Labelling
can add so much to your canned products. And it can be fun too. We use Avery label products because they are
available everywhere. Check out their variety in retail stores or on their
website. They have hundreds of templates which can be downloaded or simply used
from their website! Large, small, oval or circles for every need and jar! When
you look at your pantry and see all those beautiful labelled food products you
will be proud of what you did last summer! The rewards endure all winter on
your table.
However
don't just consider summer as the only time to can make yummies for your
pantry. California navel oranges are best in autumn, and the Indian River
grapefruit from Florida is excellent at the new year. You can make marmalade!
We advocate shopping locally, but California and Florida always guard the
quality of their citrus. Salsa can be made anytime you get a deal on peppers!
And you can freeze the little chipotles for extra hotness while it snows
outside! Wine jellies too! We use Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Italian red in ours!
And Italy NEVER runs out of that one! So don't restrict yourself to only summer
months.
And once
you start with labels, the creative possibilities are endless! Design your own
with custom fonts and pictures. (Be careful not to use copyrighted photos
though) yet with a simple point and shoot digital camera, you can visit produce
markets and get great personal photos for use on your canning efforts! And
check out our reflections page for photography hints. All the pics
on this website with very few exceptions are my own. Look at the photo bar
below to see what you get by just grabbing a shot in a produce market! But free
clip-art is everywhere, so you can let your creativity free too!
You will
find Avery to be very helpful and interested in your needs with tons of hints
and suggestions. We use the 22xxx series because they stick on jars better than
simple shipping labels. With Avery software, (free!) they are very easy to make
and print with your own individual design.
Then you just stand there and
let your mouth water! - AJ
