I was first introduced to food preservation 35 years ago by my grandmother. That very first year I remember sitting on a chair in her kitchen and watching her can hundreds of different jars of food. On top of canning, she was really big into freezing and dehydrating various foods for later use.
As I got older…grandma would let me help her during the process. I remember slicing, dicing and cutting up various fruits and veggies so that you could prepare them for the process. I spent a lot of time with grandma in the kitchen and I treasure all of those memories that I have.
Once I got married I was determined to utilize the skills that my grandmother taught me. At first…I only can a few different things. Over the years…I’ve become an intermediate canner but by no means am I an expert. Matter of fact, I am still learning new things!
One of the most trust brands when it comes to home canning & food preservation happens to be Ball. It’s a brand that I’ve been using for many years and it’s a brand that I turn to when I need advice or new supplies.
Recently the company sent me a Ball canning kit to try out for all of you. Here is what I received:
(1) Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving: The new 37th edition of the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving is the most trusted resource in home canning for over 100 years and this new 2015 release is its largest update since the first edition in 1909. Expanding 56% from the previous edition, the 37th edition of the Ball Blue Book includes 75 new recipes, pictorial step by step guides for beginners and more! I love that it includes home canning recipes, recipes for freezing foods and recipes for dehydrating foods too! It’s a comprehensive book that everyone needs to own!
(1) Design Series Lids (red + purple): Great not only for home canning, the Ball® Brand Design Series Lids With Bands are also a great option for unique crafting creations, gifts and home décor with endless mixing and matching possibilities. I love having the colored lid options!
(1) case Heritage Collection Pint jars and (1) case Heritage Collection Quart jars – These new limited edition Regular Mouth pint and Wide Mouth quart jars are a celebration of the 1915 heritage featuring a vintage-inspired purple color and embossed logos on front and back.
(1) Pkg. of each new regular mouth Sip & Straw Lid (red, blue + purple): Fitting perfectly atop any Wide Mouth and Regular Mouth Ball® Jar, you can enjoy every drop of your favorite cold drinks, smoothies or summer tea with a splash of color.
Right now my backyard garden is kicking out cucumbers at me left & right. I decided that with my new canning kit one of the first things I was going to make was the Cucumber Rings from the Ball Guide to Preserving Blue Book on page 75. For this recipe you only need 8 different ingredients and some basic home canning supplies.
The book gives you an exact ingredient list and step-by-step easy to understand directions. You do NOT have to be a rock scientist or professional chef to learn how to can foods at home! This book is for everyone…beginners to the pro’s!
I followed all of the steps and within a few hours I had perfectly canned & sealed Cucumber Rings (we call them pickles here). Every single jar that I used sealed properly and no disasters occurred. Everyone is afraid to learn how to preserve food at home because they think it’s a difficult process to learn or that kitchen disasters can occur. Well, that simply isn’t true! Anyone can learn to do this at home and it’s easy once you get the basics down. I used the dark purple Heritage Collection Jars…so that is why you can’t see the contents in there very well but trust me…those are some delicious cucumber rings hiding in there!
In addition, several days ago I followed their recipe and step-by-step instructions and made several jars of homemade seasoned tomato sauce. I published the recipe over on my foodie blog and you can check that out.
I’ve read the Ball Blue Book – Guide to Preserving cover-to-cover twice now. I’ve got several pages/recipes marked and will be utilizing many of them as the gardening season continues. On my list: canning raspberry jam, blueberry jam, applesauce, pears and peaches. In addition, I will be utilizing the freezing section to make pineapple jam and strawberry freezer jam which both look delicious! Oh I almost forgot…a few days ago I canned 3 jars of homemade basil tomato sauce which is shown in the first picture in this post. YUMMY and super easy to make!
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Disclaimer: Shelly H. has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Two Classy Chics is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Two Classy Chics Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook or Google+ in any way. Thanks!
I’d make pickles and salsa.
I would love to have the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System. Thanks for the chance!
I like the Ball Electric Water Bath.
Would like to try the recipe for Fiesta Salsa.
I want to make dill pickles.
I would like to try the home canning system and make some grape jam.
I am a big fan of the Ball® Heritage Collection Quart Jars Set of 6 Blue and Purple…. I would use them for everything!
i’d like to start with a simple one, strawberry jam. 🙂
I’d like to try the Apple Pie Filling Recipe
subscribe email: slehandwc at gmail dot com
I would love to try and make ACHAR (ASIAN RELISH)-BALL® RECIPES
I must have the 2015 Limited Edition Ball® Heritage Collection Purple Jars in Wide Mouth Quart! I have them in Blue and Green, so I need to continue the tradition.
I’d love to have the FreshTech automatic jam and jelly maker. I always seem to mess up my jams and jellies.
my sister would love these she loves can all her garden vegetables.
I would love to have the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System. Thanks for the chance!
The homemade BBQ sauce.
I think the ALMOND DELIGHT JAM sounds delicious.
I would like to try out the apricot freezer jam recipe! Sounds yummy.
I would love to try the recipe for Blueberry Freezer Jam (Low or No-Sugar recipe) first
I would like to can tomatoes for my spaghetti sauce.
I want to make the bread and butter pickles
I like the carrot cake jam maker
I would like to try the BERRY BLITZ FREEZER JAM recipe.
I would like the automatic home canning system. I think it would be very useful
The automatic home canning system. I’ve been wanting one for forever!
I like the Blueberry Freezer Jam – Low or No-Sugar recipe.
I like the Ball® FreshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner + Multi-Cooker.
I would love to try and make the buttermilk and chive dip. It sounds real good.
I love canning and purple is my favorite color, so I’d love to have a case of the purple quart jars!
I’d love to have the FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker.
I would like to try this recipe
FIESTA SALSA – it sounds good
I would love the Automatic home canning system!
I went to the sponsor’s site and I would also love to get the purple canning jars for my mom she would love to have those.
I’d like to make the BEET & ONION PICKLES.
Thanks for the contest.
I woould LOVE too have their heeritage purple canning jars and I would love to try making their dilly tomatoess. I have cherry tomatooes like crazy!
I would love the Kosher Dill Pickles.
Number one on my wish list is the FreshTech Electric Water Bath Canner and Multi-Cooker. The stovetop here in our rented house is a smooth glass-top, and I’m always afraid that it will break when I’m processing jars. This new Ball appliance would be a great solution, and I could take it with me when we move, too. Want!
I would like to have the new Ball Electric Waterbath Canner and Multicooker.
I like the beet and onion pickle recipe.
I’d like to try the Bruschetta In A Jar.
My mom loves strawberry rhubarb, and I would love to try the STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM – JAM MAKER recipe.
I’d make the Kosher Dill Pickles first. There’s not like them, they add so much to meal!
I adore canning, I might make the Peach Sriracha Jam recipe.
I’d like to have the dry herb jars.
I would love to have the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System!
I would love to learn to can tomatoes.
I think I would like the Cinnamon Watermelon Rind Pickles
I like the ball drinking mason jars
i would make the chocolate raspberry sauce!