this past few months we’ve talked about the trend of canning, witnessed the beginning of the canvolution and a rise in the blogosphere of a plethora of bloggers who, like me, can’t resist the urge to share about pickling, jamming, mason jars and the like. from fellow preservationists’ blogs devoted mainly to the craft, like food in jars, saving the season, consider the pantry, well preserved, put up or shut up! and doris and jilly cook (whew!) to other crafty cats that count canning high on their list of homesteading and/or cooking skillz, like small measure, urban hennery, gluten free girl & the chef, straight from the farm, etc., etc!
what can i say?
i like this!
IMO canning is catching on because even though it harks back to old foodways, it is so right now-
local – i think many of us became interested in canning as an outgrowth of the locavore movement. preserving fresh produce grown in your area is the logical progression. and when you grow your own, and a glut is on, it can become a necessity!
organic – in an effort to control what we eat, be it produce, sweeteners, flavors, etc., when we make it ourselves we know what went into it, and we know how we like it. it’s having a real choice about what we consume.
in season – canning produce in season in a way, keeps it in season all year. ergo a much tastier interpretation of eating seasonally than abstaining altogether but once a year!
humane – i heard tell that veggies get a kick out of being pickled, and fruit, well, who among us canners has not witnessed that barely audible exclamation of fruit about to be jammed, “sweet!”
so in an effort to spread the jam, have some fun, kick-start the 2010 season (because who can wait really?) and inspire even more peeps to get off their cans and get on canning, this is the launch of the first ever tigress’ can jam!
now you understand that this is more about the jam of the can than the can of the jam. meaning, what i am proselytizing about here is canning, namely hot water bath canning so by definition that means that the canning can contain anything that can safely be preserved by the hot water bath method. so i’m talkin’ about sweet or pickled preserves.
here let me explain in more detail:
tigress’ can jam
scared?
me too!
the basics
- each month we’ll focus on one fruit or vegetable to preserve. recipes may include other fruits or veggies but the food of focus must be integral to the preserve, and the recipe must include hot water bath canning.
- the month’s produce of focus will be announced the last friday of the prior month. (we will rotate the choosers by order of sign up) the focused food cannot be repeated in subsequent months.
- bloggers will post their recipes on their blogs during the 3rd week of the month with the deadline being friday midnight. (exact dates will be clarified each month when new produce in focus is announced)
- on the last wednesday of the month i will post a round-up here or here and direct you to the blogger who will announce the next fruit or veggie of focus. said blogger will have until that friday of that last week of the month to announce new focus.
pretty simple huh?
there are a couple of other important guidelines:
the local intention
- though this is not an ‘eat local’ challenge it is understood that in the spirit of the movement the fruit or veggie of focus should generally be in season at that time – at least for the blogger that is choosing that month. my hope is that it will mean that it is in season for many if not most of us.
- substitutes of food in focus is acceptable only if it really is not in season where you are and you would rather use a fruit or veggie that you can source locally. in this case, effort should be made, if possible, to choose a substitute that is closest to the focused food. and please, don’t let this stop you! we’re learning about canning here people! so can what you can!
- copy & paste for the ‘leaner’ months. this is a year long challenge and i know that jan, feb, & dec especially pose a problem for many of us in finding local produce. so even if you are the chooser it is understood that there may be months where the choice won’t be local – say citrus in december – but perhaps in season in many parts of the world. (and a fine time to can citrus i may add!)
not for bloggers only
- no blog, no worries! you can still participate by following along every month, trying one of the posted recipes or use the fruit or veggie of focus as a jumping off point to finally try your hand at jamming & pickling, or to hone your skills. don’t forget to post your experiences in the comment section on the monthly round-up post on the last wednesday of each month. and hey, come to think of it, give a shout out in the comment section below and state your intention to join in the fun!
other stuff
- it is my sincere hope that i’ve been compelling enough to inspire some of my fellow canning bloggers to join so that we can inspire each other in the art of canning, share ideas & techniques to improve our craft, and in so doing inspire other food bloggers and those at home who have been intrigued by all those gorgeous photos of jewel-toned jars & glass filled larders to join in the fun!
- it is also my intention to add some excitement to the mix by bringing in some guests – interviews with experienced canners, question & answer sessions, and you know, maybe a give-away here and there (we like those).
- oh, and in case you’re asking, “why can all year?” – because it’s a challenge people! and because it’s fun, and by the time summer’s overflowing we won’t feel like lucy & ethel in that famous chocolate factory scene, nope, not us. we’ll be lean, green, cannin’ machines – able to can bushels of produce in a single bound!
gettin’ jiggy wit’ it
- if you would like to help spread the jam please copy & paste the html code below to place the tigress’ can jamwidget on your blog (the graphic will show on your blog and it will link back to this post).
<A href=”http://tigressinajam.blogspot.com/2009/11/tigress-can-jam-food-blog-challenge.html”><IMG src=”http://tigressinajam.com/images/canjam01.gif” alt=”Click for tigress can jam food blog challenge” border=”0″ /></A>
sign up
- deadline for sign up is december 22nd, 2009
- sign up by sending an email to: tigressinajam(at)ymail(dot)com please put tigress’ can jam as the subject and include your name and blog url.
- final participant list will be announced on january 1st, 2010 along with the first month’s fruit or vegetable in focus.
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I love it! Doris and Jilly are IN.
Okay, I'll try for it. Nothing in season here for another six months, but I'm big on Seville marmalade and there are always a few local apples around.
Love this idea, and I am very excited to looking into the winter months for some canning inspiration! I'm definitely down!
hi girls -
glad you are all in! we've got 10 on board so far, this is going to be very exciting! stay tuned!
I don't have a blog, but this sounds amazing! I'm definitely going to try to participate.
This sounds like fun!
I love a good challenge.
catalina –
great! got your email and you are in as a participating blogger!
andrea –
so happy you stepped up to the jar! i'll look forward to your comments each month!
"i don't have a blog but i'm in!!!"
I'm in and can't wait. Now is the time for me to start that blog!
daisy mae & jane –
welcome! so glad you're both down for the can jam! i'll look for your comments every month to see how you've tackled the food in focus.
jane keep my posted on any status update regarding the start of your blog!
Great idea Laura! I'm in. I'll stay in the loop via the comments section.
Ok, this sounds fun. I'm not sure I can commit to every month because I have a lot on my plate right now, but I can surely try!!
diane – so great you're in! and thanks for the flikr idea, i am going to get on that!
teakate- i have you down as a participating blogger! i know what it feels like to have a lot on the plate, having a lot in jars is even more fun
! here's something that i am going to keep in mind on very busy months – small batch – i am always amazed that when i don't go overboard with quantity how easy and quick canning can be.
welcome to the jam you two!
true true…scale it down, small batches! looking forward to the challenge.
Tigress,
I have started a blog.
yesanothercookingblog.blogspot.com
I will be honest I'm not that great at the computer stuff. I couldn't get your wiget to paste. I'm really looking forward to jamming for a year!
jane-
congrats on the start of your blog! i have you down for the challenge now as a participating blogger.
I'm not a food blogger, but I've been preserving for the past year. This sounds like a fun challenge; I'm in!
Very cool idea! I started canning and posting about it on my blog this year. Count me in…
I am interested as well!
sadie – welcome! i look forward to hearing about your experiences with the food in focus each month!
cathy – perfect! i received your email and have you down as a participating blogger.
jm – welcome! will you be participating each month as a non-blogger?
Just read about this on Cathy Warner's FB page. Sign me up!!
I love to can! Is it okay if we do small batch? My pantry is over flowing now and mailing canned goods to family is darn expensive!
hi michelle – welcome! of course, small batches are perfect! in the case of jams, small batches usually taste better because of shorter cooking times. for pickles, that rule doesn't apply, but i do small batches because i like variety in my larder.
i have you down as a participating blogger, so glad you're on for the can jam!
I don't have a blog just yet (working on starting one, though), but I'm DEFINITELY in!
Not a blogger either, but I love to make jellies, jams and pickles. I've got a freezer of red and black currants and gooseberries to work on but will love to try some new ones. Count me in too.
I'm in.
melissa- great! i have you down as a participating non-blogger!
melanie – you're down as a non-blogging participant also!
oh yes i can! – hello! please confirm if you are participating as a blogger.
welcome everyone!
I'm in! There's pretty much nothing in season here for the next 6 months, but this a good way to dust off my blog and try posting again! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's recipes!
I'd like to join in and learn to use the boiling water method. I canned jam for 30 years in Spain but used their brown paper disk with brandy on the top of the jam. Never had a jar spoil, but apricot and peach jam aren't berries or veggies.
Really looking forward to trying a "new" technique.
I can't wait!
Im a preservation newbie and this Can Jam sounds like a love-in I can't afford to miss!
So far my larder has "Mary's Mother's" antipasto, pumpkin chutney, spiced pumpkin marmalade spiked w/ Southern Comfort and lemon ginger marmalade spiked with/ Tequila Gold.
I am totally looking forward to more homemade love preserves!
Thanks Tigress! for getting this "Ball" rockin' n' rollin'…
Tricia
xo
ps im a non-blogger particpant
alicia-
welcome! i received your email and have you down as a particpating blogger.
oz – please confirm if you will be participating as a non-blogger or blogger. thanks!
tricia – good to have you on board!
I'm in!
http://winebookgirl.blogspot.com/
Sounds like a cool idea! Can I join?
Year-round canning is my goal, too (hoping to debut the 12 Jams of Christmas this week…) I'm in!
Sounds Can-tastic! I'd love to join.
http://showfoodchef.com/
Sounds Can-tastic! I'd love to join.
http://showfoodchef.com/
Ooh, sounds like fun! Count me in.
hi abc, tracy, pat, cathy, and kimberly. i have you all down as participating bloggers. what fun!
welcome!
I sent you an email. I tried adding the button to my blog site as well, I can't seem to get it to work right though!
Looking forward to doing this. I am new at canning and would love to be motivated to doing it more often throughout the year. YAY!
WOW….what fun….I want to play!
angela & maureen-
welcome! i recieved your emails and i have you both down as participating bloggers.
angela, i'll email you about the button and we'll see if we can get it to workk for you.
happy you both are stepping up to the jar!
Hi, I've just started out with canning and would love to follow along!
Great idea, I'd love to join in. Just emailed you.
Sounds like a lot of fun! It will be interesting when it comes to seasonality – I live in Texas and strawberries, for example, seem to be done here before they begin up north!
basecadet, kim & megan-
i recieved all of your emails. you're all in!
I sent in my email, so hoping I'm on the list.
I am willing to be a participating blogger if I can get some help! I haven't been blogging since my son's gluten/dairy issues were resolved. I have been canning jams for several years now and recently did simple fruits this past year.
I'm excited!!
Oh, and I couldn't get the widget to work either. It's there, but no picture is showing up.
I'm new at canning, but this sounds like fun! I don't have a blog, may I come play too?
christian –
i received your email and have you down as a participating blogger. the widget should be working – if you send me an email with more detail maybe i can help you figure out what's happening.
crystal-
i look forward to hearing how it is going for you each month in the comments section.
of course! players are welcome.
I just sent in my email. Squeaking in at the last minute! I've done some canning, and am looking forward to new ideas, and excuses to dust off the canner in the "off months"!
Hope you got my email and it's not too late to join in the fun.
I'm up for a challenge with the proviso that I live in Michigan, and there won't be much "in season" for a few months (not that it will keep me from making Marmalade mid-January.) I'm new to blogging and could certainly use some hard deadlines for motivation. I go by: Charrington and I'm IN.
kristi & grammagreenjeans – i received your emails and responded. you are both in! welcome!
charrington – welcome! i have you down as a participating blogger!
Sent you an email, but then read all the posts here – so in case you can still squeeze in one more canning girl I would love to participate. My blog is http://www.marketlifesf.blogspot.com Have a couple canned things on it already – may have to re-use some! Rebecca
Just got wind of this…any chance I can sign up late?
anonymous-
please email me at tigressinajam(at)ymail(dot)com with your info and i'll see what i can do.
Yeah, got the widget to work this time!! Went in a copy and pasted again and this time it worked!
I preserve much of our food..canning, freezing and drying, though I would love to do more! I wish I would have seen this earlier I would love tohave joined!
chrystal -
welcome! the can jam starts january 1st. if you email me by then at tigressinajam(at)ymail(dot)com before then and let me know you want to participate, and send your blog URL if you are a blogger I can get you in!
CRAP! I missed signing up for a canning challenge? I'm so taking this one to the top. Emailing you now Tigress. I'm doing it whether I make the list of not. I'm wacky like that. ;p
OOOOOOOOh me too! I want in…please! I'm just really jazzed about jarring in 2010!
Is it too late to sign up? If not, count me in! (my blog is in progress)
hi meg-
please email me at tigressinajam(at)ymail(dot)com and let me know you want in for sure. i am leaving it open for a few days to the people who email their request in, but will have the hard cut off very soon because things have kicked off!
Oh well I missed the sign up but will try to follow along anyway…looks so interesting and more importantly FUN
I've just discovered your blog AND LOVE THE CHALLANGE! If it is too late to join in, I understand, but I'd like to play along anyways! THANKS for considering me… Melanie
I would love to join, I know I am late but if you do reconsider!
I have been canning for the last 3 years and just came across your site. Is there no way to join your group at this time?
kim- are you interested in joining as a non-blogger?
Yes, a non-blogger…Thanks…looking forward to it.
kim-
i received your email – thanks. and welcome to the can jam!
Hi Tigress,
I have posted the first of a couple of posts about my canning adventure. The actual recipe will be in the next post, but just wanted to let you know I'm canning this weekend.
Carol at Post-Industrial Eating
carol-
that sounds great! i am getting the feeling that a lot of us are canning this weekend!
a reminder – please be sure to post your recipe in the designated week as listed above and in the welcome to the can jam post. this month the exact dates are january 17-22, with ending time midnight on the 22nd. only recipes posted in the designated week each month will be included in the round-up post.
i hope you've had fun with it this weekend! can't wait to hear!
Well, I missed the deadline to sign up "officially", but I plan to play along and post my efforts on my blog: http://hippieingeeksclothing.wordpress.com/ . Citrus is never in season here in Michigan and it's been twenty degrees out for weeks so not much is but I will do my best with the January challenge!
hippieingeeksclothing- hello!
please email me at tigressinajam(at)ymail(dot)com.
since you are jumping on in time for the first challenge you might as well be official.
but that's it! i mean it!
Oops… I thought it was the 16th to the 22nd, so I posted mine yesterday, which was when I made the jelly. I'll repost it.
I am so happy to finally find a person who can's!! great blog i am you new follower
Oh no – I missed the deadline?! Sad sad sad as I am a new and terribly enthusiastically canner! This is awesome and I'll follow along throughout the year… maybe I can get in on TigressJam 2011??
Well, I dont have a blog AND I am late to join up so I am just going to be that pesky follower and leave comments as to what I have made. Is taht OK? I am a closet canner….all of my friends look at me like I am nuts when I get all excited about what I have canned. (but they sure enjoy it when I offer them some.) I hope you do this again next year. Maybe it will inspire me to start up a blog myself?
I didn't know if we were supposed to turn in our links anywhere, so here's mine: http://www.runawayoctober.com/2010/01/marmalade-recipes-galore/
Squeaked in it with just 25 minutes to spare… in my timezone anyway. I can't wait to see what everyone else did and what next months theme is!
hey everyone!
i have all the participants in google reader so i see everyone who has posted this week and i am looking forward to delving into all of them over the weekend!
laura – you are so not pesky! follow away!
from my motorhome to yours, & amanda –
you too! welcome!
mercury was retro-grade while i was making my marmalades. things just didnt turn out as planned but i am sweeter (and jam rich) from the experience. i posted some pix on flickr of the end result of three attempts. im looking forward to february!
I did not see the deadline and made, canned and blogged my marmalade on the 24th. FAIL. Here's the link for the curious.
Is it too late to sign up for the rest of the year?
Stacey
fessendenfarmstead.blogspot.com
Desiring to join this, hope it is not too late….
tricia- saw the pics. great. marmalade is not the easiest to do if you are a beginner, but there's a lot more opportunities to learn!
stacey, andi, – it's too late to join as an "offical can jammer" but please do feel free to join in and can along. and keep up with us in the comment sections – i'd love to hear how it's going!
Wish I'd known about this earlier! I love to can, blog, and eat. I'm in the HBin5 group with Michelle and it's a blast too! I'll be returning to this site to see what else you are doing!
I just started 'jammin' and have made, thus far..Strawberry kiwi citrus jam, hot and sweet red pepper jelly, and triple berry jam. My question is, how do I join in on the fun – meaning, where do I look for the next host of the next challenge? Thanks so much in advance
lisa michelle – welcome! i will be posting the round-up post this wednesday at tigress in a pickle. from there i will direct everyone to the blogger who is announcing april's food in focus. would love to have you follow along!
Tigress…I have added your widget may the canning continue. http://suburbhomestead.wordpress.com/
Hi! I've been noticing these "Can Jam" posts on 2 blogs I follow.. and finally decided to investigate! I'm going to follow along on my own now! Think you'll do another one next year?
Hi! I've been noticing these "Can Jam" posts on 2 blogs I follow.. and finally decided to investigate! I'm going to follow along on my own now! Think you'll do another one next year?
robert & courtney – welcome! please do follow along!
Great idea! I am a life long canner…created my own recipes, etc. Was shown a few years back by a Mennonite friend, that apples make their own pectic and wild apple/cranberry jelly/sauce became a new hit in my home! One batch, makes both items. Apples come from a neglected old tree in a local park. No one uses them, no one cares…but I do! I see there are lots of flowers on it this year, here is HOPING that I can harvest them again!
I have been canning for 2 summers now, and LOVE the idea of a 12 month challenge! I'm IN!
I know its past the sign on date, but here's our new blog-not a human food blog- about fostering dogs after the 'rescue' and before they find their forever homes.
http://eastvandogs.typepad.com/my-blog/
nice
Augh! Of COURSE I find this late – I've just suddenly interested in canning as a natural progression of my current project (http://austinintent.blogspot.com/). I'll be tuning in come September!
woo who LOVE IT I was just on Theresa Loe's blog searching about esplaiered/Pleached trees/Permaculture and FOOD FORRESTs and Voila Here you are! I know you are more than half way done but could I follow along at home? ie checking in on receipes canning and sharing still too.. maybe by commenting?
I've had some computer problems so posting may not be consistant
I am Creativemusewhereinspirationsflourish@blogspot.com
http://www.creativemuse.etsy.com
Creativemuse on flickr
Ok I am a newbie canner and have been lurking for two months and love the can jam – I would like to participate in the last three months if you will have me. cheers claire http://unjarred.wordpress.com/
I have a canning question. If I burp a mason jar that I have herbs in do I need to break the seal and open it up or just unscrew it?
teresa, kate, stacy, claire – i do hope you are following along. and stay tuned for next year's details soon – the can jam will be back for 2011 in a new incarnation!
blue heron – i am not 100% sure what you are asking?…
Tigress – all my favourite canning websites are doing the can jam. Can't wait to participate in 2011 and be part of the canning movement.
Wow!
I would like to join the can jam in 2011!!!
Do you think you'll do this again in 2011?
Excellent blog and great posts.I really liked the way you present your ideas to the readers.
I started canning last summer, so I didn't get a chance to participate in last year's Can Jam. Any possibility that there will be one for 2011? Please?
Can I still join? I am new to canning and this sounds like a good way to get started on my new hobby?
Is there a 2011 jam? Is it too late to join?
will you be bringing this back? Sounds like a great challenge.
hi zakia, it was a great challange, a lot of fun, and a LOT of work. in the past couple of years i have become much more busy in my real line of work and alas, i just don’t have the time to commit to heading up an on-line can jam at the moment.