One of the joys of being someone who cans and preserves regularly is that I’m nearly always prepared when the need arises for a gift. During December’s gift giving season, I keep a box of summer jams and butters near the front door, ready to be distributed. I build couple-specific baskets for bridal showers and weddings.
Last summer, when I was scurrying around on book tour, I even kept a couple extra jars in my car at all times, for those moments when verbal thank yous just weren’t enough and I wanted to offer a physical representation of my appreciation.
Sometimes, even I run out of preserves good for giving (there are a number of trial batches in recipe development that, while good enough for home use, aren’t great for bestowing upon others). Other times, I just find myself out of fresh ideas. That’s when I turn to books and blogs authored by other creative folk, hoping that their various perspectives will gyrate me free from my regularly-trod paths.
The latest book to cross my transom that I’m turning to for kitchen inspiration is Lucy Baker’s Edible DIY. Initially based on the work she’s done on Serious Eats, this book is filled with candies, infused spirits, crackers, pickles, and sweet spreads that will send you hopping for the kitchen.
Recipes are arranged by type. You’ll find nibbly bits like crackers, spiced nuts, and popcorn in the Crunchy section. Boozy should be plenty self-explanatory (and goodness, do I want to try the Spiced Pear Gin pictured below). Sweet includes biscotti, marshmallows, truffles, and toffee.
The last two sections the most preserve-heavy of the book. On the savory side, there’s a strong assortment of Spicy Condiments, Pickles, and Snacks (flavored salts! pickled fennel! ginger sriracha!). Rounding out the book are the Jams, Jellies, and Other Preserves. Lucy has made tweaks to a series of reliable favorites (blueberry port jam and strawberry balsamic thyme jam, for example) which are all worthy of canning pot consideration. One recipe that I’m planning on making soon is the one for Cranberry-Champagne Jam with Crystallized Ginger (I still have a couple bags of cranberries stashed away).
One of the things I like most about this book is that it’s accessible. Not a single recipe goes on for pages (or days), making it approachable for all levels of canners, candy makers, and cracker bakers. As someone who rarely has the patience for recipes that require multiple days of fussing, I’m appreciative. That said, if you’re an expert baker/canner/sugarcrafter who is looking for a book to push your skillset to a new level, this one is probably not for you.
The maple salted caramels in this book remind me of the maple syrup I have in the back of the fridge. I’d love to try those! The book looks completely charming.
I am going to make raw brownies for the first time tomorrow. No sugar or flour so it should be interesting.
I bought a half-pound of vanilla beans late last year to make candied clementines (which have gotten a fantastic reception from gift-ees, so far). I only needed 2 beans, but buying a half-pound was clearly the most economic way to go! Plus, I now have a ready excuse to try other recipes that require vanilla beans, so that’s my plan for 2013. I’m particularly keen on trying homemade vanilla extract.
I’ve been wanting to make homemade chicken liver pate! I just need to get up the nerve and stop being a baby. I love pate!
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2013/01/chicken-liver-pate-recipe-schmaltz-michael-ruhlman/
I really want to make Apple Cider Caramels. Yum!
I stumbled across a recipe for apple cider caramels that I’d like to try this year. Although I saw pictured above there’s a caramel recipe in this book… so I’d probably start with that one if I won!
For me, it’s mango chutney.
That spiced pear gin sounds amazing!
I have plans to make this rose petal granola (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/rose-petal-granola-recipe.html) as soon as I can get my hands on dried roses! This has unfortunately been surprisingly difficult to do…
I have never made homemade mustards and I would like to try that this year. I would also like to make a batch of homemade marshmallows. and I am always looking for new ideas for homemade spirits. this books sounds awesome. I would love to win this book. I just ordered the last book you posted about Notes from the jam cupboard-can’t wait to get it. thanks for the chance Kathy
I want to bake a new whole grain “no knead” bread recipe that I found on The Kitchn’ blog. thanks!
I want to try making dill pickles.
I want to try your homemade yogurt recipe!
I had no interest in cooking anything at all when I started reading this post (pregnancy nausea has kicked my butt for the last 3 months), but then I saw homemade SWEET TEA VODKA! And CRANBERRY GINGER JAM. And I’m suddenly wanting to get in the kitchen! I have to get my hands on this book.
I already did it — I made homemade peanut butter for the first time a couple weeks ago and wow is it kind of addictive (instant excuse to eat peanut butter: gotta lick, I mean clean, the blender : )
On to ice cream in a hand-turned crock (maybe?) that I acquired at a second hand store.
Though I totally second the Smitten Kitchen’s apple cider caramels Sarah J. mentioned above, I’d say I’d like to make a levain and move away from conventional yeast with my breadmaking. Starters get to be future-food in jars.
This will be the year that I make cheese!
I really want to try tomatillo salsa this summer but I think I’m going to make some cranberry applesauce soon
The Gin recipe sounds interesting!
I want to try my hand on any type of caramel making and on the savory side, pate. This book looks so exciting especially the “boozy” section.
I want to try making lemon rind candy….
A recipe to try…I think I would have to be the lemony sweet tea vodka that appears in one of the pictures from this book! That sounds amazing!
Marmalade…. I’ve always made strawberry & raspberry & gooseberry as they are my children’s favorites. I only recently learned that my husband’s favorite is marmalade… After all of the years we’ve been married & he finally tells me this? (Or maybe he did before & I just ignored him…)
I have a huge crop of Meyer lemons! Preserved lemons and limoncello. Oh, and those gorgeous Maple Syrup caramels from that last photo above…those look like fun.
I love that these recipes are fairly simple. That and plentiful pictures are what I look for in cookbooks. I really want to cook a good Indian meal this year — either aloo palak or palak paneer with homemade naan.
Hmm…I don’t have a recipe, but I’m looking for one for a birthday cake.
Sopa de Chile Poblano!
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Mexico-Poblano-Soup
Fermented dill pickles! Got the crock, just need a good growing season for cukes…
I will make a small batch of elderberry jam from the elderberry juice I picked up at the farmers market last weekend.
This year I want to experiment with my le Creuset and try cooking in a tangine. And crepe cakes.
Book looks sweet! I want to make reduced flavored vinegar this year.
I really want to master risotto this year…this leek risotto is looking really good to me!
http://food52.com/recipes/20271_leek_risotto
Maybe it’s already out there but I’d like to try a recipe for homemade liquid soap and then develop a ‘pump’ that would fit a canning jar. Maybe it’s already out there?
Sesame Crackers
My 2013 recipe will be dill pickles. I could not master this a few years back and am ready to revisit them.
I want to tackle an array of homemade bitters!
http://www.thekitchn.com/gifts-for-the-cocktail-lover-homemade-bitters-180954
i want to invest more time in baking/cooking/preserving and, this year, make more yeasted breads – in particular, the cinnamon pull apart bread that i have seen floating around the internet for a while now.
Lime marmalade: http://www.recipetips.com/recipe-cards/t–3042/lime-marmalade.asp
I’m considering adding a little tequila to make it more of a… sort of margarita marmalade.
i want to try pickled green tomatoes this coming fall. my Dad’s garden always has a ton on the vines right before the first frost and it would be awesome to make something tasty out of them.
I’d sure like to master making caramel!
That book looks amazing. This will be the year I master caramel… I swear
I want to make smoked tomato vinegar. I haven’t decided yet, though, if I’ll go whole hog and make tomato juice into wine and then vinegar, or just infuse some white vinegar with smoked tomatoes…
I’d like to conquer the homemade marshmallow thing. We’ve made some tasty ugly ones and I’d like to make some pretty ones.
Black pepper balsamic strawberry jam! Cannot wait for summer to get here.
I am itching to make homemade buttermilk biscuits so I can spread some of last summer’s lovely strawberry jam on them!
Caramels! I was reminded by that photo above, but this was the recipe I’ve had my eye on… http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/10/apple-cider-caramels-the-book-is-here/
Homemade mustard has been high on my list for a while now. I just need to get rid of all the store bought mustard that’s clogging up my pantry space first!
I want to try making pulled pork for my husband. He loves it and I have no idea how to make it. I printed a couple recipes I found online, but what I’d really like is someone’s tried and true recipe. I want it to come out perfect the first time. Thanks.
homemade limoncello!
I am itching to make Maple Cream. The detailed instructions are on America’ Test Kitchen website and in their new DIY cookbook (also in my wish list folder.)
I want to try making Pad Thai this year.