Strawberry vinaigrette, and Ball giveaway

It is no secret to any of you that I adore kitchen classics; cast iron pans and Mason jars are at the top of the list. When Ball contacted me to see if I wanted to do a giveaway with them for the inaugural International Can-It-Forward Day I was ALL OVER THAT. This is stuff I use in my kitchen every single day, and have for years before I even started a blog. The info on Can-It-Forward day:

On Saturday August 16, Jarden Home Brands will host the first annual International Can-It-Forward Day with special guest renowned chef and Bravo’s Top Chef judge, Hugh Acheson!  A day to celebrate home canning, International Can-It-Forward Day allows food enthusiasts to connect via a variety of online and in-person activities. New and experienced canners can participate in a live webcast on www.frespreserving.com, taking place on ground in Brooklyn Borough Hall Farmers Market, filled with canning demos where viewer questions will be answered in real-time by Chef Acheson and other experts while they learn the most popular (and delicious) home canning recipes. Twenty five farmers markets across the country will also be hosting Can-It-Forward Day celebrations! In addition to the canning demos, there will also be segments on crafting, herb gardening and the brand’s new drinkware line! We will also be attempting a Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Mason Jar Mosaic!

Here is the ridiculously awesome prize pack for the giveaway:

• The New Limited Edition Spring Green Heritage Collection Jars (I ADORE these)
• Fresh Herb Keeper (this thing is awesome -- no more wilted herbs!)
• Dry Herb Jars (perfect for the Yankee's favorite Miracle Blend, which we buy in bulk)
• Frozen Herb Starters (these are great for basil and the upcoming spaghetti weather!)
• 5 Blade Herb Scissors (also great for basil)
• Ball Blue Book (this is the classic; everyone should own a copy!)

You can see my documented love for Mason jars here, and here's another favorite food-in-a-jar, a recipe that's sort of an amalgam of a few recipes I found online:

Strawberry vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 10 strawberries, hulled
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
• 4 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Process the strawberries in a food processor until they're pureed, then add lemon juice, sugar, and salt; process again until completely blended
2. With the processor still running, add in the vinegar then oil in a steady stream until completely combined and thickened

I'm required at this point to tell you that Ball provided me with all these goodies to review at no charge, but for heaven's sake y'all already know I love the stuff. Opinions are mine, and I'm not paid to say how much I adore them. I just do. Giveaway closed! Thanks, y'all, and CONGRATS LEAH! Want some??? Let's make this easy: just leave a comment below telling me which item in the prize pack you're most excited about, and what you'd use it for (or for what you would use it, in case my Aunt Jane is reading). Want an extra entry? Pin this post and come back and leave an additional comment telling me you did. I'll use random.org to pick a winner after midnight on August 15, central time. And go!

Comments

[Andrea Rust]

I'm most excited about the herb scissors! I've had my eye on them for a while! I'd for sure use it for basil, especially for caprese salads!

[Andrea Rust]

I pinned it!

[Erin Ellis]

Pin:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/535506211915824558/

Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com

[Erin Ellis]

I am excited about everything, but if I have to choose one I would say the Fresh Herb Keeper. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com

[Jamie Ward]

I pinned the yummy strawberry vinaigrette.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/70368812902892459/

[Jamie Ward]

I think any of those prized would be great!! I would pick the book as first because I'm a newbie to canning. :-)

[Shannon @ Bake.Frost.Repeat.]

I pinned!!!

[Shannon @ Bake.Frost.Repeat.]

Fresh herb keeper definitely!!! I've thrown out way too much wilted basil and rosemary. (sniff, sniff). Of course, the book and the jars would come in handy for me too! :)

[Lucy K]

I too learned about the giveaway from Fearless Homemaker. The item I would love to use is the herb storage kit. Living in Las Vegas it's hard to grow our own herbs. We have had some success with basil, but storing and keeping herbs for cooking throughout the year is appealing.

[Margot C]

Oh gosh, I do like them all. I am pretty excited about those green jars because I can use them for decorations as well as for canning.

[Anne]

I LOVE the herb scissors. I grow lots of herbs...these would be great!

[tracy saunier]

My basil plants would really enjoy the Fresh Herb Keeper and my sanity would love the Herb Scissors (Where are the scissors...uh oh, did I use this on a plant outside? I can't remember! scrub, scrub, scrub.)

[Karin]

I would like the herb scissors. It. Would make chopping herbs so much easier.

[Vanessa]

I love those green canning jars!

[Elizabeth]

Herb jars and the book! :)

[Leah]

Pinned! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/217158013257273910/

[Noreen]

They are all so cool, i would probably use the herb scissor or the herb keeper first. I have herbs growing this year but the geen jars are just beautiful.

[Leah]

Ooo ooo ooo! I can't decide between the fresh herb keeper (I need that so bad) or the green jars (gorgeous!). P.S. You are a genius for pureeing strawberries into a dressing. Yum!

[Lesley Eats]

Pinned! http://www.pinterest.com/lesleyeats/

[Lesley Eats]

It's really a toss-up between the green jars and the herb jars because I dry lots of oregano and basil each summer to use year-round!

[Heather Taylor]

Love this whole list. I heard about your blog and giveaway from the awesome site Fearless Homemaker. The jars are beautiful. Which ONE am I excited about the most? It's a toss up between the herb keeper and the frozen herb starter trays. My hubby is deployed so cooking for baby and I things go bad so quickly with the small amount I use. Super excited about both of those! Thanks.

[Linda]

Pinned to my recipe board!

[Linda]

Well, I'm excited about ALL of the items, but if I had to pick one, it would be the green jars. They would look so good on the shelves by my kitchen window.

[April was in CT now CA]

The herb keeper AND the green jars!

[manda]

The jars... to beautify my pantry.