I know what you’re thinking. Another book on canning? At least that’s what I was thinking–a few Christmases ago my mom bought me a bunch of canning and food preserving books. But when I received this review copy, I was pleasantly surprised.
From the publisher:
Many people today are buying and cooking local food, including the over 94,000 who have bought Simply in Season. But one of the challenges of cooking and eating locally is how to find the items you need when they are out of season. That is where Saving the Seasons: How to Can, Freeze, or Dry Almost Anything comes in; cooks can find ways to preserve their favorite seasonal items for use in different parts of the year.
This colorful book, full of photographs and clear pictures, shows how to can, freeze or dry various kinds of food. Colorful page borders divide the book into easy-to-find sections.
Saving the Seasons: How to Can, Freeze, or Dry Almost Anything is edited by the mother-daughter team of Mary Clemens Meyer and Susanna Meyer, both of whom are involved in sustainable and organic agriculture.
Wow, who knew that many people have purchased Simply in Season? I know I am enjoying working my way through it. So that aspect is interesting. Unlike the other books in “the Mennonite trilogy” (Simply in Season , More-With-Less , and Extending the Table, though, Saving the Seasons doesn’t include little anecdotes and essays about living simply and how eating is impacted by our faith.
What is does have is lots and lots of beautiful photos, which are inspiring and also show step by step instructions, which are great for those just learning how to preserve food.
Like most preserving books, this one covers more ground than just canning. Topics include
- A guide to the harvest (various fruits and vegetables, when they’re in season, and best methods for preserving)
- Canning (individual fruits and vegetables as well as vegetables, meats, and soups; herbed vinegars; pickles and relishes; jams, jellies and spreads)
- Freezing (vegetables and herbs; fruits; meats, poultry, and fish; baby food)
- Drying
- and an appendix which covers canning troubleshooting and helpful and inspirational resources.
The herbed vinegars and introduction to baby food caught my attention, as I haven’t seen these in some of the other books.
The verdict: If you already have a boatload of canning and food preservation books, you might want to pass as none of the recipes are super unique (unless you’re a cookbook junkie like me and want to get it just for the photos and light reading). But if you’re just starting out, Saving the Seasons will inspire you and provide enough guidance to give you confidence to start a lifetime of preserving.
Who won?
The winner was Julie L! What a great response to this giveaway. Remember, if you didn’t win, you can always buy a copy of your own!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. Also, if you order Saving the Seasons by following the link on my website, I will get a few cents from Amazon.com. This in no way influenced my opinion of this cookbook.
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I’m trying to find a good canning book. This seems to fit the bill! Something good for starting out. This is our first year in a CSA and I’m stoked but a little nervous about what to do with everything we don’t eat!
don’t be nervous! although I sure was
You can come back here anytime and we’re here to help.
I have been wanting to take a chance at canning for a while. I have a big garden and love experimenting with new things. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
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I would love to win this because I have an organic garden and would love to preserve the bounty. Thanks.
I would like to win this book because we are in the process of transitioning to eating traditional foods. Food preservation and seasonal awareness are integral to traditional foods
I also subscribed via google reader and signed up for the newsletter
I would like to learn how to do these procedures!
I would like to win this for my mom — she loves receiving cookbooks as gifts
Every year I think about canning and preserving but never get around to it save for a jar of preserved lemons. This would be good incentive to do it.
I want to win this so I can stop wasting food & get to canning!
I want to win because I plan to grow my own garden and I know I will have lots of extras.
I’d love to win this & give this to my son. He already does some canning & drying. I’m sure he would find this book useful.
I have attempted to can tomatoes and they exploded. I need this book to do it correctly.
I’d like to win a copy of “Saving the Seasons” as I live in a cold northern clime with a very limited growing season.
i’ve always wanted to learn how to can!
I’ve been wanting to can food for a while – this looks like a wonderful resource.
I think it’d be great to win because I know nothing about canning or preserving foods. I also like tips on freezing more items. It would be very helpful in my house.
I subscribe to your blog by rss for added bonus entry via google reader.
I subscribe!
I would love to be more knowledgeable in the art of food storage. In this world of fast food and artificial everything, it would do me well to take a step away from all that mess. My grandmother would be proud.
I have been looking at canning for some time now and this book would be a great way to get me motivated to start. Thanks!
I grew up with the Blue Ball of canning book. But that has been a few years ago and it got lost with my mothers death. So I lost both my resources. Want to save our gardens supply and like the review of this New book. Thaks!!
I haven’t been around people who can, preserve etc much and I’d really like to learn. I need not only to save money but eat ‘fresher’
I subscribed in google reader (remarker/fcffollower)
I tweeted here http://twitter.com/fcffollower/status/14463243915
We plant a garden every year. I could definitely use this book.
I’d love to win because i’m always looking for new ideas and tips