Naturally Sweet Food in Jars is my third cookbook and was published in March 2016. It focuses on preserving with honey, maple, agave, coconut sugar, fruit juice concentrates, and dried fruits. You can find an array of ordering options here.
The idea for this book was initially sparked by this post, as well as the many alternatively sweetened recipes that have come since on this site. The finished book features more than 100 recipes for preserves, as well as a handful of recipes designed to help you use up some of what you’ve put up.
I had two primary goals in mind when I was writing Naturally Sweet. The first was to translate some of my most beloved sugar-sweetened recipes into those that used less refined sweeteners.
The second objective was to create new and novel recipes that would be safe for canning and that featured the various sweeteners in ways that made the most of their unique, individual flavors.
I also wanted to help change the conversation about preserving. So often, people dismiss it because they feel like the products created when you preserve aren’t always the healthiest.
However, by shining a spotlight on alternative sweeteners, I feel like I’ve created a collection of recipes that are able to balance health concerns with issues of safety and shelf stability.
And, as always, the recipes are relatively small batches that don’t require too much of your time and energy.
My birthday is Jan 1, so I have bday meals & rituals I look forward to all year! I have birthday MEALS on my special day … My bday breakfast is fluffy, custardy French toast dripping with maple syrup & melted butter, with smoked applewood bacon & breakfast sausage links on the side made by my husband & served to me (yes, SERVED) on the couch as I watch the Rosebowl Parade. Because I stuff myself, I usually don’t have lunch, but dinner is Prime Rib, Caesar salad w/ dressing I make myself out of a recipe book from the 40’s (title … With a Jug of Wine … Where can you go wrong there?), baked potatoes w/all the fixings, & garlic Parmesan bread. No bday cake, but we do have NY- style cheesecake that I make the day ahead. Yep, it’s a good day. I wish you lots of good eats on your day, Marissa, too!
Happy birthday! We ordered in my favorite pizza this year for my birthday. 🙂
Happy Birthday. Your cookbook sounds marvelous. I am at the age where my Bucket List is beginning to get checked off. (smile) The one item on my list that is proving to be lots of fun is, “Visit a different state each year for my birthday.” So far these states have been checked off: WA, NM, WI, OH, WV, CO, TN, VA & OK.. Have a great day.
I go for chocolate for my birthday.
Happy Birthday to you!
Looking forward to seeing this cookbook in person.
Anything with chocolate! Happy, happy birthday!!
Lasagna and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ???????
Happy Birthday Marissa, have a fabulous day! My favorite bd food is spaghetti w/lots of sauce cooked by my Italian sister-in-law…….so delicious!
In a few weeks I will be 70 and at this age we get to celebrate our bd for a full month (or so my friends tell me).
Hi Marissa, My birthday is May 16 and I will be going to a free birthday movie and then a free birthday dinner at a local restaurant. I love your other books and would love to add this one to the 2 I already have.
Happy Birthday! This book will be used and re-gifted over and over I’m sure
Happy birthday Marisa!! My favorite birthday treat is either a pie or angel food cake with my granny’s sea foam icing! Definitely a family favorite! Thanks so much for the opportunity, I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Happy birthday! ???
Since I cook all the time which I do like doing, I choose to be taken out for dinner on my birthday. I usually want Italian. Tee hee – some times, well no, most times, we casually let it drop that it’s my birthday and I get a free dessert which I share with my guy. Am I shameless or what!
My birthday is in the summer – so it always involves homemade icecream.
Congrats on your book!!!
Happy Birthday!!!! I love to have anything, as long as I don’t make it for my birthday!
Happy birthday! Hope you have a great day! You share a birthday with my oldest son. As far as birthday food is concerned there has to be cake. I just made a rhubarb chocolate one and am contemplating how to decorate it.
I would love to win a book, I really enjoyed your other books!
I would love to add your newest book to my collection!
It would be such a treat!
For my 40th, I made homemade eclairs for breakfast. They were delish! My kids love Monkey Bread or homemade cinnamon rolls for the birthday breakfast. Happy Birthday to you! Hope you enjoy a special breakfast for your special day!
I don’t know! I don’t think I usually eat something for my birthday other than the broader go eat out and then go to our respective parent’s houses for homemade meals around it. Last year my mom made me a cake that I would love to spend more time with…
Happy birthday to you!
Cake and sangria
My birthday has just passed! I chose mocha for a special treat – chocolate and coffee together. You can’t get better than that! Hope your birthday is lovely!
I love brunch, preferably a buffet, on my birthday. I start with salty specialties but always end with some sort of fruit pastry or croissants with butter and jam. Yum!
Well, first, it has to be chocolate, second, as in cake! Then chocolate cake throughout the day after having a rather large slice for breakfast!
It’s a total guilty pleasure, but it was my favorite place to eat growing up, and getting Kentucky Fried Chicken to go was always part of my Birthday celebration. Funny thing is now, there is no Colonel anywhere near where I live, but we now have a new Asian style chicken place that will do just fine when my birthday rolls around again in the winter.
Very merriest birthday to you!
Happy Birthday!! I love a nice Maine lobster on my birthday!!!
I love to celebrate my birthday by having steamed crabs with my mother and sisters. Since my birthday is mid-August I’m usually frantically trying to put up all of the wonderful produce available at that time of year. Your book would be a great help with that! Congratulations on the new book and Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Marisa! I like a buffet for my b-day with offers of my award winning eggplant caponata, bacon jam, roasted tomato jam, garlic jelly and all kinds of cheese, piled on gluten-free bruschetta. A glass of cold prosecco to savor as well! I have your first book that I use all the time. Keep up the good work!
Happy Birthday Marisa!!
I am a 3rd of July baby so hot dogs and hamburgers always a fav for me, hope yours is a great day and thank you!
Happy Birthday Marissa! This book looks lovely! I bought a copy of another one of your books for a Christmas present this year!
I don’t have a particular favorite birthday food, I just love to share a meal with friends or family. My birthday’s in September, so usually lots of lovely harvest foods around then.
Happy Birthday, Marisa! My birthday falls very close to a major holiday, so all I want is food that I don’t have to cook! Enjoy your day.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! Put your feet up and enjoy the day! For the past 3 years, my daughter has been making me a birthday cake. She makes it from scratch. Just like her Granny taught her. She loves to bake and cook so, I let her have fun. Best cakes I’ve ever had! Enjoy your Birthday 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love carrot cake with LOTS of cream cheese frosting.
Have a wonderful day
Happy Birthday! I hope you get to eat what ever you like on your birthday. As for me….I just want someone else to make dinner. 🙂 I have a long list of foods I love, but you know what? If someone cooks for me, I don’t care what it is, I’m just grateful.
Be well and have a marvelous day and fantastic weekend.
Wishing you a very happy birthday, and many happy returns of the day. On my birthday, I like to have a cup of tea brought to me in bed (first thing in the morning — before I’m even all the way awake) — bliss!
Happy Birthday, Marissa! May your birthday be blessed with many sweet things. You have certainly made all our lives sweeter by sharing your wonderful recipes for preserves.
Anything w/blueberries! Hoping your birthday & your entire year will be filled w/peace, joy, & creativity. Happy Birthday!
My birthday is Monday. Happy Birthday Marissa! –djs
Happy Birthday!
Tomato jam with just about anything.
Happy birthday to you! My favorite is to go out to Olive Garden on my birthday and eat lemony desserts
Last year we had an abundance of low bush blueberries scattered across our woods. My favorite birthday treat is blueberry pie and I would love to use these to make it! HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!
Happy Birthday! I always love sea food for my birthday meal ☺
Happy Birthday! I don’t have a favorite birthday food, but if my birthday was tomorrow I’d love to have pecan balls like my mom used to make at Christmas. They’re a buttery shortbread cookie stuffed full of pecans and thickly coated with powdered sugar. I haven’t had them in at least 20 years!
Birthday dessert always means PIE, preferably Rhubarb.
Happy birthday!! My favorite was always ribs and corn on the cob
A very Happy Birthday! Cheers to a wonderful year and many more.
Yum…..my birthday is coming up! I love a homemade angel food cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!!
I tend to like ice cream!
Happy birthday! I love any kind of dark chocolate dessert for my birthday.