I'm going for it...finally

Another fabulous find for my $25.00 fantastic garage sale haul was canning supplies!! For the last couple of years, I have been meaning to get my own canning supplies so that I can take advantage of all of the great farm markets we have here all summer in Northern Michigan. I have canned before, but never made the investment to buy my own supplies and can on my own.

So I have the momentum and now I have the supplies ( I have to get jars this weekend ) and there are no excuses. I think I may start with asparagus and some strawberry jam. I am a little late for the REALLY good asparagus, but in the winter it'll be better ( and cheaper ) than what will be available to me then. Canning is actually a very easy and rewarding process, so if you have never tried it, just Google canning and you will get all of he information you need to get started !

I thought I'd share with you a canning recipe that I have on my to-do list. Hopefully it will inspire you to jump on in and catch up on the canning trend, like I am! ( I swear I was a farmer's wife in a past life...lol )

Strawberry Lemon Marmalade

Makes 7 (8oz.) half pints

1/4 C. thinly sliced lemon peel

4 C. fresh crushed strawberries

1 T. lemon juice

1 (1.75 oz) pkg. pectin

6 C. sugar

7 half pint jars with lids and bands

Prepare water canner. Heat jars and lids and set bands aside. Combine lemon peel and water to cover in an 8 qt. saucepan. bring to a boil for 5 min, til peel is softened. drain and discard liquid. return peel to pan.

Add strawberries and lemon juice to peel and mix well. bring mix to a full boil that can not be stirred down over high heat stirring constantly. Add entire measure of sugar stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 min. stirring consantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam.

Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe rim and center lid on jar. Screw on bands til fingertip tight. Process in a water canner for 10 min. remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours.