House Party!

Today was my very first House Party and it was a ton of fun!  We enjoyed making and preserving Freezer Strawberry Jam and preserving Marinara Sauce.  My guests are all looking forward to canning again in the future and some neighbors and I plan to make a ton of different jams for Christmas presents!  Here are pictures from our day!

The Finished Product:
Homemade Strawberry Freezer Jam

Rinsing the most delicious strawberries ever!

Everyone hanging out and mashing berries!

The best gift ever from my super crafty friend and neighbor:
Monica @ http://monica-polkadotsandpeonies.blogspot.com/
 
Patriotic decorations - flowers and flags - in all American Ball Jars!

Setting up the iced tea station.  Jars with bands, straws, and labels made perfect cups!

The goody bags!

Everyone munching on the:
bruschetta, chips & salsa, cheese & crackers, cookies and fruit!

Mashing 12 lbs of strawberries!

Marinara Sauce Cooking

Filling jars with marinara for the hot water bath!

Getting the jars ready to be filled!

Completed marinara sauce that is cooling!

Everyone working hard and mingling!

Phew what a successful and fun day.  Can't wait to can again - the hubs has a ton of recipes he wants to work on  and the neighbors and I have big jam plans!

What was the last crazy new thing you tried?

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