In Honor of Summer

Summer is in full swing.  If you don't believe me, just go outside and see for yourself. Here in Mississippi, not only is it hot, but it is humid.  I can walk to my garden in the back yard without breaking a sweat!

With summer, comes a bounty of fresh fruits and veggies.  I love my having fresh veggies right out of my garden, but this year, we have had to visit the farmer's market as well.  I have told you about canning a variety of things.  I started out the year with plum jam, and have also made muscadine jelly and a batch of sweet pickles.  Since we are drowning in cucumbers, I guess I better get busy making more pickles. Last year, we had oodles of jalapeno peppers, so I have jars and jars of peppers from last year as well as pepper jelly.  The possibilities with home canning are endless, and are only contained by your imagination.

I thought I was a bit old fashioned canning my own vegetables until I picked up this months Bon Appetit magazine.  There is an entire article about friends who gather with one simple mission.  Making preserves and putting up fresh vegetables. I really thought canning was a dying art, but it too has become vogue.

In honor of summer and so that I can be on the edge of hip, I am giving away a Home Canning Discovery Kit made by Ball. It has everything you need to try your hand at canning.  I will be giving this away to one lucky reader on Friday.  To enter the drawing, all you need to do is reply in the comment section as to why you would like to try canning, or if you are a pro, why you would like this neat little contraption that makes any stockpot a canning pot. To increase your chances to win, suggest my blog to all your friends and if they comment and tell me that you sent them, you both might win. I am excited to try this product myself since I have a stock pot I can use on my stove and don't have to go outside with the big mama canning pot!

I can't wait to hear your responses.  This is my first contest, and I am so excited to share this with you!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah