Preserve Your Pears

One of the reasons I love pears so is that they’re abundant when so many other fruits simply aren’t. They’re harvested in the late summer and fall, and thanks to modern storage techniques, they’re plentiful through the winter and spring. I’ve been enjoying sautéed Bosc pears and fresh Anjou pears for weeks on end. And here’s the bonus: pears aren’t only versatile when they’re fresh, they can be dried, and even better, preserved so that they’re truly a year-round treat! If you’re like me, you may be intimidated by food preserving. There are so many variables at work! It’s scary! You’re working with pressure and perishable foods! Enter the experts, like Brook Hurst of the lovely blog Learn to Preserve. Call it what you will—canning, preserving, putting up—Brook is a pro. She’s not only creative in the kitchen, she’s inspired Continue reading

Filling Your Kitchen with Love: The Joys of Home Preserving

Memories…that’s what life is all about.  My mom told me that other day as I was headed out of town for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas.  It sounds funny, but I was reminded of some of the responses we received from our e-newsletter contest last month because really, whether you’re partying in Vegas or bonding with your family in the kitchen, the memories we make with each other stay with us our whole lives. We asked our readers to tell us why they love preserving, (or why they would like to start) and were overwhelmed by the touching responses we received.  Our winner, Amanda from Mississippi, said this: “I grew up watching my mother and grandmother preserving fruits and vegetables. I remember going with them and picking the fruits and vegetables from our gardens and trees. I loved the way we would all go together Continue reading