I love to can! It’s a lot of work, but it is so worth it. I love feeding my family food that I have preserved myself.  Last year, I shared  Canning Tips and Links, as well as pictures of my canning cabinets. Along the way, I’ve also shared lots of pictures of what I have canned. Earlier this year, I shared how I canned Red Bud Jelly.

When I received these Tattler Reusable Canning Lids to review, I tried to locate some local strawberries to make jam. However, the weather earlier this year was harsh on the strawberries and I couldn’t find any. Luckily, I had some Red Bud juice in the freezer waiting to become more jelly.

So I got busy in the kitchen using these lids for the first time. They were very easy to use, with only a couple of extra steps. You use these lids just like you do the disposable lids, starting with putting them in boiling water.

Once your jars are filled, and you’ve wiped the jars clean,  you place the rubber ring on the jar, followed by the lid.

Then, while holding the lid in place with your finger, you screw on the lid, making sure it is only finger tight.

Process according to your recipe instructions. As soon as you remove the jar from the canner, tighten the lid all the way. Be careful you don’t burn yourself! I used a dish towel wrapped around my finger to hold the lid in place, while tightening the band with a pot holder covered hand. This was the only tricky part about using these lids, as the jars are hot! I didn’t get a picture of that step, as it would have required 4 hands and I only have 2. lol

Once the jars are completely cooled, remove the bands to check the seal. It was easy to tell the jar that didn’t seal, as the lid moved easily. The jars that did seal could be lifted just like with disposable lids.

Jars can be stored with or without the bands.

Opening the jars is easy. Simply insert a dull butter knife between the lid and the ring. Make sure not to use a sharp knife as the ring will be damaged.

I really loved using these Tattler Reusable Canning Lids. I look forward to building my supply and using them for many more years.

How would you like to win a set of Tattler Reusable Canning Lids? Tattler will be giving 2 boxes of lids, one regular and one wide mouth, to one winner. Simply fill out the form below to enter!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I have been reading about Coconut Oil for a long time. I have liked everything I read about it. How great it is to cook with. How great it is for your health. Just this week, another news story reported how Coconut Oil is being used to help relieve symptons  of a major disease. All the personal stories that I have read all said how much they loved using it. I have wanted to try Coconut Oil for quite sometime.

There are hundreds of ways to use Coconut Oil. Not just in cooking!

If your interested in watching more videos to learn about Coconut Oil, you can visit Tropical Traditions YouTube Channel.

When Tropical Traditions offered to send me a jar of Coconut Oil to try, I was very happy for the chance try it. I hadn’t purchased Coconut Oil anywhere as I was slightly confused about which one I should buy. Refined? Unrefined? Virgin? Which one would be the best to try first? Just what is Virgin Coconut Oil? Thankfully, I was able to find out more information on Tropical Traditions website.

Virgin Coconut Oil, Gold Label – 1 quart

If you order by clicking on this referral link and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you. This is the only referral link in this post.

Tropical Traditions has a Coconut Oil Recipe Page with hundreds of recipes. They all sound great. However, I decided the best way to try the coconut oil would be to use it in recipes we already know we like.

So I used the Coconut Oil to make Chicken Stir Fry, Fried Potatoes, and Black Bean Brownies.

The chicken cooked for the stir fry was delicious! I sauted the chicken in the coconut oil with no coating on it. Just chicken and coconut oil. Everyone loved the chicken!

We look forward to cooking chicken like this to put on salad. I also sauted the rest of the stir fry in the coconut oil. I go light with the soy sauce, so I could still taste the coconut oil. If you use more soy sauce, you probably won’t be able to taste the coconut. It made a very delicious stir fry. Success #1

We were having breakfast for supper one night, so I took some of our home canned potatoes and fried them in coconut oil. I made a larger pan cooked our normal way. In case no one liked the coconut oil potatoes. They ate them all!

You could taste the coconut oil on the potatoes, but the taste was not overwhelming. I gave the family a choice, and they all wanted to taste them, and liked them. I will definitely make the potatoes with coconut oil again.  Success #2

Next, I used the coconut oil in my Black Bean Brownies. You can definitely taste the coconut oil in this recipe. The coconut flavor was stronger when the brownies were still warm.

After being in the fridge, the coconut flavor isn’t as strong. You can still taste it, though. Since chocolate and coconut go together so well, the coconut oil makes the Black Bean Brownies extra yummy. And even healthier!  Success #3

Coconut Oil is excellent for your skin, also. I rubbed some straight coconut oil onto the back of my hand. A little goes a long way! It didn’t take very long at all to rub it into my skin. No longer than a lotion, really. It made the back of my hand feel so soft. The light coconut scent was nice.

I’ve made my own deodorant in the past, cornstarch, baking soda, and essential oils. Coconut Oil is supposed to be a great addition to homemade deodorant. So I tried my hand at making some.

I didn’t follow a recipe, just made it up as I went along. lol I used 2 Tablespoons each of Cornstarch and Baking Soda and 1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil (I didn’t melt it, I used it at room temp). It was a little stiff, so I added another teaspoon of Coconut Oil. I then added 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil. Then it was to loose. lol I had to add a little more cornstarch and baking soda. So I recommend adding any essential oils your using before deciding if the texture is what you want. I have not used this for its intended purpose, but I did test it on the back of my hand. It rubs on easily, and a little goes a long way. I gave this jar to my daughter to use. She doesn’t like using store bought anything. She was very happy to get it. 🙂

I didn’t have a pretty little container to put it in, so I put it in a canning jar. It works. lol  Success #4

My first attempts at using Coconut Oil were all successful! My family (including the kids!) loved everything I made with it. I will definitely make Coconut Oil a regular ingredient in cooking and homemade beauty items from now on. I loved this Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil.

Tropical Traditions is giving a jar of Coconut Oil to one of you! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free Quart Jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil  in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I was not obligated to write a postive review, or host a giveaway. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”