Canning is something that’s always been on my radar, yet intimidates me. Last summer, I got my feet wet and tried some low-sugar strawberry jam. The results were great and I knew I should branch out and try canning even more.
When the good folks at Ball sent me a Canning Discovery Kit, it was just the inspiration and motivation I needed.
Saturday was National Can-it-Forward Day, and Ball had live demonstrations via webcam on their website. You can watch the canning demonstrations here. There are demonstrations for how to can mixed berry jam, kosher dill pickles, pepper jelly, and tomatoes.
Now I just need to decide where to start. I would love to make and can fresh salsa with some of the tomatoes from my CSA box. Or should I preserve the delicious summer peaches I love so much? Or maybe I should make pickles from the extra CSA cucumbers I get? So many possibilities!
The intimidation factor is definitely less now that I have the right tools at my fingertips. Ball would like to help one reader get started, too. They have offered to giveaway one case of jars to a reader.
Would you like to win that case of jars? Of course you would! Even if you aren’t into canning (yet?!), Ball jars are great for so many things around the house, including storing grains or nuts, gift-giving, and even decoration.
To enter, simply leave me a comment telling me if you’ve ever canned before and what you’d like to do with the case of jars if you win. I will pick a winner Monday, July 23rd. Good luck!
Ball sent me a Canning Discovery Kit free of charge, but I was not compensated for this post. The giveaway is hosted by Ball.
I grew up with a big garden and a mother who canned lots of things so as a little girl I helped can different things but my favorite were the pickles! I’d like to start doing some canning on my own now so I’d love to win this giveaway!
I have canned before 🙂 If I win, I think I’ll make jalapeno jelly or can tomatoes for soup this winter.
I’ve never canned (actually a little intimidated by it but I’m sure it’s easy!), but would love to test it out. My aunt makes amazing jam so I’d probably start with her recipe!
I’ve never tried it but I want to! I want to make pickles and dilly beans and kim chi! and also some sweet jellies would be good too. I never thought about canning my own salsa before- now THERE’S an idea……
I have never canned before but would love to try probably starting with jams and salsa.
Hi Maryea! I have never tried it yet but have certainly enjoyed the fruit (jams) of others labour. 🙂 We live right near Brentwood (northern CA) where they grow the sweetest corn and it would be great to can that and enjoy it around the holidays!
I have never canned before but I have a million tomatoes to make salsa with!
I have watched canning, I have dreamt of canning, but I’ve never done it! I know my way around a kitchen, but am a big scaredy cat when it comes to the glass, and hot water, and…everything! I would really love to learn to can to get over this fear and make the best that each season has to offer! Rhubarb, brussel sprouts, tomatoes…there are so many things on my to-can list and I’m ready to try 🙂
I’ve canned but I’ve wanted to do– especially with the peaches and tomatoes I’ve gotten from my local CSA 🙂
I was just reading about a berry patch near our home that we are visiting this weekend. This will be the perfect opportunity to me to try canning some berry jam. Thanks for the idea and recipe 🙂
So funny I was just asking my stepmother about how to can on Saturday (didn’t know that was National Can-It Forward Day)! Have a ton of tomatoes coming up and wish I knew how to can! Maybe I need one of those discovery kits.
I’ve been wanting to try canning jam. I’d never thought about salsa; I’d love to try that, too!
While I have made freeze jam I’ve never technically canned. Both my Mom and Mother-In-Law do can and it makes me kind of jealous. I’m sure I could do it if I tried! I’d love to can some applesauce!
I’ve canned jam, jelly and apple butter before but I want to do more like fresh tuna, pepper jelly, sliced fruits, salsa, etc.
I have been intimidated too!! But this year I bought the big pot and the tools for canning! On my list are pickles, salsa, tomato sauce, strawberry jam, and baby food! My friend at work and I are in the process of scheduling a day where we CAN CAN!!
just a few weeks ago, on the fourth of july, i made batches of strawberry and raspberry jam. it was my first canning experience and it turned out great! would love to do some more with these jars 🙂
I haven’t tried canning, but I use Ball jars all over the house! Frozen chicken stock, dry goods, water kefir, etc. etc. I saw something on Pinterest recently jokingly saying they were the “new” tupperware and it cracked me up 🙂 A new case of jars would be great as we’ve broken a handful lately… Oops!
I tried canning once. I tried “pepper jelly” because I love it and I was getting a ton of hot peppers in my CSA. I did something wrong though, because the sugar crystallized in the jar. I’d love to give it another go with the right tools for the job. I have two boys (11 and 15) and canning would save me a whole lot of money (feeding these two is not cheap) and I like the idea of being able to control the ingredients.
I remember helping my mom make fruit jellies and jams and grape juice. A couple of summers ago I canned homemade salsa for the first time. I would love to can salsa or maybe even try my hand canning pickles.
I have never canned but I have bought several instructional books and I think about it often. I, too, am quite intimidated by the process. I end up just freezing things instead. One day…