Today is National Can-It Forward Day -- LIVE Webcast Begins at 10AM EST -- Includes Jam and Pickle Demos, Giveaways and More... #canitforward #Giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views shared are mine and mine alone.

Starting at 10AM EST, you can view the LIVE webcast on www.freshpreserving.com, or watch directly on my site (see below).   Not only will you have four chances to win some great prizes while enjoying the canning webcast, but make sure you enter my giveaway (scroll down to enter), for your chance to win a Ball Brand Prize Pack, which will include everything you need to get you started with canning.

 

I have included a review of the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, The Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving and the new Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker, to get you excited about canning, and pass some time while you wait for the National Can-It Forward Day Live Webcast to begin. :-)


Here is the Schedule of Events for the National Can-It Forward Day Live Webcast, which begins at 10AM EST:

10:00AM - 10:45AM:  Jam making and water bath canning by Jessica Piper
10:45AM - 11:00AM:  Craft Corner with Jordan DeFrank
11:00AM - 11:45AM:  Pickles Demo with Rick Fields
11:45AM - 12:00PM:  Craft Corner with Jordan DeFrank
12:00PM -  1:00PM:   Special Guest Host Ted Allen Canning and Cooking Demo
 1:00PM -  1:15PM:   Cocktails in Ball Jars Hosted by Mason Jar NYC Restaurant
 1:15PM -  2:00PM:   Jam Making and water bath canning demo by Jessica Piper (Repeated)

There will be 4 giveaways occurring this LIVE webcast, which will happen every hour (10AM, 11AM, 12PM and 1PM).  So, make you enter for your chance to win some great prizes.

---Can-It Forward Webcast Can Be Seen Below Starting at 10AM EST ---

If you don't see a video, refresh the page, or visit www.www.freshpreserving.com.

You can also participate via Twitter using the hashtag #canitforward and following @BallCanning.

Happy Can-It Forward Day!

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My Thoughts:


While you wait for the LIVE Webcast to begin at 10AM and run to 2PM EST, please enjoy more review of Ball Brand's new Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker, along with other Ball Brands projects.

Recently, I was sent the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker to try out.  What caught my eye from the start was how this maker would cook up jelly and jams in about a half hour.  If you are not familiar with canning or making your own homemade preserves, just know that the old process took longer and was more complex. 

The new Ball FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker is different in that "the innovative new Jam Maker appliance will make a fruit spread in just 30 minutes. Instead of the traditional time-consuming large batch canning method, the user friendly jam and jelly maker can make small batches. Now you can try-out fun new recipes and experiment with old recipes without the commitment of making a large batch. After washing and crushing 2 2/3 cups of fruit, sprinkle 3 tablespoons of pectin over the fruit and add 1/2 teaspoon of butter. With just a press of the jam button, the unit begins stirring and cooking the ingredients. The maker will signal when it’s time for the 3 1/3 cups of sugar, which should be added gradually.

Once the jam-making process is complete, the jam maker will emit a signal. With the jam and jelly maker, you will no longer question if the recipe has cooked for the proper time. In addition, families can enjoy the fruit creation immediately, or you can continue the preservation process. If you decide to preserve the jam, just bottle the product in freezer-safe jars or finish canning by adding the jam-filled jars to a boiling water bath. The appliance can make about 4 (8oz) half pints of jam or jelly during each batch.

The button section is clearly marked and easy to use with two settings, which are jam or jelly. Includes a Ball recipe book and features a nonstick interior for easy cleanup. Homemade jam is the perfect holiday gift as it’s affordable and adds a personal touch.

This one convenient appliance will help keep your kitchen stocked with fresh fruit preserves. In addition, the appliance is a handy size for easy cabinet storage while it can be cleaned in a flash."

So, if you love preserves or are interested in making something tasty for your family to enjoy with all those berries you recently picked, why not pick up the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker and give homemade jelly and jam making a try.  Once you use this jam and jelly maker, and sample homemade preserves over the store bought ones your family is used to, you will find yourself getting excited about canning, and wondering what other fruits you can use to make great tasting jelly and jams, to share with your family and friends.

In addition to the new Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker, I was also sent Ball brand's new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, The Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving, pectin and other canning supplies to try out.  I have to say that after many years of canning, I am loving the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit.  Prior to receiving this kit, I used to have to lug my heavy canning pot, along with clumsy metal jar holder and tongs from the basement to the kitchen, whenever I wanted to can.  I can't tell you how many times I lost either the rack or tongs, and spent unnecessary time looking for them, only to give up and not do canning.  But, thanks to the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, I can keep my canning supplies (minus the jars and lids) in the kitchen cabinets, without taking up much space.  

When I first took the canning rack out of the box, I didn't think it was strong enough to hold the canning jars once filled.  I also was afraid the handles would give way while lifting the rack out of the hot water, and that the glass jars would fall and break all over the floor.  But, after a handful of canning sessions so far with the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, I haven't run into any problems.  Based on past canning experiences, I have to say that by using the new discovery kit, which has three circular grooves at the bottom of the holder, to hold the canning jars in place (so they don't shift or fall over while putting in or pulling out of the hot water bath) made canning a breeze -- especially the clean-up part.

You would think that with all the canning I do, that my mother would love canning, too.  Surprisingly, she was not a fan, after having tried it once in her early 20's.  She thought it was too much work, and took too long to make a dozen or so canned jars of sauces, pickles, jams, etc.  I have given her salsas and jams over the years for holiday gifts, and she has loved them - but, I just couldn't get her excited about canning.  But, last weekend when I was canning in the kitchen, my parents can to visit.  My mom came into the kitchen and ended up helping me prep the cans and then label them once done.  She had a blast and loved the whole experience, as it wasn't difficult or painstakingly long, as she had remembered years ago.  She asked to borrow the Ball canning cookbook to see the different things she could can.  The next day, she called to ask what she would need to start canning, as she remembered I had a whole shelf in the basement with all my canning supplies.  I told her she would just have to pick up the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, The Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving and Ball canning jars (in small for jams and large for salsas and pasta sauces).  Right now, the the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit is only $ , which is a steal.  It comes with its own canning recipe book, along with 3 empty and ready to go Ball Brand canning jars.  

So, if you have ever wondered about canning, or wanted to try it, but didn't know where to start, why not pick up the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit, along with the popular The Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving.  In no time you will be off and canning, and make great gifts and pantry staples that your whole family with love.  

After this morning online demos, I will be heading into the kitchen to make more homemade salsa with the bulk tomatoes we received this past Tuesday as part of our weekly CSA food share.  We ran out of my last batch of homemade salsa, so I know my family will be excited when they see the shelf in the pantry restocked with more homemade salsa soon.  How about you?  What have you been canning, or will be canning soon?  I would love to hear about your favorite canning recipes, as well as have you shared your personal recipes or favorite links to recipes on the Internet, by having you share them in the comments section below. 

Happy Canning!

--GIVEAWAY--

One lucky reader will win a Ball Brand Canning Prize Pack, which will include the following:

• The Ball Canning Discovery Kit

• The Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving

• One coupon for a free case of Ball brand canning jars

To enter this giveaway, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views shared are mine and mine alone.