Image c. 2005, Xerones

Fruit seasons in Texas are notoriously short. We got strawberries for about three weeks this spring, and much of this summer’s tomato production is on hiatus until cooler months. If you want to enjoy the bounty all year-round, canning is one of the best– and sweetest– ways to preserve  local produce.

Stephanie McClenny, purveyor of the award winning Confituras preserves, and local author Kate Payne (Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking) are teaming up once again to teach the art of home canning, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on July 31st in downtown Austin. The class is geared towards beginning canners, and it will cover the fundamentals of safe water-bath canning, along with the secrets to balancing flavors and creating tasty preserves in your own kitchen.

You may remember Kate and Stephanie’s last class, a strawberry jam session in April, sold out quickly.  This time around they’re demonstrating with local figs, and there are only a couple slots left only waitlist spots available for the morning session. They have opened up an afternoon session from 2:00-3:00 PM, which has a few openings left. To reserve your place in the class or add your name to the waitlist, purchase a ticket online. Admission to the class is $60 and includes recipes, light refreshment and a jar of preserves to take home.

*Edited 7/26/11 to announce that Kate and Stephanie’s morning class is sold out! They have opened an afternoon session for folks who want a guaranteed place in the class, and they are accepting waitlist names for the morning session.