Pickling food is one method to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables when they are in season, so they can be enjoyed later in the year. It usually means soaking small pieces of food in salt water or vinegar and allowing them to ferment. Sometimes different herbs or spices are added to enhance the flavor. Over the centuries different cultures have their favorites including cabbage in China, Mangoes in India and cucumbers in Europe and North America. Pickled foods add zest to a meal or … [Read more...]

Making homemade strawberry and blueberry jam is a wonderful way to capture the flavor of summer to enjoy year-round. Here’s how to can your own strawberry and blueberry jam. … [Read more...]

There are many ways to preserve Italian herbs. These herbs are used in most Italian dishes. Herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, and sage will make many delicious dishes. It is best if these herbs are fresh and grown in the summer. They can easily be gown on your own sunny windowsill. Italian herbs can be preserved by making your own herbal salt. Collecting fresh, fine culinary herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme,sage and laurel are excellent herbs to start with. To dry these herbs, you … [Read more...]

Today’s grocery stores do pretty much everything for us ahead of time. Staples commonly made at home by generations in the past line commercial shelves for our convenience, but this convenience comes with a price. Many of us have forfeited the pride that comes with doing for ourselves. We have frequented the stores for those simple items for so long that many of us no longer know what to do when we do decide to be more hands on. This is especially true when it comes to cooking. Things … [Read more...]

One of the problems some home food preservers face is having jars that do not seal. There can be a number of reasons why a jar may not seal. Sometimes it has to do with not following canning instructions as written. Faulty lids and rings can also prevent jars sealing. Failing to screw the bands or rings on tight enough and screwing the bands on too loosely can result in jars that do not seal. An important instruction provided in canning guides that home food preservers do not always … [Read more...]