A New Blue Ribbon Canning Season

"Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
- Algernon Charles Swinburne

Welcome to our first edition of monthly newsletters to Preserve the Harvest 2012. Here at Mrs. Wages, we’ve been busy in our gardens and kitchens, preparing for another growing season, another summer of creative canning, and the joys of making new friends across America.

To kick off another blue-ribbon canning season, we’d like you to meet some old and new contributor’s we think you’re going to love. They’ve all developed tasty entrees and desserts for cooking and preserving spring’s delicious fruits and vegetables. 

So bring on the asparagus, snap peas, onions and rhubarb, heat up the ovens and canners and let’s enjoy another great harvest celebrating nature’s bounty together.

Mrs. Wages' Recipe Box

What's Cookin' at Mrs. Wages Kitchens

Meet Joy Isaacs (center), Mary Kula (left) and Katie Bartnicki (right), the creators behind many of your favorite Mrs. Wages brand mixes. Each month from the test kitchens, they’ll share their easy and delicious ways to cook with Mrs. Wages’ special fruit, vegetable and canning mixes.  All three have loved cooking as long as they can remember. Joy is director for product development and enjoys entertaining, making appetizers and desserts. Mary is an associate food scientist who loves preparing home-style meals for her family.  Katie is a regulatory specialist who enjoys coming up with fun and creative recipe ideas.

Asparagus Quiche
Garden Green Artichoke Dip
Lemon Pesto Asparagus
Onion Cheddar Muffins
Rhubarb Cake
Rhubarb Coffee Cake
Roasted Balsamic Asparagus

Small Measure: It’s Time for Pie

In honor of Mrs. Wages new launch of fruit and pie mixes, we wanted to inspire you to explore the fine art of pie-making with pie and food blogger, Ashley English of Candler, North Carolina. Ashley is an avid gardener, homesteader and mother who authors her popular Small Measure blog and has also written several “Homemade Living” books related to pie-baking, beekeeping, canning/preserving and keeping chickens. She’ll feature different pies every month along with the best tips for making your pies perfect.

Pie-ful Delights from Appalachia

Lamb, Pea and Herb Pot Pie
Rhubarb Custard Pie

Food in Jars: New canning ideas

For canning with a twist, Marisa McClellan, a 32-year old next generation canner of Philadelphia, PA,  returns for the 2012 harvest. Her ideas and blog, Food in Jars, has been featured in the Washington Post. Her passion for great cooking and her canning adventures in her 80-square foot urban kitchen has garnered legions fans across the U.S. She represents the new generation of canners keeping the flame of canning alive, but does so with her own flair.

Thoughts on Preserving a Pennsylvania Spring

Dilled Asparagus Pickles
Orange-Rhubarb Marmalade
Gingery Pickled Snap Peas

Ask Shirley: Plan to Can

For the best in canning advice, our retired extension educator Shirley Camp from Good Hope, IL, returns to share her canning wisdom this year. Shirley is veteran educator and retired University of Illinois Extension Master Canner who taught canning and home economics for almost 40 years. In her blog, “Ask Shirley,” she shares tips on preparing for the canning season.

Shirley’s Spring Canning Checklist

Patio and Container Garden Veggie Ideas

If you want fresh heirloom veggies but don’t have a lot of room, check out top picks for small veggies with big taste. We went straight to the America’s heirloom experts at Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah, IA. Seed Savers is one of the largest non-governmental seed banks in the US with a mission to preserve our garden heritage by collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.

The Dirt on Heirloom Vegetables

Seed Savers Top Vegetable Picks for Tiny Gardens

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Special Newsletters
Throughout the growing season, Mrs. Wages invites you to celebrate the harvest. We feature canning ideas and tips, unique recipes, gardening news, and invite you to share your own ideas and memories along with us. To receive the newsletter right in your inbox, sign up here.

Remember, if you have pictures you want to share, join our Facebook Group follow us on Twitter @MrsWages.

Featured Product

Mrs. Wages® Fruit Pectin Home Jell®® Fruit Pectin

A fruit pectin used in making homemade jams and jellies. The Mrs. Wages® Fruit Pectin Home Jell® and Light Home Jell take much of the guesswork out of jelly-making, and assure you of the finest results, even if this is your first attempt.

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Product Coupon

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