Ponder your goals for the 2017 canning season and enter to win new storage and canning jars from Ball Canning!
Already today, we’ve talked a little bit about some of the canning and preserving we’re going to be doing together in the coming year (have you signed up for the Food in Jars Mastery Challenge yet?). Now, let’s talk in more detail about how we’re going to do it.
It takes thought and preparation to expand skill set and I find that there’s no better time to do a little planning for learning and growth than at the very start of fresh new year. Whether you’re a goal setter or a resolution maker, now is the time to start lining up our intentions.
Here are a few questions to start with as you dream up what you want to get out of your food preservation practice this year and how you want to shape the Mastery Challenge to work for you.
How does my family currently eat? Try starting with some small changes that will allow you to incorporate more homemade foods into your current habits and patterns.
What’s something I buy regularly from the store? If you find yourself picking up barbecue sauce or strawberry jam, consider setting a goal of making enough to get you through the year!
Is there something that scares me about food preservation? What can you do to release those fears?
What brings me joy in the kitchen? Not every goal has to be about pushing forward. Sometimes it’s enough to make time and space simply to do the things you already love.
How can I make my food preservation habit flow better? Sometimes all you need to do it put your gear in a more accessible part of your kitchen. Or perhaps you need to keep an eye out for a different canning pot. Knowing what you need is so much of the battle!
What do I want my kitchen life to look like this time next year? Sometimes the best way to set a goal is to look at where you want to end up and then plot a course that gets you there (or at least, that gets you closer).
Now, most food preservation goals will, at some point, arrive at the topic of jars. And it just happens that our friends at Ball Canning have recently added some new jars to their product line. In the spirit of helping a few Food in Jars readers further their food preservation goals, I’m giving away some of these new, lovely jars.
Three winners will each get a set of the new Ball Mini Storage Jars (these sweet little jars hold 4 ounces and sport 1-piece lids), a case of the new Ball Smooth-Sided Regular Mouth Pints, and a case of the Ball Smooth-Sided Regular Mouth Quarts.
Use the widget to enter!
Research the food safety of adding additional peppers to salsa recipes.
Do a better job giving away the surplus. I tend to hold on for Christmas and then there is too much and not enough people to give it to.
I canned very many tomatoes this summer, but didn’t do many “fun” preserves (such as ones good for gifting). As citrus season starts up I want to make sure I get some “fun” preserves in. I’m excited that the mastery challenge will open my eyes to some other types of preserves!
I’m determined to get my Meyer lemon marmalade done this year (gonna chop today)! Then I’m determined to get some strawberries in the freezer, even though we might be moving during strawberry season this year. I’m determined to go blueberry picking, because we had to skip last year. I’m determined to do my regular applesauce again in the fall, because we missed the best apples last year. If I can do these things with a new infant and my older kiddos, I’ll feel supremely pleased with myself 🙂
In 2016, I was gifted a lot of fresh from the garden produce by friends and family. Often, I had to research for days what to do with such large quantities. In 2017, I resolve to expand my preserving skills so that I will be able to tackle a half bushel of just about anything that comes my way.
Find enough gardening space so I can grow enough tomatoes to both eat fresh and can.
My goal is to try some new recipes as well as double the quarts of tomatoes we put up last year.
My goal for the 20217 canning season is to be more intentional about PLANNING better – so I don’t have 12 jars of tomato jam that hang around past their expiration date. I need to think about what I am doing more, and not just go crazy because I see a good deal on a huge box of tomatoes.
To make more jam, and to try to see if I can sell my favorite special jam!
I’m hoping to can more than just jam and applesauce in 2017. I want to make pickles and can more fresh produce so that we can eat more healthy all year long. And I love actually knowing what is in my food.
My hope is to have enough time and energy to try new recipes as well as my old favorites – last month I was given some blueberries and we made a blueberry maple pecan conserve that’s out of this world good. Maybe I need to try more small batches of things!
my goal is to work small batches so I can try numerous things instead of getting overwhelmed by huge batches
I didn’t have a resolution until the canning challenge. I am excited to try some new recipes, but also to try to come up with a plan for all the fruit I freeze (and forget…)
I’m just ready to get back into canning this year, it’s been quite awhile!
As a new canner these would come in handy.
I want to learn how to can fruits and vegetables
In 2017, I want to try canning something more than jams and jellies.
TO learn how to ferment!
My goal is to finally perfect strawberry jam. Mine never has a bold color – it tastes good but doesn’t look the part.
These are great!
I really want to try pressure canning this year – I’ve been working up the courage for a few years now and that’s long enough!
To get more canned! And to try pressure canning!
My goal is to take my time with my canning to make it more enjoyable (instead of trying to rush through)
I store as many pantry items as I can in jars!
My hope is that I am able to work in the blueberry patch this year
My goal is to stock 10-12 gallons per week
My intention is to make blueberry jelly out of the gallons of blueberries
My New Year’s resolution is to can as much as I can during the 2017 year for each season and break in my pressure canner.
Goal: Make enough salsa to get us through the year. I vastly underestimated last year and am down to the last few jars.
I love jars.
To grow more of what I can (which means ridding my garden of its tomato blight!)
I hope to understand fermenting vegetables better and do more of it. I also hope to have more juices and sauces in my pantry.
I need to pace myself better and only can what I know my family will eat in realistic quantities. I would also like to perfect canning peaches and apricots after 2 failures.
My goal is to put up enough of my staples to get us through the whole year. No more buying pickle relish or applesauce!
My goal is more canning entries at the fair than last year.
One of my goals for 2017 is to can something I grew. That sounds lofty (to me) and if I was able to can something someone else grew, that would be great too. I have a lot of learning and experimenting to do.
Goal is to use fruit at optimal stage, and not wait.
This year I plan to be more adventurous in using my pressure canner. I’ll can at least one thing I’ve never canned before.
Very excited about this giveaway. Love Ball canning jars.
I want to grow some things and can them.
I want to can items from my new garden! And, of course, keep up with all the jams and ferments I have too.
I only canned a few things last year and I’d love to find another couple of recipes that we’ll actually use
More preserving, especially pickles
This year, I plan to can more fruit like peaches, pears and plums.
My 2017 goal is to expand my canning knowledge beyond jams, jellies and dried beans.
I really want to can all my condiments this year so I can eliminate all the unpronounceable ingredients in so many items.
I hope to find more ways of preserving fruit.
I hope to make more mustard though I find it difficult to find new recipes.
My canning resolution is to not become overwhelmed again. I canned a lot last year and feel like I didn’t plan my time too well. I’m going to plan out my canning prep and recipes better this year so I don’t feel like I spend everyday canning.
This year I plan to can up something delicious to give away at my wedding. The smooth sided jars would be great to use because of the smooth surface for cool labels.
My goal is to start making more savory canning projects!
My goal for 2017 is to be less wasteful with my food. I really need to prep my vegetables as soon as I get them home so they’re ready to be used.
My goal for 2017 is perfect jellies, jams and preserves.