow Mommie Cooks on Google+ (as Marguerite Core)
I follow Mommie Cooks on Pinterest where I am Margot Core.
I like Ball Canning on Facebook where I am Margot Core.
I follow Ball Canning on Twitter as @AnnaZed.
I follow Ball Canning on Pinterest where I am Margot Core.
I have been following Mommie Cooks for awhile on Pinterest and the website. I’ve always wanted to start canning. This is our first year with a garden and we are going blueberry pickin tomorrow!
YUm! I’ve always wanted to try canning, but I’ve not had much luck getting a garden going in the south! Every year I get a few measily veggies, but not enough to can.
There’s something about making jam that makes me feel so accomplished despite the incredible mess that results in my kitchen. We start by driving to Watsonville, California (about an hour and fifteen minutes from our home) and pick the sweetest strawberries and ollalieberries. I still take (drag) my kids to help with a promise of wonderful pie a la mode from the pie shop at the farm. This year I made boysenberry and ollalieberry jam and I have to admit, it was yummy and tasted like summer. I don’t have to venture far for lemons because my Meyer lemon tree refuses to take a rest and I have lemons galore. When life gives you lemons, you make lemon curd and lemoncello. Lemoncello is like canning, isn’t it??! I’m preserving the sweet and tangy flavor of lemons…..albeit soaked in vodka…for enjoyment at a later time! Anyway, always enjoy your blog. Thank you. BTW, I’m in for National Canning Day!
I am in…last year was the first time i had canned in 30 years. We enjoyed garden produce all winter, and I even gave away the canned produce for much approved Christmas gifts.
I’m in! I have great memories of canning with my grandmother.
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I really like your website for canning.
Please send me the new Ball book of canning if you have any left. My book is rather old.
Julie replied: — August 6th, 2015 @ 8:35 am
Betty, Let me see if I still have one that I can track down. We’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel and everything is a bit lost in shuffle right now!