Some of you may remember the argument Husband and I had some years ago about Mason jars: how I think they're great and he thinks they're dumb. Okay, maybe I'm putting words into his mouth—you can read the actual dialogue here. But I stand by my assertion that Mason jars rock. I use them for drinking glasses, for backup measuring cups, to store grains and popcorn to keep the pantry moths at bay, as flower vases and votive candle holders, as well as the obvious small-batch canning projects and leftover storage.
Today's raffle item suggests another use for jars: as baking vessels and serving dishes for dessert. Blogger Shaina Olmanson of Food for My Family brings us Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine. I haven't tried any of the recipes since I'm off desserts for the time being, but they do sound pretty great: peanut butter cup cupcakes in jars, tres leches cakes in jars, coconut cream pies in jars, espresso creme brûlée in jars. You get the picture. There are also recipes for homemade cake mixes for gift-giving, like cranberry walnut quick bread, monster cookies, and spiced hot chocolate with marshmallows. (In jars!)
I happen to have an extra copy of this book from my friend who works at Harvard Common Press, so if you want it, leave a comment about your unusual uses for jars or what you're baking for the holidays because I like to torture myself. If you've recipe-tested for my book, you get to enter twice to double your chances (submit two separate comments or the random number generator will only count you once). The contest will close on Monday 12/10 at 10 p.m. EST. Good luck!
I don't have any unusual uses for jars. Just the normal stuff.....homemade mayo, coconut milk (if I don't use the entire can at once), and I just loaded up 6 or 7 of them with some homemade bone broth.
Posted by: Amy Ayers | December 07, 2012 at 09:34 PM
Baking for the holidays......fudge, banana bread, a crap ton of cookies, rice krispie treats, cheesecake, who knows what else.
Posted by: Amy Ayers | December 07, 2012 at 09:36 PM
Love my mason jars--all sizes. Used my half-gallon giant ones today to make very big batches of kimchi. They're sitting on the counter now, waiting to start the percolating--they'll go into the fridge tomorrow. Glass is a must with kimchi!
Posted by: Lisa D | December 07, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Cranberry chutney! Pickled peppers! Lime curd!
Posted by: Maureen | December 07, 2012 at 11:15 PM
I have jars mostly food storage. But. Here's the thing.... I save almost all my jars from the grocery store....so my jars are all sorts of shapes and sizes. If we buy bulk, then we bring it home and pour the beans or seeds or whatnot into a jar. And my stepson takes his morning tea roadie in a jar (wrapped in a tea towel). We are jar people.
Posted by: Sheri Guyse | December 08, 2012 at 08:05 AM
I use jars all the time and don't have much to add -- but here is what I've made for the holidays. Country Christmas Cake from Laurie Colwin's "More Home Cooking" I don't do all the frosting stuff, but I use lots more Brandy than called for. If you like fruit cake, but not the yucky kind, this is it.
Posted by: Susan Reynold | December 08, 2012 at 08:37 AM
I am having a Chanukah Fry for the holiday. We fry everything - latkes, cheese, cider doughnuts, funnel cake, cookie dough, onion rings, potato chips, a whole turkey, Milky Way darks, falafel, turnips. By the end of the afternoon, nothing is safe from being fried and everything is coated in a layer of grease. Yum!
Posted by: Leah | December 08, 2012 at 09:13 AM
I love mason jars, but don't think my husband shares this love ...
Posted by: Katie | December 08, 2012 at 12:35 PM
I have so many mason jars that I wind up using them to put tea bags in when I take them out of my tea.
Posted by: Leah | December 08, 2012 at 02:28 PM
baking tons and tons of cookies and kimchi for gifts.
Posted by: christina | December 08, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Using the jars to store ink pens. Or to drink out of. Or for whatever is handy at the moment.
Posted by: Celtina | December 09, 2012 at 09:52 PM
On the baking front, I've made a batch of spicy gingerbread cookies and what can only be described as a good old college try at making Aachener Printen. Bring on the spice.
Posted by: Gail | December 10, 2012 at 10:49 AM
In mason jars, I currently have a couple batches of sauerkraut bubbling away on the kitchen counter.
Posted by: Gail | December 10, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I am happy to find fellow jar- lovers here! We use them in many ways already mentioned - to drink from, store pens, picture hooks, buttons and use for kid crafts holders.
Posted by: Kate | December 10, 2012 at 05:09 PM
Thought of one more! I had the little one rip us tissue paper and glue it to jars to make candle holders as presents for Christmas a few years ago :)
Posted by: Kate | December 10, 2012 at 05:12 PM
crap, almost missed this one! uses of mason jars (first submission):
when i was little i stored fireflies in them, because there was an urban legend that you can send them somewhere for cash.
Posted by: Carolyn | December 10, 2012 at 07:19 PM
what to put in mason jars (second submission): we used to keep ground coffee in them.
Posted by: Carolyn | December 10, 2012 at 07:21 PM
I like to drink milk out of mason jars
Posted by: Austin | December 10, 2012 at 08:47 PM
And the winner is...Commenter #17 Carolyn. Congrats! I'll be in touch.
More raffles on the way!
Posted by: Tammy | December 11, 2012 at 09:50 PM