Infused Alcohol

I naturally always look for people's unique uses for Mason jars. This one I got from a friend  and I cannot wait to share it. Infusing Alcohol.

Let's get one thing straight - we are not making alcohol here (yet) - we are just going to try and naturally flavour it, to make types of alcohol taste bearable - I mean better.

Infusion is the process of drowning a plant, fruit or vegetable in liquid, to extract the flavours into the liquid.  Yeah I know, why would you want to infuse alcohol yourself if there is now a liquor store full of inventive flavours. Go outside the box and create flavours you can’t find.

Here are some of the basic steps:

Your poison: It is your spirit that will be the base so make it a decent one. You want one that is smooth so it can make the flavours sparkle. A clear alcohol is necessary: so stick with vodka, rum or even tequila.

Flavour: When infusing alcohol spices, fruits and herbs are most common. I am going to stick with the most popular – fruit - for the first time. This is where you get creative. – Combine. Create. Use Your Imagination. For best results it is important to use fresh ingredients.

The Jar: Use clean air-tight quart size Mason Jar.

My First Attempt
Strawberry Infused Vodka

Starting Point: Wash the ingredients, cut them up if necessary and place them inside the jar and fill it with your poison. Shake a few times and cover tightly with a lid.

The process: The jar should be stored in a cool and dark place. A fridge or pantry would work. Shake your jar often during the infusion process. The infusion process will take from days to months, - this is based on your personal taste. If you are using intense flavors it will need less time then flavours that take longer to extract. Be sure to taste often to make sure you get your preferred flavour and can monitor the change.

Enjoy: Serve your new flavours over ice or in a cocktail. Share with friends. 

I just completed my first attempt- Strawberry Infused Vodka. Still debating on adding cinnamon later on in the infusion process. Thoughts?

A Swapping Success.

Niagara has already convinced me that it hosts a proud homegrown community, but today confirms it. It was an afternoon of swapping knowledge, ideas, secrets and - of course - jars.

Congratulations to Tiffany, over at Eating Niagara, for organizing the successful Niagara in Jars preserve swap at Rise Above Bakery.

There were sauces, salsas, pickles, relishes, fruits, granola, jams, jellies and more deliciousness.

Don’t fret my readers - I maybe new on the preserve scene but with a little help from my friends I was able to put together a competitive selection for swapping.  Thank you to Renata, for opening her jam cupboard and to Will my beekeeping boyfriend.

Seven lucky people (with amazing taste) walked away with my offerings.

Apple Chutney x 2

Red Pepper Jelly

Creamed Honey x 2

Honey x 2

After ordering my London fog and convincing Kyle Paton, owner of Rise Above Bakery, to enter his home preserves into the mix, the swap was on.

Swap Strategy: 

Find what you like. Scoop it up.

There is no time for humming and hawing.

My Haul:

Bread and Butter Pickles 
Rosehip Jelly
Crushed Tomatos and Basil
Salsa
Green Bean Relish
Pickled Beans
Cranberry Ketchup 

Driving home all I could think about was sharing this experience with you. Well that... and my newly acquired jar of bread and butter pickles, that I could not wait to crack open.

With swaps occurring in Toronto and Niagara there is no reason that your winter diet consists of a daily side of pickled peppers.  If it does, I do believe it’s time for you to join the swap.

Heart Month

February is Heart Month.

Ladies, this donation is for you! 

Show your love for your ladies. 
Donate Here to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Heart desease and stroke are the #1 killer of Canadian women.

DIY Lovely Jars

As love week wraps up, chocolate and flowers all go on sale. I have taken this opportunity to indulge. Cinnamon hearts and flowers always keep me content. 

My inspiration.

Love Day did bring beautiful flowers (thank you boyfriend!) but I could not resist buying more flowers yesterday at the St. Catharines Farmers Market.

Okay, Okay. Truth is, this week I saw this idea for re-creating a mason jar on pinterest and could not resist trying to make it myself. Obviously I needed something pretty to put inside. (like market flowers)

my tools 

  The Tools:

  Old Mason Jar (my suggestion is one from goodwill on 50% off Fridays)

  Glue Gun

  Extra Glue Sticks

  Matte Spray Paint

  Marker

  To Create:

  Wash the jar and wipe dry.

  Sketch out the design or word you would like on   the jar.

  Cover your design or word with glue.

  Spray paint the outside of the jar.

  Let dry.

AND voilà....

Make the love last all year. 

Niagara in Jars

I have signed up for my first event: A preserve swap. Only problem is, I have no preserves to swap. Minor detail.

There is strong influence on local food in the Niagara region. An entire culture has been created around the love of local, even in the middle of winter.

Niagara in Jars is taking place on Sunday, February 26, 2012 between 3pm and 6pm. The event is at Rise Above Bakery, 120 St. Paul St., St Catharines.

So, what’s a preserve swap?

The idea is that everyone attending shuffles through their homemade preserves and brings a few jars to trade. Are you stuck with just pickles left in your cupboard? This is your chance to trade them up for jams, veggies or perhaps a pasta sauce.

How does it work?

Bring the jars you would like to trade. Make sure there are labels with their contents and if they contain any popular allergens, dairy, nuts, wheat and flour – you know - the ones you would find on the may contain section of any cereal box. You will receive a ticket for each of the jars you bring. The tickets will act as your currency to get preserves someone else has brought.

If you are interested in joining the swap sign up.

Liberate the Mason Jars!

Gone are the days that mason jars are to be only seen in the pantry. They have turned into a diverse item that can be used for more then their original purpose, preserving.

The tradition of preserving is passed down in many households. Well – not mine! The only thing that was passed down to me has been my fascination with the jars themselves.

You see… I kind of have a crush on mason jars.

Perhaps it is the simplicity, or maybe the versatility that began my intrigue but it is the mason jar budget I am living on that has made me into an enthusiast.

The wonderful world of the Internet and splitting my time between two communities that LOVE local will fuel this blog’s content. The Mason Jar is for the collectors, the creators, the organizers and the foodies.

There is only one rule: every post must have a connection to the jars.

So, liberate all your hidden mason jars, check in to pick up new ideas and get creative. Who knows we may even learn to preserve along the way.