The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest - by Carol W Costenbader (Paperback)

About the Book

Remember how grandmother's cellar shelves were packed with jars of tomato sauce and stewed tomatoes, pickled beets and cauliflower, and pickles both sweet and dill? Learn how to save a summer day - in batches - from the classic primer, now updated and rejacketed. Use the latest inexpensive, timesaving techniques for drying, freezing, canning, and pickling. Anyone can capture the delicate flavors of fresh foods for year-round enjoyment and create a well-stocked pantry of fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, flavored vinegars, and seasonings. The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest introduces the basic technique for all preserving methods, with step-by-step illustration, informative charts and tips throughout, and more than 150 recipes for the new or experienced home preserver. Among the step-by-step tested recipes: Green Chile Salsa, Tomato Leather, Spiced Pear Butter, Eggplant Caviar, Blueberry Marmalade, Yellow Tomato Jam, Cranberry-Lime Curd, Preserved Lemons, Chicken Liver PatT, and more.

Book Synopsis

Learn how to preserve a summer day -- in batches -- from this classic primer on drying, freezing, canning, and pickling techniques. Did you know that a cluttered garage works just as well as a root cellar for cool-drying? That even the experts use store-bought frozen juice concentrate from time to time? With more than 150 easy-to-follow recipes for jams, sauces, vinegars, chutneys, and more, you'll enjoy a pantry stocked with the tastes of summer year-round.

From the Back Cover

Save a summer day---in batches

With The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest, even the busiest folks can create a well-stocked pantry of fruits, vegetables, flavored vinegars, pickles, chutneys, and seasonings. Step-by-step illustrated instructions, informative charts, and a host of delicious recipes make this an indispensable kitchen reference for cooks of all levels. The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest covers the handling and managing of produce fresh from the market or garden, including:

Canning: Containers and equipment, safety, and appropriate foods
Drying: Equipment, appropriate foods, drying times, and storage methods
Freezing: Containers, wrappings, and dry- and wet-pack methods
Pickling: Canning, freezing, and refrigerating; equipment and containers
Preserving: Canning and freezing jams, jellies, and preserves
Cold Storage: Root cellars, storage methods, and produce preparation
Gift Giving: Creative packaging, gift baskets, and more

Review Quotes

"The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol Costenbader will conjure up images of Grandma's pantry, but it features the latest techniques for preserving food." -- Orange County (CA) Register

"The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest is a real treat...easy-to-understand...the step-by-step illustrations help beginners to take the plunge and the experts to expand their repertoire of techniques and recipes." --Voice of the Diabetic

" An excellent primer for the uninitiated, full of great recipes..." -- Weekend Gardener's Guide