Working Jars

Spring has brought out everyones creativity and mason jars are everywhere I look! My apologies that things have not been fresh here at The Mason Jar lately but spring has brought lots of exciting changes. 

On the top of that list is the completion of the PR Post Grad program at Niagara College. It has been a bitter sweet month. The sweet - getting out there and using all the knowledge and tools in a career I am excited to jump into. The bitter - A great time with a steller team has come to an end. 

To celebrate this change (and my birthday) two of my favourite ladies, Renata and Marta, decided to jump start my career - in jars.

A-MASON' right? 

Let's break it down:

Jar 1: Fresh cut Lily of the Valley - who doesn't love fresh cut flowers on their desk?

Jar 2: The resilient Spider Plant - tough to kill plants are perfect for the workplace. 

Jar 3: Green Tea - better alternative for those coffee breaks.

Jar 4: Apple Cinnamon Tea - yummm. 

Jar 5: Supplies - all the things that float around your desk drawers junking it up! (paperclips, elastics, twist-ties, and Eco-stapler) 

Jar 6: Candy Cigarettes - for a healthy smoke break.

And to top it off a vintage holder that came with pens and pencils that grade 2's would fight over! 

Cheers to jars, friends and the future! 

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?

Toronto's New Pizza Party Hosts.

Pizza holds a place in our hearts at all stages of life:

Childhood – a birthday party favorite.

High school – a lunch staple.

University – a late night saviour.

Post University – a no brainer date night.

Growing up not eating pizza because of lactose intolerance, I have made it a mission to make up for lost time. Lucky for me Toronto does pizza, and does it well!

There are a number of Neapolitan-style pizzerias across the city, that are worth checking out. I suggest you start in Kensington market.

Kensington Market has been called Toronto’s most eclectic neighborhood that attracts a diverse audience. The market has a charm with its vintage clothing stores, fresh produce, cafes, local watering holes and now Via Mercanti.

Via Mercanti is an unpretentious pizzeria specializing in good pizza and good coffee. True to their roots, Italian flags decorate the restaurant and staff uniform. The honorary big screen T.V. holds a prominent place in the dining area, to ensure that no one has to miss a football match.

But more importantly, I had to find a Mason jar connection to let you know about this fabulous place...

…And then came the meal.

 

Fungi pizza and its sidekicks hot chili and garlic, in jars, to dress your pizza to your liking. The jars become the centrepiece of the table, adding to the home feel of the restaurant.

Agreeing with my Resto bible, this is a place to discover.

Gents: 

This is your date night secret weapon. 

This place is a Toronto hotspot, with great food, fast service and big screen T.V. programmed to sports. (okay, I suggest leaving that last one to surprise.) 

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.

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.