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.
I want to give homemade crackers a shot this year. I’ve made a ton of jams and thought it’d be a perfect compliment.
Preserved salted limes. I ‘m kinda cheating mentioning these because I started them a week ago. But they are still setting (soaking?) on my kitchen counter and I haven’t tasted them yet.
P.S. I love all these comments…lots of ideas for new things to try.
Buttermilk cake on the What Julia Ate blog. Sorry, I don’t know how to do links.
Would love try homemade mustard this year!
Actually, on my list – now that they’re around (as opposed to last year, which, none), is a blood orange marmalade that I found on your website last year.
I realize this seems like sucking up, but really is the truth. I wasn’t bitching about the lack of blood oranges last year (or my utter excitement at finding them this year) for no reason.
And hey, the link was easy to pull up. 😉
https://foodinjars.com.s164546.gridserver.com/arugulapesto/2012/01/small-batch-blood-orange-marmalade/
Your dark chocolate pear butter!! I am practically OBSESSED with the idea it since i saw it on the blog. I even dream about the stuff. I need to get me a little sack of pears and get cookin”!!! Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway~Rana
Balsamic strawberry jam
One recipe I want to try out is making handmade spinach pasta. I already have the tools so… maybe I can complete this goal this week. 🙂 Thanks for this opportunity, the book looks so lovely!
I am hoping to experiment more with quinoa this year. But what I really want to attempt is making the perfect baguette.
I’m already thinking about making gifts for next Christmas and one thing I’d really like to try is making mustard.
I don’t know if I could nail down one specific recipe I want to try in 2013–but we definitely want to get better at Indian food, have already tried out some baigan bhartha and chole aplak, and are planning to go in the yogurt sauce, kofte, and dal direction very soon. 🙂 This cookbook sounds pretty wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Holy cow, there are so many recipes I want to try! The tabs I have open at the moment are for homemade vanilla extract and homemade yogurt 🙂
I want to try the jar shaking method of making butter & buttermilk from cream- it sounds really easy and satisfying!
Once the backyard pears are ready to be picked, a case of canning jars will be ready for Spiced Pear Gin! Ready for some porch sipping!
Spiced pear gin?! Now I have to win this book so I can make that. And everyone else has posted great ideas so I need to make those too. One other item on my list is vin d’orange.
French Bread! My husband lives on garlic bread and the cost of bread is skyrocketing.
I say it every year, but this year is the year I finally make my own marshmallows!
I am still looking for the recipe for great pretzel rolls. My husband and I had some in Las Vegas, and have not been able to duplicate them.
In general, I am exploring all things yeast bread this year. There will be many new bread recipes.
I am obsessed with Little Paris Kitchen. I have been saving episodes and want to try several of her recipes, but “eggs in pots” is up first.
I want to make yogurt this year!
Homemade crackers.
When I get the urge to try something I usually do right away and don’t procrastinate… lest I forget! But I suppose, I don’t make excuses to make things like Tres Leche Cake which I’ve always wanted to make and never have, in part because I know I’ll eat the whole thing. But, I’ll pledge to make it in 2013!
I’ve been struggling with making caramel (esp. sauces), so that is my goal this year, to finally make it work without having my whole house smell like burnt sugar.
I want to try Fleur de Sel Caramels. I’m completely addicted to some I bought at a gourmet store in Longmont, CO.
I would like to try to make homemade ketchup this year.
I’ve been wanting to jar pear sauce – like apple sauce – but haven’t gotten a recipe or found time for it yet! Trader Joes used to have the only pear sauce I knew of, but they stopped making/carrying it. It bet I can make one that’s better! 🙂
new recipe to try…. lemon & orange “extract”! I already make my own vanilla but want to give other flavors we use on a regular basis a try.
I want to make doughnuts this year. I’ve never made them but homemade doughnuts are delicious!
I really want to decorate a cake this year, I know that’s not a specific recipe, but I hope to make one per month.
I keep seeing recipes for grapefruit preserves that I have yet to try.
I don’t have any particular recipes in mind, but in general my goal for this year is to become more comfortable with cooking/preparing fish, including learning how to properly clean and fillet one!
i love all new books and becoming self sufficent which is why i started my website
https://www.facebook.com/groups/278438468874124/ would love to get this, also my receipe i want to try and perfect is cresent rolls they cost so dang much thank you
I want to can something for the first time….Maybe your pear vanilla jam?
This book looks gorgeous!
No specific recipe, but I would like to make something with elderberry flowers. I read a recipe for an elderberry syrup last spring and it has been on my mind since.
I love crackers. With cheese, they’re probably my favorite snack. So I want to learn to make a variety of crackers. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Thanks
I want to try every thing…. but I am real new to DYI, canning (am buying supplies and will start as soon as I get every thing I need to start), I want to try marmalade’s real bad and spiced peaches. This book would be great for a beginner like me. Thanks!!
that would be lemony sweet tea vodka
I would like to make a batch of apricot jam this summer.
I want to do orange marmlade. I can & dehydrate a lot but pectin is one hurdle I have yet to master.
recipes I’d love to try: from Edible DIY the Cacio e Pepe Crackers looks like one to enjoy with wine and cheese, and would love to try tomato jam https://foodinjars.com.s164546.gridserver.com/arugulapesto/2012/12/preserves-in-action-fried-eggs-avocado-and-tomato-jam/
You had me at sweet tea vodka!
Orange Marmalade with Star Anise from the 2012 Christmas with Southern Living book.
what a fun book! I’m excited to make the pear chocolate goodness you posted earlier this month!
I’ve always wanted to make Julia Child’s beef bourguignon!
I just made my first sriracha adapted from Food 52 and am looking forward to some homemade harissa next.
And…there are a few things in this book that sound TERRIFIC!
My goodness, the Cranberry-Champagne Jam with Crystallized Ginger sounds amazing, that will be on my list this season!
Would love to try making both soft and hard pretzels this year! And definitely some yummy mustard to go along…..
Limoncello~ I’ve even ordered meyer lemons from the Lemon Ladies Orchard! Just waiting for them to arrive! Love the give away!
I want to try making homemade graham crackers. I try not to buy them, but my hubby and kids love them so I know the homemade ones would be winners…just need to get moved and get them made!
I would love this book! We have done homemade gifts the last three years and would love some new ideas! Thanks for the opportunity to win one.