Marisa McClellan's Blog, page 110
June 30, 2014
Links: Strawberries, Pickled Cherries, and Links
I landed in Los Angeles late last night, picked up a rental car, and drove to my best-friend-from-college’s apartment. As I zipped along the freeway, I felt both totally at home and entirely out of place. I was born in this city and lived here until I was nearly nine years old. I have a sense of deep, near-cellular recognition with this land and its scents (eucalyptus! dry grass! smog!). I am happy to visit (and to teach a class at The Gourmandise School on Tuesday!), but it is not my place.
After that, I fly back to Portland for all of 29 hours, spend a little time with my sister and curly-headed nephew and then back to Philadelphia. It has been a wonderful west coast book tour and I’m so grateful to all the people who had me into their store, gave me places to sleep, and came out to see me and say hi.
Now, links.
A sweet video of strawberry picking and a recipe for easy strawberry freezer jam.
Sweet green tomato preserves.
Strawberry blood orange jam.
. Yum!
Roasted strawberries. If you’ve never made them, do try preparing them this way. You won’t be sad.
How to make small batches of pectin rich jelly in order to boost your set naturally.
Fried pickles! With green goddess aioli! Talk about putting your preserves into action!
Lacto-fermented pickled cherries. If you have access to slightly underripe cherries, I beg you to try this!
I posted about Asian Pickles on Saturday, but you don’t just have to take my word for its greatness. Sidewalk Shoes and The Kitchn like it too.
Thanks to Fillmore Container, for hosting such a generous giveaway last week, as well as to all of you who took the time to leave a comment and share your jar longings! The winner (selected at random) is #914/Shannon. She said, “Love this website! Immediately I found this pour lid that attaches to the canning jar which is perfect for when I make salad dressings. So whether or not (which I hope so) win I will be buying this and more.”
Congratulations, Shannon!
Related Posts:
Links: Plums, Gingersnap Granola, and a Winner
Links: Strawberries, Dill Pesto, and a Winner
Links: Pickled Fruit, Book Reviews, and a Winner
Links:
I landed in Los Angeles late last night, picked up a rental car, and drove to my best-friend-from-college’s apartment. As I zipped along the freeway, I felt both totally at home and entirely out of place. I was born in this city and lived here until I was nearly nine years old. I have a sense of deep, near-cellular recognition with this land and its scents (eucalyptus! dry grass! smog!). I am happy to visit (and to teach a class at The Gourmandise School on Tuesday!), but it is not my place.
After that, I fly back to Portland for all of 29 hours, spend a little time with my sister and curly-headed nephew and then back to Philadelphia. It has been a wonderful west coast book tour and I’m so grateful to all the people who had me into their store, gave me places to sleep, and came out to see me and say hi.
Now, links.
A sweet video of strawberry picking and a recipe for easy strawberry freezer jam.
Sweet green tomato preserves.
Strawberry blood orange jam.
. Yum!
Roasted strawberries. If you’ve never made them, do try preparing them this way. You won’t be sad.
How to make small batches of pectin rich jelly in order to boost your set naturally.
Fried pickles! With green goddess aioli! Talk about putting your preserves into action!
Lacto-fermented pickled cherries. If you have access to slightly underripe cherries, I beg you to try this!
I posted about Asian Pickles on Saturday, but you don’t just have to take my word for its greatness. Sidewalk Shoes and The Kitchn like it too.
Thanks to Fillmore Container, for hosting such a generous giveaway last week, as well as to all of you who took the time to leave a comment and share your jar longings! The winner (selected at random) is #914/Shannon. She said, “Love this website! Immediately I found this pour lid that attaches to the canning jar which is perfect for when I make salad dressings. So whether or not (which I hope so) win I will be buying this and more.”
Congratulations, Shannon!
Related Posts:
Links: Plums, Gingersnap Granola, and a Winner
Links: Strawberries, Dill Pesto, and a Winner
Links: Pickled Fruit, Book Reviews, and a Winner
June 28, 2014
Cookbooks: Asian Pickles by Karen Solomon
I have been looking forward to the release of Karen Solomon’s new book, Asian Pickles
for at least two years now. Karen is a friend and I stayed with her when I came through San Francisco during my first book tour back in 2012.
During my brief visit, we spent a goodly amount of time talking about our upcoming projects. I told her about Preserving by the Pint
(which at that point was nothing more than an idea and a list of possible recipes) and she talked about Asian Pickles.
At that point, the book was actually mostly finished, because her publisher was trying something new with it. Instead of simply publishing the physical version, they were going to periodically release smaller ebooks, featuring approximately half of the recipes from the five main chapters.
I saw each of the ebooks as they came out. They were gorgeously designed, bursting with useful recipes, and made me ridiculously excited to get into the kitchen and start pickling. I made her Pickled Asian Pears with Lemon for the blog and tried a couple other things that were wonderful but just never made it into post form (it happens).
Back in early January, I spent a solid two days reading through a xeroxed manuscript of the book, dog earring pages and trying to craft a quote for the back cover. It’s was nearly impossible to squeeze every complimentary thing I wanted to say into two sentences, but I think I managed. Happily, this blog post gives me the opportunity to gush just a little bit more.
What I find so delightful about this book is that it gives me the chance to dive into a world of pickles that had previously been veiled and mysterious. Karen starts each section (Japan, Korea, China, India, and Southeast Asia) which an introduction to each region’s unique pickle culture (truly, it makes the North American pickle tradition look puny).
Once the stage is set for the flavors and techniques you’ll encounter, she leads you into the recipes. The headnotes are both entertaining and full of useful information, and the recipes themselves are clearly written but not so deeply technical that you have to read and reread to unpack the instructions.
One adjustment that most North American preservers will have to make with these pickles is that for the most part, they are not safe for boiling water bath canning. Many of the pickles are ferments, which will lose both their texture and happy bacteria when heat processed. While there are others that are made with vinegar, the concentration of acid is typically not high enough to make them safe as a preserved pickle.
I do think you’ll find that the recipes make pickles delicious enough that you won’t begrudge the refrigerator space necessary to keep them.
The final word is that I recommend this book for anyone who loves pickled things and wants to move beyond the array traditionally found in western cultures. I have a long list of things I plan on making from it and love that it has both recipes that can be made quickly and longer term projects. If you think of yourself as a homemade pickle aficionado, this book should be on your shelf.
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June 24, 2014
A Handy Way to Store Your Canning Rings and Lids
Here in Portland, it is raspberry season. I couldn’t resist picking up a half flat of gorgeous berries on Saturday at the Beaverton Farmers Market. When I got home, I asked my mom to pull out her canning stuff so that I could make a quick batch of jam. She ducked into the garage and came back in with her shiny stainless steel stock pot and a plastic comforter bag filled with canning jar rings (as well as couple boxes of new lids).
Using a stock pot and blossom trivet
as a canning pot is a trick I taught her, but using an old blanket or comforter bag to corral canning gear was entirely new to me and I was stunned by the simple brilliance of it. At home, I use a pair of two gallon zip top bags to keep my rings in check. However, they’ve always been an imperfect solution because the zippers eventually fail and they’re just not quite big enough. The comforter bag has a real zipper, the plastic is sturdier, it holds a ton, and it does a good job of keeping the dust and dirt out.
If you have one of these bags floating around your house, consider doing like my mom and using it to store your gear.
Related Posts:
New to Canning? Start Here: Equipment
Finding Equipment: Greensgrow Farms in Philadelphia
Canning 101: The Tools of the Trade
June 23, 2014
Giveaway: $100 in Jar Credit From Fillmore Container
Everyone’s path to canning is a little bit different. Some start doing it because they want to make the most of a produce glut. Others preserve because it helps them feel close to their mother, aunt, or grandmother. And then there are those for whom the jars themselves were the gateway to total canning preoccupation.
That’s how it was for me. While I did grow up with a mother who canned, I was acquiring jars long before I began filling them up and processing them. Truly, I am something of a jar junkie.
Over the last few years, one of my favorite sources for canning jars beyond the narrow range you can get at the grocery store has been Fillmore Container (I liked their jars so much that I talked them into becoming a site sponsor!). While they offer all the Ball jars you could possibly want, they also have a deliciously wide array of other options.
And so, for this week’s giveaway, the lovely folks at Fillmore Container and I thought we’d do something a little different. Instead of picking out a particular style of jar to feature and then giving some of that size and shape away, I’m going to feature a few of my favorite jars from their catalog and let the winner choose their perfect jar.
One jar that they carry that I love is the straight, smooth-sided four ounce jar. They don’t have any of that quilted nonsense and they’re perfect for preserves meant for gifting. I wrote about them nearly two years ago and still adore them.
Another jar that makes me happy is their eight ounce regular mouth jar. It’s a bit squatter than the the conventional half pint jar, but that just makes it feel extra sturdy in the hand. A few more pictures of that particular style can be found here.
For those of you who can’t bear for your holiday gifts to look just the same as everyone else’s, then the hex jar is for you. Fillmore Container keeps four sizes in stock. The 1.5 ounce is perfect for samples and variety gift baskets, the 4 ounce option is the same size at the smallest quilted jelly jars that Ball makes, 6 ounces is a nice in-between size that you can’t get with a mason jar, and 9 ounces is simply a generous half pint jar.
And just so you know, Fillmore Container doesn’t just carry jars and closures. They also have a number of fun jar accessories. You can get everything from lids with holes in them for straws to the stripy paper straws to pair with those lids.
Here’s how to enter this giveaway:
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you’d spent $100 at Fillmore Container. Would you get yourself some new jars? Buy a few cookbooks? Or would you go crazy with the accessories and candle making gear?
Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 28, 2014. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, June 29, 2014
Giveaway open to United States residents only.
One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
P.S. I got to go behind the scenes at Fillmore Container a few years ago. The photos from that tour can be found here.
Disclosure: Fillmore Container has sent me lots of jars over the years to test and try. They’re a site sponsor. And they’re providing the prize for this giveaway at no cost to me. However, my opinions remain entirely unbiased and my own.
Related Posts:
Giveaway: Straight Sided Half Pint Jars from Fillmore Container
Giveaway: Itty Bitty Jars and Food in Jars from Fillmore Container
Giveaway: The JarBOX (sponsored by Fillmore Container)
Book Tour: Eugene, Seattle, San Francisco, and LA
Raspberries that I picked from my parents’ back yard. Having access to their garden is such a treat.
Friends! I am still on the west coast and have a number of book events still to go. I thought I’d do a quick reminder about the demos and classes I’ve got on the books over the next week or so.
Monday, June 23 (Eugene)
I’ll be at Down to Earth in Eugene (532 Olive Street) from 2-4 pm. There will be a demo. There will be books. There may even be cake, as this event is in conjunction with the store’s 37th anniversary celebration. It’s a free event and fun will be had by all.
Wednesday, June 25 (Seattle)
I’ll be at the Book Larder (4252 Fremont Ave. N) in Seattle from 6:30-8 pm demonstrating a recipe from the book and signing as many copies as I can. The event is free, but they ask that you RSVP using this form.
Thursday, June 26 (Seattle)
I’m teaching a four preserve class at The Pantry at Delancey. I believe that the class is currently sold out, but it never hurts to get on the waiting list.
Saturday, June 28 (San Francisco)
From 12 noon to 1 pm, I’ll be doing a book signing at the CUESA classroom at the Ferry Building (you’ll find me under the white tent at the front of the building). Books will be on hand for sale! More details can be found here.
Sunday, June 29 (San Francisco)
I’ll be at Omnivore Books from 3-4 pm, demoing a tiny batch of honey sweetened strawberry jam, and signing books. There will be samples and they will be delicious. Please come!
Tuesday, July 1 (Los Angeles)
My very last stop on this tour will be at The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories in Santa Monica. I’ll be teaching a free demo-style class from 2-5 pm and will have books on hand to sign. Click here for more details and to sign up!
Related Posts:
Book Tour: Seattle, Portland, Eugene, San Francisco, & LA!
MightyNest Book Event in Evanston, IL on Monday, April 28
Book Tour Events: Birmingham! Memphis! Chicago!
June 22, 2014
Links: Strawberries, Dill Pesto, and a Winner
I landed in Portland on Thursday night and have spent the last few days hanging out with my parents and doing a handful of book events (here’s the segment I did on the local morning show, if you want to watch!). This week, I’m continuing my mad dash up and down the west coast. Eugene tomorrow, Seattle Wednesday and Thursday, and San Francisco Friday through Sunday. Now, links!
It’s been a busy week over at Well Preserved. First, they announced their Big Outdoor Kitchen Party this fall, and then, they shared the news that they’re writing a book. Congratulations, Joel and Dana!
Tame your herb garden with Janet’s dill pesto.
How to make sprouted grains.
Black fig and pear jam with honey and vanilla. Sounds perfectly lovely.
Low sugar apricot jam.
Cherry preserves, for soaking in red wine or spooning over yogurt.
Strawberries. Freezer jam. In jam with roasted rhubarb. Pickled. Or sweetened with honey.
Last week’s giveaway of goodies from The Pint and a Half was lots of fun and the winner is #124/Melissa. She said that her favorite way to cool down this summer is, “Iced jasmine tea, with a slice of lemon or lime!” Sounds like a lovely sip to me!
Related Posts:
Links: Pickled Fruit, Book Reviews, and a Winner
Links: Rhubarb, Cordials, and Winners
Links: Pickles, Rhubarb, and Winners
June 19, 2014
Preserving by the Pint Typos
One of the inevitable things about writing a book is that no matter how hard you work at making it perfect, there will still be a mistake or two in it when the manuscript goes to print. It happened with Food in Jars (you can find the errata page for FiJ here) and it has happened again with Preserving by the Pint.
At my book events I’ve been hand-correcting every book I sign, but I realize that not all of you are going to make it out to a class or demo. So in order to make the corrections accessible to everyone, I’ve created an errata page so that all the errors and fixes are in a central place.
If you’ve spotted an error or typo in the book that you don’t see listed here, please drop me a line so that I can add it to the list and make sure that it gets corrected in a future printing.
Related Posts:
Book Tour: Seattle, Portland, Eugene, San Francisco, & LA!
Book Tour: Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA
Upcoming Events: Hatboro! Wyebrook Farm! Havertown! Jenkintown!
June 17, 2014
Giveaway: Gift Card from The Pint and a Half
Many years ago, I fantasized about opening a coffee shop in which, for an extra $1, we’d sell to-go iced drinks in mason jars with holes punched in the lid for the straw. Basically, I was only in it for the jar accessories.
Happily, there have been a number of different companies that have popped up in the last few years that have started offering all manner of mason jar toppers, drink adaptors, lids, and sleeves.
And now, there’s a shop that pulls all the different lids, sleeves, straws, and converters into a single place. Called The Pint and a Half, it’s a site devoted to celebrating the jar a drink vessel and I am delighted to welcome them to the jar blog scene (if there is such a thing).
One of the products they offer that I’ve not seen elsewhere is the neoprene jar sleeve. Available to fit either a 24 ounce pint & half jar (that’s the Koverz) or a 12 ounce jelly jar (known as the Kidzikoo), it allows you to pack a chilled drink without having it sweat all over your hand, cup holder, or desk. They have them in a bunch of different colors, but I’m more than a little taken by the zebra stripe version (I’ve always had a thing for animal prints).
And if the full coverage sleeve isn’t your thing, there are also these nifty silicone Eco Sleeves. They’ll give you a good grip without covering the entirety of your jar.
They also offer a nice selection of straws, cleaning brushes, and long-handled spoons (all the better for eating your morning yogurt parfait out of a pint jar). I’ve tried a number of reusable straws over the years and I really like the Glass Dharma Straws (I have some that I bought several years ago). They are nearly unbreakable (I dropped one behind my washing machine a while back and it survived unscathed) and don’t impact the flavor of your drink at all.
Now, time for the giveaway! April from The Pint and a Half is offering Food in Jars readers a chance to win a $50 store credit plus $8.50 to cover shipping (that’s enough shipping credit to cover one jar and several accessories) in her online shop. What’s more, for those of you who can’t wait to buy your jar goodies, she also sent me a coupon code to share. Use the code FOODINJARS10 at check-out for 10% off your purchase. The code is good until June 30.
Here’s how to enter.
Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you’re drinking this summer. Are you exploring shrubs? Or are you dedicated to iced tea? Or do you have a signature cocktail for 2014? Let me know!
Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 21, 2014. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, June 22, 2014
Giveaway open to United States residents only.
One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
Disclosure: The Pint and a Half gave me the jars and adaptors you see pictured above and are also providing the giveaway prize at no cost to me. However, all opinions expressed remain entirely my own.
The Pint and a Half can also be found Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. Make sure to follow them for new product news and occasional deals!
Related Posts:
Regular Mouth Cuppow Review + Giveaway
Giveaway: Core Kitchen Silicone Utensils and Funnels
Pacific Merchants 10L Pickle Crock + Giveaway
MightyNest, 4th Burner Pots, & a Preserving by the Pint Giveaway
Back in April, I teamed up with my friends at MightyNest for a canning party at a fabulous cooking school in Evanston called Now We’re Cookin’. I made a batch of my honey-sweetened strawberry jam for the gathered audience and signed a bunch of books. MightyNest held on to a small cache of those signed books and is currently giving one away (along with six pretty tulip-shaped Weck jars and a sturdy bamboo cutting board). The giveaway ends today (all this travel has me off my blogging game) and so if you want to enter, please head over to this blog post right now!
Another thing came out of that night in Evanston. The MightyNest team was so taken with my 4th burner pot (I tucked it into my checked luggage and brought it with me on that trip) that they’ve added them to their product line. This is my favorite piece of cookware for small batch canning. I use it as a canning pot. I heat up my pickling liquid in it. I use it as a tea kettle when canning tomatoes and other water packed vegetables. It’s versatile, it’s sturdy, and it only costs $40.
Updated to add: The MightyNest folks just sent me the code for the widget, so you can now enter the giveaway right here!
*Just so you know, MightyNest is a Food in Jars sponsor. However, I loved their products and their team long before they started sending a few bucks my way to help support this site. They are good people.
Related Posts:
June Sponsors: Cuppow, MightyNest, Fillmore Container, Mrs. Wages, and Preserving Now!
Storing Fresh Produce Without Plastic Bags + Giveaway
Links: Pumpkin Syrup, Cranberries, and Winners
