The book I'm talking about is:
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
400 delicious and creative recipes for today
Edited by Judi Kingry and Lauren Devine
Not everything should be canned. You will notice some recipes call for lemon juice or vinegar to be added to the vegetables. That's because this will adjust the acidity to a safe level. So, depending upon the acidity level of each vegetable, some may be preserved with just a water bath (no pressure canner necessary), some need to be pressure canned, and some can not safely be preserved by either method.
I like this book because it has step by step instructions, something that I very much need and rely upon. So, this book is good for the novice canner as well as the expert. It has many recipes using just the water bath method, some using only pressure canning, and some recipes have an option for both.
In addition to the step-by-step instructions, there is also a section about general canning information, altitude adjustments, produce purchasing guide, and an extensive glossary so you can look up any word you may not know. And the index makes it easy to look up recipes for the fruit or vegetable you have on hand.
If you have a canner or if you are interested in canning (pressure canning or water bath method), I would highly recommend this book.
Can you can? Yes, you can!
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Now it's your turn! On the 20th of every month I invite you to join me with a Garden Book Review. Just post your review and link in below. Any garden book, or any book with a gardening influence, is fine. (If you're new, no books on growing illegal substances in the US allowed.)
Thanks for joining in! I'll be visiting your post, and I hope that you will visit each participant, too.
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Hi There, Just stopping by to see what is going on in your neck of the woods... You obviously are doing well getting fellow bloggers to share their gardening ideas... I know how enjoyable that is.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I love books, and know that other books recommended by real gardeners are the kind of books I want to read! So glad you stopped by! :)
DeleteHolley, can you believe I have never canned? I have always been lucky because my mother-in-law is a canning queen and gives us all the veggies they grow. Plus she does jams and jellies too. Canned goods make really colorful images.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't can either if I had your mother in law! haha ;)
DeleteMmm, my mom used to can the best peaches. I checked out the book from the library that you wrote about last month, The Well Tended Perennial Garden. I liked it so much that I downloaded the kindle version for my tablet. Thanks for the recommendation. I enjoy this meme so much!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the book! And I love learning about new books from other gardeners, too. Nothing better than a recommendation from someone that really works in the soil. :)
DeleteHolly, I can to can, but without vinegar or lemon, only salt. So I can cucumbers, adding black currant leaves and horseradish. They two are the best for cucumbers.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of putting horseradish in cucumbers! I bet that gives them a unique and wonderful taste! I may give that a try! :)
DeleteHolly, I put the leaves of horseradish, specially on the bottom of the can. The cucumbers in "Russian style".
DeleteI, too, have never tried canning. My mother makes pickles and cans other vegetables. This sounds like a book that would provide detailed instructions for the novice canner, like me. Great choice! And thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very good for the unskilled. I don't think I would have enjoyed canning as much as I do without these step by step guidelines. I'm not the most organized, and I have learned not to rely upon my memory, so having the steps each and every time is important for me!
DeleteSounds like a great book. I have a few books about pickling and preserving. Too bad I have no fruit and vegetables in my garden.
ReplyDeleteFor a long time I didn't have any vegetables in my garden, either. I finally decided I needed to give that a try. I have to say, I like eating my own vegetables, but I'd much rather grow ornamentals!
DeleteI have always wanted to learn how to can. (I just need to get my veggie garden growing enough veggies to need it!) Sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't have too many vegetables, you are probably a better planner than I am. I always forget just how much each plant can make!
DeleteI just love the look of effort in all those jars of pretty food grown in the earth
ReplyDeleteI love how you worded that. And I love eating from those jars every winter, too. It makes me feel as if my body is getting true nourishment.
DeleteI need to do this especially if my garden harvest pans out...I will check it out for sure since you know I love the step by step books. I am impressed with folks who can...it takes time and lots of effort...at least the little I did years ago...maybe I need this book and it won't be as hard as I make it.
ReplyDeleteI hope your garden does very well. Canning does take a lot of time. And it makes a mess of my kitchen, but all that is forgotten when I open a jar! And it's not nearly as hard as I had made in out in my mind before I actually started doing it!
DeleteCanning is wonderful...it must be done correctly for sure. I love to hear the pop of the lids sealing.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes - that pop is the most satisfying sound in the world!
DeleteMy Grandmother had a cellar stocked to the roof with gherkins, and jars of beans and blackcurrants and apples and gooseberries and goodness knows what else. Fantastic place for a young boy to explore. It is such a shame that preserving seems to be a dying skill. D
ReplyDeleteI would think with all the 'grow your own' resurgence, there might be a resurgence in canning your own goods, too. And even 'eat local' foodies could can what they purchase from the farmers market. But, perhaps I'm wrong. I seem to see a lot of people getting rid of their grandmother's canner - they don't know how to use it and aren't interested in learning! I bet your grandmother's cellar was beautiful, and yes, intriguing to a young boy!
DeleteHi Holley, Many apologies, I have two entries by mistake. I got an error message on the first one and thought I had to do it over, but it went through. So now I have two. The first one is a mess anyway and links back to a previous post. Can you please delete it? So sorry again for this mixup!! I was rushing too much.
ReplyDeleteCaning is something I have always wanted to tackle and so the timing of your book review is perfect. I will definitely look for this it in my local library or at my favourite bookstore.
I deleted the first link. I know how it is to rush! I would bet your library would have a copy of it. Of course, if you learn to can, you'll have to have a copy of your own! I hope you have fun learning!
DeleteSometimes I think it would be nice to have a canning "bee"--have 3 or 4 friends come over and can a huge amount and then split the loot afterward. I have a different Ball book that I've made one or two things out of but get a little overwhelmed by the quantities!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to can just one or two jars. Splitting the loot sounds like a great idea. Maybe that will be the new rave - instead of bunco, people can get together and can! :)
DeleteLooks yummy! My dear grandmother used to let me help her can pickles. It was so much fun. Oh, and I loved your roses GBBD! Splendid choices.
ReplyDeleteI'm in for this week with a delightful book called America's Cottage Gardens. I don't think it has been reviewed yet. David/:0)
Thanks for joining in! Cottage gardening is very popular right now - I look forward to reading your review.
DeleteYour jars of veggies look like works of art! I have never canned, but I have made jams and jellies. And last fall I made quince preserves. (I'm trying to link my book review post to your meme, but I'm having problems with the photo...will try agian tomorrow!) Thanks for hosting the book reviews. I enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteSorry you're having problems - that can be so frustrating! I hope tomorrow you'll be able to fix the photo. I love homemade jams and jellies. They have such a wonderful taste that store bought just doesn't seem to have - maybe it's the love that's in there!
DeleteI love the idea of having a row of jars on the kitchen shelf filled with home-grown produce. They would probably all be pickled beetroot because that's my favourite.
ReplyDeletehaha - You might get tired of pickled beetroot if that was all you had all winter! ;) I am hoping to put up enough to avoid the grocery store for a while. Maybe not all winter, but every little bit helps!
DeleteI am a nervous canner and have been looking for a good guide for some time. Looks like this may be the one.
ReplyDeleteSorry about showing up twice on the review. I got impatient and didn't think it was linking so jiggled the keys again. Perhaps you can delete it?
Yes, I can delete the extra link. :) I hope you will check this book out at your library and see if it helps you. I can't imagine canning without it!
DeleteI am scared of canning and don't grow enough veggies in any case to preserve :(. My mom and grandmother, on the other hand, used to make a lot of preserves, and your post brings so many memories back. I hope you enjoy your canning adventure.
ReplyDeleteI also can a lot that I get from the farmer's market! I really don't like doing it while I'm doing it, but I love the results! Every time I open a jar of home canned goodies, I'm thankful I took the time to preserve it. I think anyone that's afraid of canning should try the water bath method. It's harmless. I've been making jelly off and on since my 20's!
DeleteGreat review, makes me miss my garden in Norway where I used to grow all sorts of fruit and berries which I canned. Here in London I only have a postage stamp size garden and grow mainly flowers, although I have some herbs, and some strawberries - if the squirrels don't get to them first!
ReplyDeleteI hope the squirrels leave you enough strawberries to make strawberry jam! :) The one thing I don't grow a lot of is herbs. I've tried growing some, but always forget to use them. I really need to work on that!
DeleteWow, looks like some great choices for garden books! I will have to check into them. I love the idea of canning, but I think I enjoyed freezing (jams, veggies, and fruits) more (when I used to do it). One of these days, I'll do it again. Holley, thanks so much for participating in the "lessons learned" meme again--I posted about our lessons yesterday. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI know freezing is easier, and more popular, but I like opening a jar of peas that have already been processed vs. unfreezing a bag of peas that need to be cooked for some time. I guess I just never plan my meals out properly to be prepared to have that extra time available!
DeleteI used to preserve vegetables all the time plus make my own butter and mayo etc. It is all very easy to do but I just don't have time. I will recommend this book to my son and his girlfriend who are just about to learn to can.
ReplyDeleteI think they will really enjoy the book. I hope their canning experience goes well. I tried making my own mayo once - it didn't turn out, and I never tried again! I think my sister makes her own, though.
DeleteNeato :-) Do you have any favorite things to can, either because of ease or deliciousness?
ReplyDeleteI love canning beans and peas because of the ease of opening a can and having it ready to eat. I also love canning tomatoes because I can use them in so many recipes. And since I started canning my own jellies, I very much prefer them taste-wise over store bought ones. :)
DeleteOn holiday and dont think I can add this month! But I will read with relish! Thought about canning last year. Bought the MOST MARVELOUS canning jars from Kaufman Mercantile (internet) but then got nervous with the book I had purchased. I am tempted to take a second look at canning with this book....and finally get to use the gorgeous canning jars!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great holiday! And I hope you give canning a try. It's not so scary, once you jump in. And the outcome is wonderful!
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