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 have a neighbor with a pair of dwarf quince trees. I’ve always wanted to try making cotingnac (quince paste) – maybe this year!
I gave out canned goods for gifts this year and they went over quite well. I’m looking for unique, but not overly exotic canning recipes for next year. Of course, thismeans sampling them first! I have my eye on a few pickled pear recipes at the moment!
Meyer lemons are in(!!) at my local grocery, so I’m going to try some marmalade!
I recently started making kombucha but I haven’t been brave enough to experiment with adding fruit/flavoring it yet (I’m just now on my third batch). I want to start getting creative soon!
This year I want to try making marmalade, I’ve tried all kinds of jams and jelly’s and Marmalade seems the like the logical next step.
Orange Cocoa Nib Granola by Alana Chernila
I really want to try your preserved lemons. I’m so intrigued!
This year I want to try orange marmalade. I know it’s nothing exotic, but my grandmother used to make it and although she was a great cook and canner, I think I can do it even better. 🙂
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6595/caramelised-onion-chutney.aspx
This just looks amazing.
I would love to make more of the gifts that I give. People love food and I want to be better at making it. This book looks great!
I have really been wanting to try to make a sourdough start
What an awesome book! This year I want to master bread. I have tried it before, with little success and I very much want to get this under my belt.
I want to try to make a sourdough starter.
Would love to learn how to can this year. I’m looking forward to garden season in the
worst way! thanks for the giveaway.
Peter Reinhart’s whole wheat bread is on the top of my list for this week.
Oh gosh… I have so many I want to try. I have your book and one other new preserving book plus a binder full of dinner ideas I want to try. I guess I’ll narrow it down to my next project: Bourbon Caramel truffles for my hubby for Valentines day.
If I can find rose hips, I would love to try rose hip syrup (http://www.susan-susancancook.blogspot.com/2012/10/rose-hip-syrup.html) or really anything else with rose hips.
Looks Beautiful!!
I’m on a pickle mission this year for sure. In 2011 they all turned out too soft, and last year I ran out of time and didn’t make any. I was thinking more traditionally, but pickled fennel sounds great! (And I wouldn’t have to share with anyone in my family!)
I want to make marshmallows
This book is on my wish list! It really is fantastic how many of these you are able to do. Thank you 🙂
As far as recipes I want to try, I have had this french onion and bacon tart on my radar for awhile….
http://i-heart-baking.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
I’m itching to try to make Kimchee. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon.
Wow, this book looks great!! I am always looking for good gift reciepes to can. A couple of weeks ago you had a chocolate pear jam that I’m dying to try!! In my house, anything made with pears will disapear fast and the chocolate is a bonus!! thanks for great inspiration.
Wow fabulous sounding book! My grandmother use to can and it skipped a generation but I taught myself and love it. The strawberry balsamic thyme jam, Cranberry Champagne ginger jam, pickles, flavored spirits, truffles, flavored salts……..endless sounding yummy things to try for the new year. Some books only have a few really delicious sounding recipes…..this one sounds like page to page winners! Tried bagels and didn’t do so well but hey….maybe I just didn’t have the right recipe! Maybe this year will be a better bagel year!
Would love to make the maple syrup caramels with our homemade maple syrup.
I would love to try this http://www.inpac.com/our-kitchen/recipe-details.aspx?title=Roast+Leg+of+Pork+with+Glazed+Dried+Fruits
I’ve kind of been on a bread tear lately, so probably soft pretzels or danish. (maybe both!)
I’d like to try salted caramels and homemade crackers. And there’s no end to the number of flavored liqueurs to make!!
I hope to try out some blueberry jams this year!
I want to try some more cracker recipes. I made a batch for the first time over Christmas, and they were delicious.
I’d like to make the perfect steak frites. Thanks for the chance at the lovely book.
Garlic Conserva from Paul Virant’s The Preservation Kitchen.
I want to make Peanut Butter layered Cheesecake.
I’m super intrigued by date orange chutney! http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blcon50.htm
Man, there are so many things – so many things to choose from!! I would really like to make the perfect muffin, weighing ingredients and taking the time to do it right and all that. Thanks so much for the giveaway 🙂
Macarons are at the top of my list…such great flavors and colors…fun
I had a long running goal of learning how to make bagels at home. I finally managed to attempt this and they were delicious! However I still have several more batches to make before I can consider them mastered. How fortunate for me that my family(And especially the husband) is willing to eat each attempt with as much gusto as the last:)
My daughter and I want to learn to make French Macaroons!
I am a sucker for biscotti of any kind, but this year I would actually really like to find The One BBQ sauce my husband and I fall in love with. : )
I would like to try to make real slow cooked BBQ, not the quick stuff slathered in sauce
Salted caramels are #1 on my list. My wife loves them!
I’d like to try a bouche de noel.
I’ve been wanting to make a banoffee pie, but I need a good occasion to justify eating so many calories!
I would like to try some sort of caramels. I have never tried any type of candy and would like to. 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
I love giving home made food gifts and can always use more ideas! This year I want to make sweet tea jam for the first time.
I just got some barley malt syrup to make my own bagels, and I got my eye on a lentil and garlic sausage cassoulet from Bon Appetit as well.
As I am transitioning to vegetarian, I would like to try canning my own beans. 🙂
Pressure can stock and beans, make sauerkraut, make cream cheese.
This book looks lovely. This year, I’m hoping to try more recipes with whole grains…
I will make blackberry jam this year. I’m the only one who likes it and I realized that’s a wonderful right reason to make it!