The holiday season is upon us and with it there will be lots of parties and dinners. A gift for your host or hostess is a wonderful way to thank them for their hospitality. With the hustle and bustle of the season, you may not have time to shop for each individual person you are going to see. Our friend Amber from @a_toastedcrumb sent us this wonderful Bruschetta in a Jar recipe that is the perfect gift to bring to those occasions!

‘Tis the season for gift giving and holiday parties! Sometimes grabbing a bottle of wine and some flowers in a hurry seems like a safe bet to arrive with as a gift, but how many other people in the party are going to do that and how could you make the gift more personal? Homemade gifts are a unique way to let the receiver feel that they are appreciated. It lets them feel extra special because you chose to put the time and effort into creating something special for them.

One of the best things about Amber’s recipe is that the gift can be enjoyed by the host or hostess after the guests have gone home, or they can opt to put it out for everyone to enjoy! Bring along a fresh baguette (just in case they choose the latter) and let them know that this Bruschetta in a Jar was made with our award-winning Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes. Every single tomato is hand-selected and carefully evaluated to ensure it meets the highest standards. So, put on your apron, grab your crafting supplies and bruschetta ingredients, and in less than an hour, you will have six premium, handmade gifts to bring along to your next party!

CRAFTING & CANNING SUPPLIES NEEDED

  • Six 8 oz Glass Canning Jars (with airtight lids and bands)
  • Canning Rack
  • Canning Pot
  • Wide Mouth Funnel
  • Canning Tongs
  • Festive Ribbon or Twine
  • 6 Decorative Holiday Serving Spoons
  • Sticker Labels or Gift Tags

CANNING THE BRUSCHETTA

The very first thing you need to do is make sure that the jars, lids, and bands are clean. You can clean them in soapy water, making sure they are thoroughly rinsed because you don’t want a soapy residue in your bruschetta. Then place the canning rack, jars and lids in the bottom of a large canning pot and cover them with at least an inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and let the jars simmer for 10 minutes.

Tip: Keeping the jars warm until you are ready to fill them will prevent them from cracking when you pour the hot liquid into them!

In a medium sized pot, combine the wine, garlic, sugar, basil, oregano and balsamic, then bring to a boil. Cover and boil for five minutes.  While the liquid is boiling, pack the tomatoes into each jar. Pour the mixture into each jar leaving at least half an inch of headspace. Wipe the mouth of each jar with a clean towel. (This is an important step because any residue that gets on the lid can affect the seal process.) Carefully place the jars back down into the simmering water in the canning pot, cover and boil for 20 minutes to process. Prep your counter for the hot jars by spreading a bath towel or a microfiber mat down on the surface. After the 20 minutes is up, carefully lift each jar out of the water and place them on the towel or mat to cool for 12 to 24 hours.

To tell if your jars have properly sealed, gently press your finger down on the lid. If the lid doesn’t flex or pop, you’re in good shape!

TROUBLE-SHOOTING

If your jars haven’t sealed properly, there could be a few reasons:

  • You may not have cleaned the mouth of the jar properly when you poured the liquid in over the tomatoes. This will prevent the lid from making a proper seal.
  • The lid’s sealing compound may not have been fully softened before you applied it – this is why it is important to keep the jars and lids warm while you prepare the delicious recipe that goes inside.
  • Was the liquid you poured over the tomatoes boiling hot? If not, there may not have been enough heat in the jar to create the necessary vacuum effect.

TIME TO GET CREATIVE!

Your jars have set for 12 to 24 hours, and the seal on them is perfect, so now it’s time to decorate! This is your time to shine. Amber suggests putting a label on the top of the jar and writing “Happy Holidays” or “Holiday Bruschetta” or putting your host or hostess’ name there. Then tie a piece of festive ribbon or twine around each jar. Knot it once, then place the festive holiday serving spoon over the first knot and knot it again to hold it in place.

That’s it! You are all set to grab a jar, swing by the bakery for a fresh baguette on the way and arrive with an incredible snack or appetizer.

For more hostess gift ideas, check out our recipes for Tomato and Orange Sauce Jar, Pepper Jelly Jar and Sweet Bell Pepper Jelly! They are also perfect for following the same canning techniques and festive decorating.

For Amber’s full Bruschetta in a Jar recipe, click here.

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