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?

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. 

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.