Celebrate National 'Can-It-Forward' Day with Home Canning Party Tips & Recipe from Gooseberry Patch

Aug. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- It’s the peak of the summer harvest, and the perfect time to preserve the fresh flavors of the season by canning homemade jams, relishes and spreads.

In the spirit of celebrating home preserving, independent cookbook publisher Gooseberry Patch applauds the iconic Ball® home canning brand, who is hosting the first annual National Can-It-Forward Day this Saturday on August 13.

"Gooseberry Patch has been in the business of preserving family heirloom recipes for more than 25 years, and we've always been big advocates of home canning," says Vickie Hutchins, Gooseberry Patch co-founder. "Creating things in your kitchen is a wonderful feeling. And it’s a benefit you can enjoy all year long as you pull jars off the shelf and delight your family all through the seasons."

"We encourage anyone who's curious about canning to give it a try. It's the perfect time of the year to grab some jars and join in the time-honored tradition of preserving summer's bounty," says Jo Ann Martin, Gooseberry Patch co-founder.

Canning makes for a fun group activity, so in the spirit of Can-It-Forward Day consider hosting a canning party with family & friends. Here are a few party planning tips from Gooseberry Patch:

--Provide an assortment of craft items so party-goers can create personal touches for their jars in between batches: scrapbook papers, tags, fabric, brown kraft paper, ribbon, jute, buttons...whatever strikes your fancy!

--Labels are a must for keeping both ingredients and filled jars organized...and they are fun to create! Color copies of vintage postcards make whimsical labels.

--Don't forget to eat! A simple spread of sandwiches is perfect for a big gathering, allowing everyone to grab a quick bite before getting back to business.

Be the hit of the party with this winning recipe from Gooseberry Patch's bestselling cookbook Summer in the Country:

Carrot Cake Jam
Shared with us by Teri Johnson from North Ogden, Utah, who says, "This is a wonderful jam that tastes just like Grandma's carrot cake!"

1-1/2 c. carrots, peeled and grated
1-1/2 c. pears, cored, peeled and chopped
14-oz. can crushed pineapple
3 T. lemon juice
1-1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. ground cloves
3-oz. pouch liquid pectin
6-1/2 c. sugar
6 1/2-pint canning jars and lids, sterilized

Mix all ingredients except sugar and pectin in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add pectin and return to a boil. Stir in sugar; bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Pour into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe rims; secure with lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Set jars on towels to cool; check for seals. Makes 6 jars.

For more free canning recipes from Gooseberry Patch, go to http://www.gooseberrypatch.com.

For more information about Can-It-Forward Day, go to http://www.freshpreserving.com/.

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Back in 1984, Vickie Hutchins and Jo Ann Martin were next-door neighbors raising their families in Delaware, Ohio. They were two moms with small children looking for a way to do what they loved and stay home with the kids too. They shared a love of home cooking and making memories with family & friends. After many a conversation over the backyard fence, Gooseberry Patch was born.

Today, Gooseberry Patch is best known for its homestyle family-friendly cookbooks and line of art calendars. With more than 200 titles and nearly 9 million copies in print, plus a new collection of eBooks, Gooseberry Patch has grown from a kitchen-table operation to a nationally recognized best-selling publisher. Affordably priced from 99 cents to $16.95, the books are themed with today's time-strapped, budget-conscious families in mind. Many recipes include personal stories from contributors, giving the cookbooks a warm community feel that has proven extremely popular among cookbook fans and collectors.