Links: Seed Saving, Shrubs, and a Winner

Last week was the first since March when I didn’t have a book events to do. It was singularly amazing. I made dinner every night and made serious progress in shifting some of the clutter that has built up in the corners around my desk. We even managed to have a few friends over for a little soup potluck earlier tonight. It was nice to experience normal life again.

My time at home is short lived, though. I head for Austin, TX on Tuesday to meet my increasingly alert new nephew and celebrate nephew number one’s third birthday. Now, links!

Are you a fermenter? If so, you know that ferments do best if they are fully covered in brine. Here are some excellent ways to ensure your veg stays submerged.
Pear vanilla shrub. Being that this is one of my favorite flavor combinations, I’m a little abashed that I didn’t think of this one first!
Slow cooker harvest butter! Made with apples, pears, and pumpkin. Probably not safe for canning, but awfully good for the freezer.
This banana bread, with it’s crust of pepitas, looks like everything I want in a quick, sweet bread. I’m also itching for a copy of the book from which it is adapted.
Towards the end of this post, there is a little narrative recipe for how to easily use a quart of pie filling, should you have some languishing in your pantry.
Did you know that there are and the amounts of fruit they must contain? There’s also a bonus recipe for baked apple jam in that post, though I might call it a conserve, thanks to the inclusion of dried fruit and nuts. The names of various preserves are so complex!
How one farmer approaches seed saving. Even though I don’t garden, I find this sort of thing fascinating.
Cider bourbon jam cocktails.
How to crack a walnut.
A Kickstarter for a sleek, modern fermenting crock.

The winner of last week’s A Kitchen Box giveaway is #91/Michelle in VA. If you didn’t win and are still curious about these kitchen-themed subscription boxes, don’t forget that they’re offering all Food in Jars readers $10 off the first month of any new AKB Subscription, along with a free Mini Box (while their limited stash lasts). If you want in on the deal, use the code ‘foodinjars’ in the coupon field at check-out.

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