Canning With Friends

Canning is a great thing to do with a friend.
One of my good friends is back from Europe with a box full of great recipes to share.  My kids loved her tomato sauce (recipe straight from Sicily).  I have tomatoes and basil galore.  For the first time in our 15 year friendship, we both have all our kids in school at the same time!
So we plan to spend a day this week reducing tomatoes to a Sicilian sauce to put up for winter.  We'll have the day over tomatoes to catch up with each others' lives.
My friend pointed out that there are plenty of canning set ups at the garage sales.  Those who aren't as lucky could easily pick up some starting supplies at a local hardware store or online.
PLEASE NOTE:
I am having a tough time connecting to Amazon.  My intent was to show readers what the following items look like so they can be on the lookout.
Canning supplies are popping up everywhere.  Check grocery stores, big box and local hardware stores, or department stores.
I wish I could attach some pictures here, but blogger.com isn't being very cooperative.
Most effective and simple canning happens in a water bath canner. See http://www.amazon.com/Columbian-Home-0707-1-Porcelain-Water-Bath/dp/B0001UZL8A/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1316444406&sr=1-2
The tools needed are cheap.  See http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-286-5-Piece-Canning/dp/B0002BF1WY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1316444406&sr=1-1
And the most comprehensive how-to manual is chock full of information and instructions.  See http://www.amazon.com/Jarden-Home-Brands-21400-Ball/dp/B001DIXG9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1316399244&sr=1-1
It's a great way to spend a day with a friend, especially one new to canning.
Are you both new to canning?  It's not hard and the Blue Book Guide to Preserving is instructive and informative and OH-SO-CHEAP.
Honestly, the stuff needed to put away food is right at your fingertips.  If you see some of it at a garage sale, chances are there is more there than meets the eye, INCLUDING a former canner who may give you plenty of advice and as much gear as you can carry.
Grab a friend, grab some gear, grab some produce, and put up some food.
Then tell us how things are going!