Preserve Party

A few weeks ago, my husband and I invited a group of our college friends over for a mini-reunion. As a hostess gift, one of our dear friends presented us with a jar of her homemade Black Forest Preserves—chocolate and cherries— which was absolutely delicious.

While I’ve never tried preserving or canning myself, I would love to learn – and it seems the agrarian lifestyle is a growing trend that would translate into a fantastic party opportunity. Friends, food and learning something new-- sounds like a recipe for a truly tasteful gathering!
 

To host your very own preserve party, ask a friend familiar with the process to lead a how-to, or simply learn together—Williams-Sonoma has a wonderful resource section on it's website which is full of tips and recipes (and of course they offer really fantastic tools for canning).

To show your pride in your preserves, or for jars you plan to give as gifts, consider ordering a personalized stamp or embosser. Simply stamp or emboss a square card and attach with festive ribbon or twine for a homemade gift with professional style. -- PSA Essentials Stamp available at FineStationery.com (These stamps are actually on sale now! Save $10 on PSA Essentials personalized stamps. Normally $40 each, now $30 each. Sale ends 09/30/2012 @ 11:59 pm EST)