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Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations oh and I have a #Giveaway

August 11, 2014 By Melanie Roberts 72 Comments

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

Did you know that there is a National Can-It-Forward Day? I’m just starting out learning all the ins and outs about canning and so far I’m very impressed and after only one Marmalade recipe I’m hooked and already come up with different creations and ideas that I want to can. I probably could make Canning a full time job, anyone has interest?

Well, more about me and my canning adventures are further down, for right now, I just wanted to invite each and everyone of you to Join us Saturday, August 16, for International Can-It-Forward Day Hosted by judge of Bravo’s Top Chef Hugh Acheson! Now in its fourth year, Can-It-Forward Day will contain a variety of exciting ways to join in the fun. New this year, Can-It-Forward Day will become International Can-It-Forward Day with special events taking place in Canada, Australia and South Africa!

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

How cool is that? To think that you can be part of the fun is out of this world. I remember last year I participated because a friend had mentioned it to me and that was actually the first time I really started to think about canning and even created a Pinterest board to keep all the amazing recipes that I would find handy for down the road. Did you know that Ball has an amazing Pinterest board? They also have a pretty good Facebook and Twitter page, lots of tips, ideas and even more help can be found there.

Check out how I did on my very first go-around on canning at home, little ol’ me, yup… Crazy Mom, managed to get a pretty amazing I may add, Plum Marmalade. I’m on cloud nine and if I could marry that stuff, don’t tell my hubby, I would.

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

The thing that had me always shied away from canning myself was the stove top canner, I was worried what if… the water isn’t hot enough, what if the pressure isn’t right, there are so many what if’s that a brand new canner worries about. Thankfully Ball Canning and the entire team had help on the way and they wanted me to proof to them that even this little Crazy mom could make her very own Marmalade in no time and love it.

I took the challenge and my brand spanking new FreshTech Auto Canner arrived in it’s full glory. I was a little intimidated and decided to check out the recipe booklet that came with it. It had lots of ideas and tips on how to can and how to use the Automatic Home Canning System correctly and also had recipes that would work with the Canning System.

The canning system looked like a rice cooker on steroids, but besides the big key pad with all the numbers, buttons and timers it didn’t look much different to me. Cool; I was able to keep the unit on my counter, plug it in and follow the water instructions as well as the jar heating instructions. Easy breezy.. applesauce peachy. Took me no time to figure out the system. Now that I had that down pad, I had to figure out how the fruit marmalade part would work, wish someone would come with each canning system that handles all that for me, too. LOL… I know, you are probably saying “just got and buy the darn marmalade and move on”. Yeah, well … that may be easier and I could save a little with coupons, but I wanted to make this for my family, fresh from scratch just like millions of Americans do for their family every day, too. So check below how and what I did to end up with beautiful marmalade, Plum Marmalade to boot.

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

The recipe came courtesy of Ball canning from their website. They have a lot of awesome tips and ideas and lots of recipes for the FreshTech Auto Canning System that are tried and approved to be used in the Automatic Home Canning System. I’m totally in love with the Automatic Home Canning System, it has given me the confidence that I can do this, too. Best part, I don’t have to worry about temperatures, time, water level and so on, all that is automatically handled by the Canning System. It Automatically senses, and constantly monitors, time and temperature optimized for each recipe.

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

I followed the recipe for my plums to the T and it turned out amazing! I told my husband about my Plum Marmalade and he kind of pulled his nose up and said under a mumbling “Uhhh Plums, for real….I don’t like Plums at all, wish it was something good.” My first thought was, mine all mine and I will not share and he is on a diet anyways, there it’s ALL mine!! Well… that quickly changed when he did take a spoon to try the leftover Marmalade mass and all I heard was “That stuff is AMAZING”, he even called his mom and grandma who can a lot all the time and told them to come over and try this, he wouldn’t stop eating it, guess someone forgot to mention that you put marmalade on bread. He ate it all on a spoon like it was going out of style.

I’m very proud of myself that I managed to can my very first set of fruit and I can not wait to create many, many more recipes. The Automatic Canning system does limit you to the recipes that are part of the included book or some on their website, I hope they will add more in the future so I can one day be a big canner like so many people around me. But for now the recipes that are approved for the system are plenty for me from fruit, Jams to Tomatoes and Salsa.

All these are pre-programed into the Automatic Canning system and all you do once your Fruit or Vegetable are done and packed into the jars, hit the preset button for what you are making and step away… That’s it! Once it’s done you will get a melody alerting you that your canning process is done and to remove the finished canned goods, let them rest on a towel for 12-24hrs (This is very important I was told… Do NOT touch!!). That’s it… you can do this. Trust me, if I can…. anyone can!! The automatic canning system will be your best friend, especially now come fall… OH the possibilities. Be sure to check out the Automatic Home canning System to get all the ins and outs about it.

Join me for #CanItForward day and check out my very first Marmalade creations

There you have it, I’m in love with canning thanks to the Ball FreshTech Automatic Canning System, my new best friend. I highly recommend it for beginners or people that haven’t canned or won’t can a lot, this system is awesome but will also limit you for now in what you can do until Ball will release more recipes in the future. Definitely worth it for me and I will be stocking my pantry with all home made goodies in the months and years to come. No more store bought for us.

Giveaway Time …

I have teamed up with the wonderful people at Ball canning and they wanted me to host a Giveaway and I gladly accepted. I knew my readers would love it. One lucky 2Boys+1Girl=OneCrazyMom reader will win the following prize pack… Good Luck!

  • The Ball Canning Discovery Kit  A kit designed to demystify the home canning process and make fresh preserving accessible for even the most novice canner (Retail value $11.99)
  • The New Limited Edition Spring Green Heritage Collection Jars  These limited edition jars commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Ball brothers’ “Perfection” Jar and come in a beautiful green tint.  These are being produced only in 2014 and are available in both pint and quart varieties.  The winner will receive a case of each size. (Pint retail value: $9.99 per case/ Quart retail value $12.99 per case)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Post is sponsored by Ball Canning, all opinions and ideas are my own and I’m not influenced by anyone or anything, I did receive promotional items to facilitate a review; Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway and released from any and all liability they may have. The winner will receive the product from the company or PR company directly, I can not be responsible for lost, damaged or missing Giveaway prizes.

Filed Under: canning, Giveaway, Recipe, sponsored Tagged With: #CanItForward, Canning, Jam, Jelly, Marmalade, Preserve

Post Signature - Melanie

About Melanie Roberts

Florida Blogger, German Descendant, Travel Addicted, Recipe Developer, Pet Enthusiast, Mom of Three.

Comments

  1. Nive says

    August 14, 2014 at 7:13 pm

    Peach jam is my favorite canning product..thanks…
    ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Orr says

    August 14, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    I love my canning funnel! So easy to use and makes canning a less messy process.

    Reply
    • Melanie Roberts says

      August 15, 2014 at 5:26 pm

      YES!!!!!!!!!!! I bought one and OMG .. a MUST have you can not can without it!!!! Totally love mine, too

      Reply
  3. Brenda Young says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:02 am

    I love to use Beautiful colored ball jars!

    Reply
  4. Rebecca Parsons says

    August 15, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    My favorite item to can is homemade red sauce.

    Reply
  5. Tracy says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:24 am

    It’s not the most important piece of equipment, but my magnetic lid-lifter always makes me smile.

    Reply
    • Melanie Roberts says

      August 16, 2014 at 11:31 pm

      You know.. I been debating if I need one… heard lots of amazing things from this little gadget.. think I’ll pick one up, they aren’t expensive 🙂

      Reply
  6. Madonna says

    August 16, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    I love canning jams, strawberry is my favorite but also blackberry.

    Reply
  7. Kristen says

    August 17, 2014 at 2:52 am

    I want to try canning tomatoes.

    Reply
  8. Jennifer Rogers says

    August 17, 2014 at 8:22 am

    Pickles I love to make pickles, sweet and dills homemade!! Pickles are so expensive in the store and they are never quite as tsty as you would like them to be. The key to awesome pickles is waiting the required set time for them to mature into the best flavors ever!

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    My favorite technique is water-bath canning, and my favorite thing to can is apple jelly. It’s so beautiful in the jars, and tastes so good, too!

    Reply
  10. Leigh Anne Borders ( says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    I like to can jams. Great gifts for loved ones.

    Reply
  11. Tina W says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:32 am

    My favorite is apricot jam. So yummy.

    Reply
  12. tree says

    August 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    The caning funnel and the tongs to get the hot jars out are both favorite items for me. i love canning tomatoes. thanks for the chance!

    Reply
  13. Ty says

    August 23, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    My favorite to can is raspberry rhubarb preserves.

    Reply
  14. Francine Anchondo says

    August 26, 2014 at 9:33 am

    I like to can pickles and salsa.

    Reply
  15. Janice Crespo says

    August 27, 2014 at 8:10 am

    I really haven’t canned before but I want to start. I make a wonderful homemade sauce and I really want to try making some jams! You are never too old to learn some new things!
    Janice Crespo recently posted..Giveaway Listing Ending August 27, 2014My Profile

    Reply
  16. Zenetta says

    August 29, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    I love canning Salsa and strawberry jams and jellies.

    Reply
  17. ellen beck says

    August 30, 2014 at 12:25 am

    I really like canning spaghetti sauce we use it ll of the time!

    Reply
  18. Lisa L says

    August 30, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    I enjoy canning peaches for my kids…they love them!

    Reply
  19. Birdiebee says

    August 30, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    My favorite item to can is pickled asparagus.

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. Lots of amazing Canning Recipes and join us for #CanItForward Day says:
    August 16, 2014 at 8:30 am

    […] the fun and check out what the International Can-It-Forward 2014 has to offer and don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a fun Jarden Home Brands prize […]

    Reply

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Welcome


Hi! I’m Melanie a mom of 2 Teen Boys & 1 Girl. I’m your everyday average working mom, wife and friend that likes to share recipes, DIY tips, techy things and anything from crafts to home remodel. I’m a Brand Ambassador, recipe creator and love to share things both from the US and my home Country Germany. So stick around and see what fun things we come up with.

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