Did you grow your own fruits and vegetables this year? Or, are you finding lots of great looking fruits and vegetables at great prices at local farmstands or the grocery? If so, it’s time to start putting up the harvest. My friend Margaret Roach, author the blog A Way to Garden, has been testing freezing and canning methods for some 20 years. She’s very practical and has gathered all her tried and true tips and recipes galore. Here is a round up of some favorite — and timely advice — from her archives:
- Take a look at Margaret’s top canning sources, which include expert advice on Weck and Ball jars… pickling spice… Pick-Your-Own places… and more, including the important USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning.
- In this great story, Margaret gathers lots of great advice about making food that’s cheap in summer last well into the winter. Such as: freezing in jars… making broth… making the most of tomatoes… freezing peppers that are cheap in the summer… making applesauce… even her recipe for baked beans that was shown on Martha Stewart… I think if you took all this advice, and hustled, you could save hundreds of dollars on veggies this winter — and eat very very well.
- How to ripen a tomato… in fact, everything you ever wanted to know about tomatoes but were afraid to ask.
- And how’s this for retro: Make homemade refrigerator pickles. Hey, it looks pretty easy — and very Impressive — I’m gonna try it.
Of course, Margaret’s blog is a feast for the eyes, as well. Even if you don’t grow stuff, it’s fun to look at all the HEALTHY food. Put down those donuts, peoples (okay, you can have one, it’s Saturday morning) — but eat your vegetables later, okay! Thank you, Margaret — nom nom nom.