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We Be Jammin'! 🫙🎸
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items When I was growing up, my family had an Italian prune plum tree in the backyard, which multiplied fruitfully every summer. Some summers it gave so much that we couldn't eat or give away the bounty fast enough. So, fueled by equal parts desperation an...
Fast forward many more years, and this time my next brush with canning included more fruits and vegetables. Here are some of my favorite recipes, nods to canning equipment and essentials, and a few designs that pay homage to the humble art of canning...
Note: This list may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission (at no extra charge to you) if you make a purchase using these links.
Fast forward many more years, and this time my next brush with canning included more fruits and vegetables. Here are some of my favorite recipes, nods to canning equipment and essentials, and a few designs that pay homage to the humble art of canning...
Note: This list may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission (at no extra charge to you) if you make a purchase using these links.
Sections
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Canning Accessories & Equipment
Recipes, Resources, & Ingredients
Whimsical Designs
Canning Accessories & Equipment
Tools and accessories that are essential to the home canning process.
You'll need a constant supply of these, because canning lids are the one piece of home preservation equipment that cannot be reused.
Ball® Regular Mouth Jar Lids (12-pack)
The elegant, plastic-free and metal-free way to store dry goods in a mason jar!
Ball® Wide Mouth Hardwood Storage Lids (5-pack)
The other canning essential that you'll need a constant supply of, because canning lids are the one piece of home preservation equipment that cannot be reused.
Ball® Wide Mouth Jar Lids (12-pack)
These regular mouth bands can be reused many times, and I tend to use these much more than their wide mouth counterparts.
Ball® Regular Mouth Jar Lids & Bands (12-pack)
I have these reusable lids as well, and they are a godsend when I just want to use my canning jars as temporary storage in the fridge for opened tins of food!
Ball® Regular Mouth Food Reusable Storage Lids (6-pack)
These wide mouth bands can be reused for quite a few cannings.
Ball® Wide Mouth Jar Lids & Bands (12-pack)
Indispensable for putting jars in and lifting jars out of the canning bath. All the same, I still wear protective (silicone) oven gloves.
Ball® Secure-Grip Jar Lifter
Save when you buy the funnel, jar lifter, dent-free lid remover, and bubble remover. Although the bubble remover is one tool that I really haven't used.
Ball® Canning Utensils (4-Piece Set)
500 mL (pint) jars are the ones that I tend to use the most; 250 mL (ha! half-pints!) less often, and 125 mL even less. They are the perfect size for storage, and I gift homemade jam/salsa/chutney/mincemeat only in jars of this size. I have rarely us...
Ball® Regular Mouth 16oz Pint Mason Jars, 140th Anniversary Keepsake Jars, 4 pack
When the jam is used up, these reusable lids are perfect for general purpose use, and I always have a set on hand.
Ball® Regular Mouth Stainless Steel Lids (3-Pack)
I love using these cute short and squat pint jars – especially when there's a bonanza of fall fruit to jam and can, and stacking them is easier with this size and shape.
Ball® Wide Mouth Elite Collection 16oz Pint Jars (4-Pack)
This versatile freestanding water bath canner doesn't take up space on your stovetop; instead, it sits on a countertop. Features include a built-in timer, push-button convenience, and multicooker and steamer functionality, The smart way to can multip...
Ball® EasyCanner Electric Water Bath Canner (21-Quart Capacity)
These heavy-duty stockpots are also perfect for small batch home canning (I have two of the 15 Qt capacities).
Heavy-Duty Industrial Aluminum Handled Stockpots
This sturdy, dishwasher-safe tool is a GREAT idea. I have used butter knives (which leave dents on the lid), silicone oven gloves, and dampened rags (and spent more time straining to get past that vacuum seal!)
Mason Jar Dent-Free Lid Opener (Stainless Steel)
Unless you want to take your jars out of the canning bath one by one, you'll want one of these steel racks.
Water Bath Canning Stainless Steel Rack
If you're a complete newbie to the art (and science) of home canning, then this 9-in-1 starter kit is for you.
9-in-1 Beginner's Canning Starter Kit
I always use a dutch oven to cook down fruits and vegetables, and this heavy-gauge enamel cast iron dutch oven (as weighty as it is!) is perfect. Previously I had used one with a non-stick interior (which had seen better days through repeated use as ... glazed interior of this new one is much better for even cooking and heat retention.
Pre-cutting and pre-peeling foods helps reduce the need to mash later during the cooking process.
Pre-cutting and pre-peeling foods helps reduce the need to mash later during the cooking process.
Lagostina Tuscan Collection Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven (4-Quart)
These silicone mini-spatulas are super for getting the remainders out of the cookpot and the funnel dispenser.
Set of 5 Custom Engraved Mini Silicone Spatulas, Personalized Kitchen Tool with Wooden Handles
Even with the jar lifter, my full-length silicone oven mitts (yes, the ones that go up to the elbow and feature a fleece-lined interior) are a necessity. I will go so far as to add sports (racquet) goggles and an apron that I don't mind dirtying up t...
Silicone Oven Mitts
T-Fal is my secondary go-to for dutch ovens and cookware. Its Thermo-Spot technology is a must for me!
T-fal 12pc Simply Cook Nonstick Cookware Set Charcoal Black: Kitchen Pan & Pot Set, Tempered Glass Lids, Dishwasher-Safe
Recipes, Resources, & Ingredients
Some of the tasty but simple jam recipes I’ve attempted over the years, courtesy of various websites!
If you’re new to the art of home canning your harvests, start here.
Ball® Blue Book Guide to Preserving 38th Edition, Recipe Book
Yes, this is the same apple jam that is used as the filling of homemade apple pie, or the glaze on pork tenderloin. Yum!
Apple Pie Filling
I skipped the food coloring, so my basil jelly looked yellower, but the end result is still delicious!
Basil Jelly
Plums are so easy to jam. These are the ones that first got me started so many years ago!
Easy Plum Jam
I'd rather eat these blue jewels fresh off the bush (and so would the chickadees and robins!) But there are so many blueberry bushes in the backyard that even they can't overindulge – and neither can I! :)
To heighten the taste a wee bit more, I'll sometimes grate some orange zest into my blueberry jams. It’s amazing how such a small addition can add a subtle, citrus-y note that elevates this fruit jam to a different place for the palate!
To heighten the taste a wee bit more, I'll sometimes grate some orange zest into my blueberry jams. It’s amazing how such a small addition can add a subtle, citrus-y note that elevates this fruit jam to a different place for the palate!
Easy Small-Batch Blueberry Jam
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There is no better way to dispose of this melt-in-your-mouth fruit that unfortunately won't stay fresh and firm (after 3 days in the fridge)! Note: fig jam is tasty, but it does not taste like fresh figs!
Fig Jam
A great way to use up those tomatoes that just won't ripen (no matter how much time that they spend in that brown paper bag)!
Green Tomato (Mock) Mincemeat
There's nothing like a tasty, golden jam to add a little kick and color to your daily bread.
Ground Cherry Jam
A wonderful mixed fruit jam of peach, pear, apple, and ginger. There are many heavenly jam recipes online, but this one worked for me.
Heavenly Jam **divine!**
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This pectin-free triple (or even quadruple) berry jam recipe has come in handy more than once when I have not enough of blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries to can on their own!
Mixed (Triple) Berry Jam
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Peaches and oranges are the perfect jamming companions — and I always get rave reviews when I add orange zest. It’s surprising how a small amount of peel goes a long way to elevating the flavor!
Peach and Orange Honey Blossom Jam
Pear jam is amazingly simple to make. It also pairs well with pork, prosciutto, and chicken.
Pear Jam
Raspberries are another fruit that we have repeat yields of in the summer. They are more of a pain to freeze than blueberries, so extras are often made into jam.
Raspberry Jam
I like this hybrid salsa, and have used both green (unripe) and ripe tomatoes with tomatillos. I tone down the spiciness, because these salsas do get gifted to others who may not have high spice tolerances!
Roasted Tomato & Tomatillo Salsa
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“Tomato jam” hardly does justice to this sweet recipe (which uses ripened, not green tomatoes). Think of it as upscale tomato relish (you'll never go back to ketchup after this!)
Spiced Tomato Jam
I have grown tomatoes of every possible color (red, yellow, green, black, striped) … so it's nice to see that there's a chutney for the yellow varieties!
Sweet Yellow Tomato Chutney
This is what tomatillos were made for! My first year of growing tomatillos was the best.
Tomatillo Salsa
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Homemade tomato salsa that is natch-u-rally great as a nacho dip! Gave a few jars to family members, and the recipe is always a hit!
Tomato Salsa
If you are reluctant to use a lot of sugar for your jams and preserves, consider Pomona's Universal Pectin. I tried it, and it makes a big difference to the taste of jam!
Pomona's Universal Pectin (sugar-free, preservative-free)
A great guide for those just getting into home canning! As it says, it's jam-packed with recipes, tools, & techniques for fruits, veggies, pickles, salsa, and more!
Canning Essentials: Jam-Packed with Tools, Techniques & Recipes for Making Sustainable Home Canned Goods
Whimsical Designs
Apparel and other accessories that celebrate home food preservation in a punny way.
Spread kindness with your cooking, er, canning. I hope you're good in the kitchen!
AS Spreading Kindness is My Jam Funny Loaf Bread Jam Pot Holder
Here's a mug for couples who really know how to stick together.
ID Custom Couples Funny Quote "Jam to My Toast" Mug
Another groanworthy pun … this time on stickers. Spread it around (oh dear … another one). :)
PB Bready To Jam Funny Bread Jam Pun Sticker
Nothing says loving like a delicious meal.
PB Spread The Love Funny Jam and Bread Pun Dark BG Poster
Does your little one know how to air guitar or sing? Let everyone know that half-pint is a musical wunderkind!
W2A Funny Cute This Baby Knows How to Jam! Baby T-Shirt
Make music in the kitchen with this whimsical kitchen towel. Now you're cooking!
WOW Funny We Be Jammin' Smiling Dancing Canning Jars Kitchen Towel