And The Winner Is...

Last Monday, as part of the Monday Must Have, I said that someone would be chosen to receive their very own Fluted Pastry Wheel and a package of Lemon Stretch Wraps.  I numbered each entry on a piece of paper, folded them up and tossed them in a kitchen bowl (yes, of course it was a kitchen bowl) and pulled out lucky number 6!!

Congratulations to Monica of Sweetbites!! 

P.S.  I have had several requests to post more pictures of cakes, so I have listened and I am happy to share.  This was the birthday cake I made for my Mom last month.  The cake details are listed below:

*Lemon Chiffon Cake [layered w/whipped cream & sliced strawberries; frosted with sweetened whipped cream and decorated with fresh strawberries and white chocolate curls; top tier = 4-inch round, bottom tier = 6-inch round.]

Monday Must Have & My One-Year Blog Anniversary

It is Monday.

And being that it is Monday, it's time to feature a new Monday Must Have, since it has been a bit too long since I've had one. AND it just also happens to be the exactly one year ago today, I started Jillicious Discoveries, and I still can't believe how fast the year went. But more on that a little later.

Today's Monday Must Have is one of my personal kitchen gadget favorites: The Fluted Pastry Wheel. Ahhhh, this little kitchen gadget is so fun to use and frankly, I wish I could use it everyday on every dessert. Anything you use a knife on to cut or trim edges on, you can use this cute, little pastry wheel on instead.

For example, remember this post? It was during this challenge when I was introduced to the homemade graham cracker and since then I've turned a blind eye to the boxes of graham crackers in the store and have made more batches of these tasty little goodies and every time I get to use this fun little tool.

Just look at these edges. So much more exciting than cutting with a regular knife.

More pastry wheel uses include; edging for pasta, ravioli, cookies, crackers, lattice work on pie dough, crimping on dough edges and anything else you can think of in your culinary adventures.

WOW--it's been one-year of blogging here on the Jillicious Discoveries blog and I just wanted to say...

First, a big shout out to all of you who I've gotten to know in this fun world of blogging and to those of you who have visited and commented and then even came back again! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I've learned much from your ideas and comments and experiences and from following your wonderful blogs, I've been truly inspired to learn more in this vast culinary field we are a part of.

Second, I will continue into this second year of blogging by sharing my experiences, and insights and all that I continue to learn and figure out along the way. I hoping to make a few changes in the next few months and I'm excited to share them with you here.

And finally, no anniversary is complete without a gift of some kind, so in keeping with the traditon of celebrating...

I'm giving you the chance to WIN your own Fluted Pastry Wheel and a package of these fun little "shower caps" (another favorite from a Monday Must Have during the year) and yes, it is open to ANYONE no matter where you live!

Just leave a comment with your email or a link for me to contact you and answer the following questions:

1) What would you or do you use the fluted pastry wheel for in your baking experiences?
2) What would you like to see or read more about on this blog?

I will be accepting your comments/entries from now until next Monday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm (PST). The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. *One comment/entry per person.

Happy Monday!!

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Linda at RebelPigs for winning the So Easy to Preserve canning book!

Also a big THANK YOU to all of you who left thoughtful comments about your experiences with canning (or wanting to experience canning)--they were wonderful to read.

I think that I may have to do another giveaway down the road, since this first one went so well. Maybe some yummy preserves made using one of the recipes from this AWESOME canning book?

Let me know what you think.

Monday Must Have: So Easy to Preserve Book & Giveaway!

I've been doing some thinking...

Lately, I've been enjoying the fruits of our labors and we've had a busy summer putting up all the wonderful food we've grown or purchased locally. A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this website called Canning Across America. It is a place were you can find recipes, events, instructions and a place to share canning experiences. Here is an excerpt that explains what they are all about:

"Our goal is to promote safe food preservation and the joys of community building through food. We believe in celebrating the bounty of local and seasonal produce and taking greater control of our food supply. Together, we can".

What a great concept! And I've been really caught up in the enjoyment of canning and keeping such an important tradition alive. I grew up in an environment where canning is what you did every summer and fall, to preserve the food that you worked so hard to grow and maintain in a yearly garden. And I realize that not everyone grew up with these wonderful experiences and I'm happy to see that there are so many people who are wanting to share their knowledge and I too, want to be involved with passing on this tradition of preserving homegrown foods.

I've been reflecting on all the canning and food preservation experiences I've had over the years, watching and helping my Mom in canning food from our garden every year, as far back as I can remember. At the beginning of the summer, my Mom taught a food preservation class, explaining the various techniques & methods of canning. I think that really got me into the excitement this year and it's still going! Through her research, and let me just say, that she is very qualified having taught Home Economics & Food Science for years and has been canning since she was a girl with her grandmother, I realized how lucky I am to have this resource of knowledge at my disposal.

Back to her research--she found this great book called "So Easy to Preserve" written by the Cooperative Extension of the University of Georgia, which I mentioned in this post. This book has up-to-date, safe and complete information on canning, pickled products, jellied products, freezing and drying foods. Every recipe and formula has been tested and is recommended for use throughout the United States. Visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation website for more excellent information.

So all of these thoughts and ideas have come together to create today's post. I hope your own excitement and interest is peaked and you will decide to try some of your own canning this summer.

MONDAY MUST HAVE


This book has been so informative and so very helpful, that I need to share it with you. I just can't say enough wonderful things about it. The information is very clear and complete, with lots of helpful charts and pictures. My copy already has tons of notes from things I've canned this summer and it even has pockets for handouts or loose notes at the end of each section. I have found it handy to put the cute canning labels in the one behind JAMS, so that when it's time to put them on the jars, I know exactly where they are. Another tip I'd like to share is when you make a recipe from the book, put the date you make it--it's like a little canning journal and you'll be able to look back and see what food you put up and when, in the years to come.

THE IDEA

Since I've been doing so much canning this year and I am so excited about sharing great information and recipes, this week will have posts dedicated to canning various fruits and produce. And it coincides with the Canning kick-off that starts this weekend everywhere.

THE PLAN

If you know me, then you know I love to be ORGANIZED. I realize that this really only applies to a few of you that do know me and so I am sharing a little more about myself to those of you who happen to read my blog--it's true, I crave organization--which is why I'm giving you the plan and outline of the posts for the week.

Monday: Monday Must Have & Giveaway
Tuesday: Lemon Cucumber Pickles (Part 2) & Canning
Wednesday: Peach Jam (Two kinds & Canning Methods)
Thursday: Daring Bakers Challenge Reveal (yes, it's the 27th already)
Friday: Garden Fresh Beans (Canning & a delicious recipe for Freezing)
Saturday: Homemade Tomato Sauce

THE GIVEAWAY


I'm really, REALLY excited to share this AWESOME book with someone who likes to can, who wants to learn how to can, or if you love collecting really great food books, then here is what you do:

1) Leave a comment explaining why you enjoy canning or what you would like to learn about canning. I will be accepting comment entries from now until next Monday, August 31st at 8:00 pm (PST). *One comment/entry per person.

2) Please include your blog link or email, so I can contact you if you win.

3) The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009.

*Good luck and happy canning! Be sure to check back each day this week for a new canning recipe and instructions.