♫Dupe-Dupe-De-Doo♫

I just made a silly purchase.

It's big & black & metal & round & sits on the stove & I could prolly bathe one of my children in it.

I bought a canner.

I have NEVER canned in my life.

But I keep seeing these yummy apple & pumpkin butters on pinterest & I think they would make lovely gifts. And I've always wanted to make jams & maybe preserve fruits.

But now I'm regretting my purchase & plan on returning it. First of all, it takes up half the space in my pots & pans cupboard. (Move over fryin' pans! Big Bertha's comin' through...) Secondly, & more practically, I didn't read the label: not recommended for glass top stoves. (And guess who has a glass top stove?) Thirdly, when I open the lid, it's dark & cavernous inside & I can hear my echo. And, fourthly, did I mention it's big enough to bathe a small child in?!?!

I mean, is this just standard size?

I'm totally scared of that thing.

I need to be patient & hold out for THIS next time I go to town. (Or just order it online maybe??)  Isn't that neato though?! It's for those just beginning to learn canning. The starter kit comes with a polypropylene rack with separate, fitted lifter that works in your OWN pot, if it's at least 7 1/2" tall & 9 1/2" in diameter. (It also comes with three 1-pint jars & an instruction/recipe booklet.)

And 12 bucks? Totally LOVING it.

In lieu of waiting for the canning kit, I DID make some pumpkin butter. It is delicious. (It currently sits in the fridge in plastic containers.) The girls aren't really a fan of it, though they did try some on a half slice of toast. It's a crockpot recipe I gathered on my "Tasty Eats" pinterest board, found HERE. I will be making some again very soon using real pumpkin this time. I'm acting like it's not big deal, but I'm terrified. The only time I slice pumpkins is for silly face-makin'. I've never actually cooked with a REAL one. Canned pumpkin & I have had a very good relationship. Why ruin a good thing?

I must give it a go though. I'm feeling adventurous.

And then I will seal those jars of pumpkin-y goodness in a hot water bath & spread pumpkin cheer to all I meet. Ok, so maybe just a few people will get a jar.

Now, to return this small tub I duped myself into buying...

♥