Canners/preservers: Do you have a favorite cookbook/reference?

[boolady]

My mom has been teaching me how to do jams and jellies, and I'm really enjoying it. I would like to find a cookbook with some other types of recipes-- pickles, corn relishes, salsas, etc. Do you have any recommendations? TIA. :)

[jbrandy]

I can alot each summer. I can vegetables (green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes), fruits (peaches, applesauce, pears, squash, etc...), as well as pickles, jellies, jams, etc... I also like to can my spagetti sauce to have it all year long.

I primarily use the Ball book that came with my canner (actually my grandmother's canner -- it's over 50 years old). New pressure cookers still come with a book of recipies. If your local area has an Agricultural Extention Service or Extension Office they have books for canning that are generally free and have lots and lots of recipies. This is the office that would probably also service local 4-H groups. You can generally find one close to you in your phone book.

I was taught to can by mom my and grandmother starting at age 10. It's like a major summer tradition in our house! This time of year I'm starting to really looking forward to putting away the fresh fruits and veggies because the shelf of canning jars has more empty jars than full ones to be used. In fact my son won't even eat store bought applesauce -- he's always had my homemade and canned applesauce :-)

Best wishes to you --- canning is a great thing to do. It's becoming quite a lost art. In fact I don't know anyone else my age who actually cans. People love it when I put together gift baskets of home canned items for them.

Beth B
DS 4-4-03

[boolady]

Thanks for the suggestion-- my mom said she has the Ball recipe book that came with her canning supplies, so I'll have to check it out the next time I'm at her house. I'm really looking forward to branching out with it a little bit. When I was little, my mom used to can all sorts of things, but then started working full-time, and never had the time. Now that she's semi-retired, she has the time to do some preserving and we had a lot of fun last summer. As a kid, I was like your DS-- my mom made awesome canned applesauce. Thanks again for the suggestion. Do you have any favorite recipes?

[mskitty]

Try your local library for canning books. I've found some interesting recipes to photocopy but haven't found a book I like well enough to actually buy it.

I concurr with the previous advice of the old style Ball book (but you can use less sugar with your fruit) and contacting the local extension office. I'm actually planning on attending a training session hosted by the extension office this summer to inspire me to start canning the extras from our CSA this summer.

MsKitty

[Marcy_O]

We have an old Fanny Farmer recipe book we refer to for recipes, but I go to the University Extension for safety issues (when to use a pressure cooker etc).

[miki]

I like these two:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811830152/qid=1149110900/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-6750729-7329419?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

vhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558321330/qid=1149110938/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-6750729-7329419?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[The Review Mommy]

Hey Jen! :)

There are a few good ones actually. The Ball one is good but so is Putting Food By. Some people love The Jam Lady. She's got a great website. If you want something a bit different then the norm there is Mes Confitures...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972753702/ref=wl_itt_dp/104-2549630-5053524?%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=1LPOCU0F67JKI&coliid=I1E0UHDH0BZECN&v=glance&n=283155

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0452268990/ref=wl_itt_dp/104-2549630-5053524?%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=1LPOCU0F67JKI&coliid=I1MFP4O9FB6LH0&v=glance&n=283155

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1589802357/sr=8-1/qid=1149111397/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2549630-5053524?%5Fencoding=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870136291/sr=8-3/qid=1149111397/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-2549630-5053524?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I also check out cookbooks from my local library :)