Sugars in fresh peas begin converting to starch as soon as they are picked. So be sure to preserve them as soon as they are harvested or purchased. Preserve shelled green peas by freezing, salting (brining), drying, or canning. Preserve pea pods (snow peas and sugar snap peas) by freezing or salting. Try some dried, too, and see if you… …click to read more…
This refreshing salad uses spring and early summer vegetables and herbs. It could not be easier. Simply assemble the ingredients on individual plates or a serving platter. 4 servings 1½ to 2 pounds fresh asparagus, or 4 to 6 cups canned, frozen and salted asparagus 2 tablespoon rhubarb sauce (recipe follows) 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves… …click to read more…
If you love asparagus, then you may want to preserve asparagus during the growing season to enjoy throughout the year. You can preserve asparagus by canning, pickling, freezing, drying, or salting It’s usually best to preserve only enough product to last until the following year, when the vegetable is in season again, or no longer than twelve months. So think… …click to read more…
In spring and early summer, I like to trim all but 2 to 3 stems from small whole radishes and pickle them for a refreshing and crunchy bite to accompany everything from sandwiches to grilled foods. These easy-to-make radish pickles are fermented with whey rather than salt, or pickled in vinegar. Lightly fermented vegetables have a refreshing effervescent quality, while fully fermented… …click to read more…
There are a surprising number of ways to preserve rhubarb, including canning, pickling, making jam or jelly, drying, freezing, or fermenting into wine. When preserving fruits and vegetables, use these guidelines: Mature, slightly underripe produce is optimal for canning, pickling, and jamming. Ripe produce is best for using fresh, drying and freezing. Overripe produce is suitable for fermenting. (And may… …click to read more…
This delicious quick bread contains dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate. Usually baked to honor any of several Catholic bishop-saints, this cake is simply named Bishop’s bread or Bischofsbrot. While the traditional Bishop’s Bread recipe uses no leavening other than eggs, I prefer this more modern version using baking powder. Most recipes call for maraschino cherries or other candied fruit, plus… …click to read more…
This hearty, flavorful soup is easy to make using your favorite vegetables. Try any or all of the following: diced and dried carrots, onions, celery, green beans, roasted corn, mushrooms, raw or roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. Makes 4-6 servings ½ cup dry beans, such as black, red, or pinto 6 cups water, or as needed 2 cups dried… …click to read more…
Citrus fruit is in season during winter, from November to April in California and Florida. Specific types of citrus fruit ripen at different times. For example, grapefruit tend to ripen all season long, navel oranges ripen before Valencia oranges, and Meyer lemons ripen mid-season. Although most commonly eaten fresh, there are several food preservation methods suitable for citrus fruit. You… …click to read more…
Some experts on preserving foods stress safety and recommend that all dried meats such as beef jerky be precooked to a safe internal temperature before drying. This safety step results in a product with a different color and texture than traditionally dried meat, and is unacceptable to some people. Precooking meats to a minimum temperature of 160°F before drying ensures that… …click to read more…
You have a choice of several different methods to dry food. Conventional ovens and electric dehydrators are used indoors in controlled conditions. Shade drying places food out of direct sunlight, in a location with very warm air or very good circulation, or both. Suitable locations may be outdoors—such as an open shed or covered or screened porch—or indoors in a… …click to read more…
