Cooking from the Garden

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

I am looking for some new books on canning and food preservation, including dehydrating. Does anyone have some favorites books or recipes on the subject?

28 replies

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Latest post Jul 09, 2012 by Kristen

06:11 PM Jun 20, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

Like gardening, I'm relatively new to canning & preservation but I look forward to seeing what people suggest.

102

09:29 PM Jun 20, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@vanna516: It's always good when you know that your food has no preservatives or pesticides in it. Home canned food always tastes better too! I think you will enjoy it! :)

02:33 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

Ok Ready. I may have to break these up LOL Here are the books I could find in my pile In no particular order. Stocking Up(II, III, revised&expanded, completely revised&updated) (1970ed./1986ed./1990ed) These books are all very good base books as they include choosing vegy&fruit to grow, harvest, freezing, canning, drying,underground storage, pickle/relishes, jam/jelly/butters, juicing, dairy(yogurt/egg storage etc.), meat/fish(prep/freeze/can etc), nut/grain/bread along with recipes. Each edition has the same principle chapters (all are edited by Carol Hupping) with small changes here and there (safety/products) but use what you feel comfortable with. In my opinion they are the most well rounded books (recipes/information) I got mine at goodwill for $3-1.

102

03:58 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: Thank you, I forgot about 'Stocking Up' I had the 1970 ed and I let someone borrow it and i never got it back. I'll have to look at the good will and half-price books to see of I can find all of those again.

02:47 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

Excalibur's Preserve it naturally(3rd edition) Intro to dehydrating, Good Nation wide(US) Drying times for all 4 seasons,how food dehydrates,prep/store/use, fruits, vegys, meat/fish, grain/dairy (oh yes yogurt candy!), herbs/nuts, Raw/Living food, Miscellaneous uses for dehydrator(crafts/art/gifts),Also recipes for all from appetizers, animal treats to Raw and living foods. And very handy Charts for every thing from measurement conversions to flavoring for fruit leather/jerky also a page in the back for your own dehydration notes. Personal note they have some uber yummy cracker recipes!

102

04:01 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: I'll have to find this one, too! Thanks! :)

03:01 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

A Sunset Book: Canning, Freezing and Drying (Pickling/Smoking) circa 1982 :) Is full of recipes and Illustrated instructions that are easy to follow. This would be a good book for the beginner/occasional caner/dryer/smoker. Also it has a 2 page Q&A section on canning/fruit/jelly/pickles/vegys and a Guide for canning meat&poultry.

102

03:59 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: Cool! I have to look for this one too!

03:22 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

The joy of Pickling 200 flavor-packed recipes for all kinds of produce from garden or market. By Linda Ziedrich (1998) This is a really fun book it has some wonderful recipes from the dill to rice-bran mash pickles. In the beginning of the book is a pickler's primer so you understand the principles, supplies and processing guidelines for long term storage. It does have a very nice quick pickle chapter and (I think) includes every type of pickle fermented/fresh/cabbage(kimchi,sauerkraut etc)/rice-bran,miso,soysauce/sweet/quick/frezzer/chutney,salsa&other relishes/pickled meat,fish&eggs

Happy Gardening! & Preserving :)

102

04:00 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: This is another one I'll have to look for! Thanks for the great ideas! :)

04:08 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@Queen_of_Green: And I'm In Tacoma so if you want to borrow them before you buy I dont mind.

102

04:11 AM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: Ooh, that's right, I might take you up on that! :)

05:57 PM Jun 25, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

@FreyjaW: Thanks for all the book references - will try to check them out - it may be after the season so that I can bone up on what I need to do ... just seems like it is that time of year when I have too much to do.

02:52 PM Jun 24, 2012

jupiter

Glen Burnie, MD

usda zone 7a

Hey guys.....sorry to use this as my platform to ask a really silly question.....but how do I post onto the forum? I cannot seem to figure out how to start one.

102

03:51 PM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@jupiter: Go to the forum page, click on the category, then in the green box on the right of the page click 'start a conversation'.

06:01 PM Jun 24, 2012

jupiter

Glen Burnie, MD

usda zone 7a

@Queen_of_Green: Oh ok I see. I was way of base....THank you very much

102

06:15 PM Jun 24, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@jupiter: You're welcome... Good deal! I'm looking forward to your posts! :)

05:56 PM Jun 25, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

@jupiter: I had trouble finding it too!

07:08 PM Jun 25, 2012

jupiter

Glen Burnie, MD

usda zone 7a

@vanna516: I have every plan to post my questions. Its about planning the fall garden and is it better to plant seed or buy the ones that are already started?

08:38 PM Jun 25, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

@jupiter: Good question ... look forward to it - I always "plan" on having fall plantings but I never seem to get around to it - this might help me.

102

03:37 AM Jun 26, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@jupiter: I prefer to plant seed for my fall crops. The seeds germinate quickly and there is a lot less transplant shock.

102

03:41 AM Jun 26, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@vanna516:You'll Want to get started in the summer for fall crops. Count backwards from your first frost date to figure out when to plant. So if your crop takes 60 days to maturity and your first frost is Oct 31, you would need to plant by August 31.

04:42 PM Jun 26, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

@Queen_of_Green: Good to know - now if I can just get motivated to do it.

102

02:12 AM Jun 27, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@vanna516: Yes, that can be a trick sometimes! Lol! :)

215

03:49 PM Jul 09, 2012

Kristen

Boston, MA

usda zone 6a

Click image to zoom

Last night I was going through some back issues of Cooking Light and Organic Gardening...I am not sure which one this recipe is from but it looks good and is a slight alternative to canning.

03:57 PM Jul 09, 2012

Fort Payne, AL

usda zone 7b

@Kristen: That sounds delish & easy ... my blackberries did not do all that well this year but I may try to scrounge around for some more & try this.

102

05:50 AM Jul 10, 2012

Tacoma, WA

usda zone 7b

@Kristen: That sounds SO good! I'll have to try it when the blackberries ripen! Thanks for sharing! :)