Weck canning jars review and #GIVEAWAY 2 winners {US only}

As a little girl growing up in a small Oregon town we did the best we could to live off the land! My parents always had a vegetable garden where we grew everything from tomatoes to squash and everything in between! We were members of Gleaners, picked our own produce at the local farm and bought whatever we could find that was on sale. Gleaners is a program back home where after the harvest, certain farmers would let members of Gleaners (usually ladies with 3 or so kids in tow) come glean whatever crops were left in their fields. My mom and I usually went. She would pull the wagon, I would ride until the picking began. We picked corn, cabbage, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, whatever was available. Then when we got home, we'd sort, clean and can our findings! It was a lot of work, but we always had a stocked pantry come winter time! Those were some of my fondest memories! I really learned to appreciate the hard work that goes into growing, gathering and preserving your own food. It was a much simpler life back then. We'd sit out side with our hot cups of tea (my dad was an English citizen) and just enjoy each other's company! Ahhh different times. Now that I'm grown with a family of my own, things seem to move along at a much faster pace! We are always on the go, doing this and that, spending time on the computer, the iPhones (which my boys love) and the Leap Pad!
Being that I married a soldier, we are constantly on the move. When we lived in Maryland, we were in the same house for 5 years! My wonderful husband built me a raised bed and we grew tomatoes, squash and a few other veggies.

That was one of the hardest things for me to leave behind in MD, that beautiful garden!
Now here we are in Tennessee and I have only managed to pot a few tomato seeds this year, and it's already September and the plants only have yellow flowers. I think I planted them too late, but they are looking good so far!
The one thing that I have been made aware of since my days of becoming a mommy is the harmful chemicals and toxins that surround us. Canning is a great way to preserve the most fresh fruits and veggies around, but it's really not all that safe. Not unless you are using the right canning materials. Recently it was brought to my attention that Ball canning lids are lined with BPA, a harmful chemical that mimics estrogen and is linked to prostate and breast cancer, early onset of puberty, obesity, hyperactivity, lowered sperm count, miscarriage, diabetes, and altered immune system in animal studies. So for the health conscious person out there who has set out to preserve his/her own fruit/veggies that is a huge smack in the face. Just when you think you are doing something that is safe, wholesome and awesome, you find out that the utensils (the lids of ball and kerr) you are using are coated with harmful chemicals! Aghhh one can't win! That is until you discover the BPA-free jars from Weck!
I was thrilled when I found these jars and even more thrilled when I was sent some for review! Weck graciously sent me a set of 6 of the 742 (1/2L Mold) and a set of 6 of the Mini Tulip jelly Jars for my review. This is what I received:

Here you can see the difference in size of the 742 (1/2 L) mold jars (left) to the 762 mini tulip jars (right):

The 742 mold jars are ideal for canning and the 762 is ideal for jams and jellies and fruit butters!
I had the intention this summer to go out and pick a bunch of strawberries and making my own strawberry jam, but unfortunately, between moving to TN, buying a house, unpacking, deployment and now expecting a baby, I realize that next summer would be a better time for me to attempt that!
I did however make my own applesauce! It is so good and good for you too, and it really is easy to make. This was one of the first foods I introduced to my boys when they started solids as infants!
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
First you will need to gather your ingredients.
I had about 6 yellow delicious apples that I had bought that day from the local farmer's market, and 2 organic Fujis from Kroger.

You can also add nutmeg and cinnamon for some spice:

You will also need a pot with a basket to steam your apples and a food processor or blender! If you like an overly sweet applesauce, you can add a sweetener such as honey, agave nectar or sugar. I found the mixture to be just the right sweetness for me though so I didn't add anything except the cinnamon and nutmeg!

Next you will need to peel, core and cut your apples!

While you are prepping your apples get your pot of water boiling on the stove. Add your cut apples to the basket, place over the boiling water, with a tight fitting lid. I did all mine in one shot, so the steaming time took about 30 minutes. You want your apples to be soft when you stick them with a knife.

Before:

 After:

Nice and soft! Reserve the water that is left in the pan for adding to your applesauce during the pureeing to get the right consistency!

Add your apples to the food processor, add desired amount of nutmeg and cinnamon and a bit of remaining juice, and blend until desired consistency:

Pour into washed Weck Jars and enjoy! All those apples only gave me 1/2 L worth of applesauce. I didn't seal the jar as I would for canning because I knew that applesauce would all be gone in a matter of a day or two, and it was!

Another great blog that often features awesome and creative uses for Weck Jars is called "Food in Jars." Simply go to that site and search for Weck Jars and you will unveil a wealth of recipes to use with Weck Jars!
Weck jars can be purchases directly from the Weck Jars website. The mini tulip jars (762) cost $13.55 for a set of 6. Each set comes with 6 glass jars, 6 glass lids, 12 metal clamps and 6 rings! The 1/2 L mold jars (742) cost $18.40 for a set of 6. Each set comes with 6 glass jars, 6 glass lids, 12 metal clamps and 6 rings! Weck Jars not only make canning jars but they also have loads of jars for food storage!

Aren't they lovely! I'd love to have all Weck jars in my pantry!
Weck jars has so very generously offered 2 of you the chance to win your very own set of 6 Weck jars!
1 person will win a set of 6 mini tulip jars (762)!
1 person will win a set of 6 1/2 L mold jars (742)!
Awesome!!

This giveaway is open to US residents only!
To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below! You may have to click "read more" in order for the whole Rafflecopter form to load!

Good luck and Have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above in exchange for my review. This review is my honest opinion based on my own personal experience, and may differ from yours. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for this review!

a Rafflecopter giveaway