I meet the most interesting people on trains. During my last trip last Friday from Washington, DC, I had a great conversation with a woman from Albany, NY who was taking the train to Raleigh, NC. She realized she had forgotten to bring several jars of applesauce with her as gifts for her friend, and she talked about how she enjoys canning as a hobby to give unique gifts for her friends.
She mentioned that she also likes canning cakes. Excuse me? What? Canned cake? I must admit, I was at first a bit confused, but then she later went on to explain how easy they are to make. You simply fill pint size mason jars half way up with any cake batter that you like. You just need to remember to spray the jars with Pam or some other vegetable spray and get the wide-mouth straight-sided jars so the cakes are easy to remove after baking. Bake the jars in the oven, remove them one at a time and place the lids on them as you normally would (the lids should be prepped in nearly boiling water before placing them on the jars.)
Well, I must admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but I gave it a shot today), and low and behold, these came out great! I simply followed the instructions with the gluten-free spice cake I like, and poured them in the jars and baked them the same way...absolutely incredible! I can't stand eating cake that has been previously frozen, so now this is a great solution to that!
The bigger story here, though, is that I received a precious gift from a stranger. I was taught a skill that I can use for decades to come. It goes to show you that you never know who will be an influence in your life. Even a perfect stranger (and now friend) can make a profound difference. With the economy the way it is right now, I've been very mindful about saving food and eating leftovers in order to stretch my dollars. This is yet another way to help through tough times. I know I'm just getting started in this new canning adventure!
Has a stranger made a difference in your life and how?
What skills have you learned that can help you through a down economy?
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