This is not a picture of all the pickled sweet summer turnips I made with this recipe. The other 10 jars are in the dining room... Last year I made fermented radish threads using one giant daikon radish and a recipe from "Beyond the Great Wall", a beautiful book about Chinese … [Read more...] about Variations on the Great Wall: Pickled Sweet Summer Turnip Threads with Szechuan Peppercorns
Canning and Preserves
Rum-Soaked Sour Cherry Molasses
"Hang on to that leftover hot syrup and leave it in the pan; that’s the most important part of the Boozy Cherry Molasses!" says Rebecca, the author of the blog "Foodie with Family: Eating high on the hog in Amish country" where I found this recipe. Well I'm sold, I … [Read more...] about Rum-Soaked Sour Cherry Molasses
Organic Sour Cherries Preserved in Rum Syrup
These should have been easy, but I over-cooked them, I think, because the skins started coming off like when you blanch tomatoes. So I did a second batch and got it right...again, I think. I also ended up with more cherries than sterilized jars, which is generally a horrible … [Read more...] about Organic Sour Cherries Preserved in Rum Syrup
Pickled Sour Cherries (aka “What I Didn’t Mess Up”)
So my organic sour cherry jam that was more like treacle was still delicious when the jar was slightly heated in hot water...not exactly spreadable, SO sticky sweet and addictive and horrible for your teeth. My pickled cherries, however, were perfect. They're not shelf-stable, … [Read more...] about Pickled Sour Cherries (aka “What I Didn’t Mess Up”)
Organic Sour Cherry Jam with Vanilla Amaretto
When making jam, do not: 1. Run out of sugar after you've pitted 6 pints of valuable organic sour cherries 2. Think powdered sugar is a suitable replace for that last cup of granulated sugar that you don't have 3. Forget that powdered sugar has cornstarch in it 4. Cry when … [Read more...] about Organic Sour Cherry Jam with Vanilla Amaretto
Organic Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam
Every time I look in my preserves cupboard now I smile. My fridge is also happy since I had some extra jam and no sterilized jars and had to leave some un-canned in glass jars in the fridge. So whether or not you actually want to put this jam in jars and seal them for later this … [Read more...] about Organic Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam
“What do you do with 30 Lbs of Cucumbers?” Part 4: Award-Winning Sweet and Sour Pickles
You're supposed to can these, but if you don't feel like sterilizing and going through all the trouble just to make a small batch of sugary cucumber pickles, just skip the sterilizing and boiling jars steps and store the pickles in your fridge in a glass jar for maybe up to 3 … [Read more...] about “What do you do with 30 Lbs of Cucumbers?” Part 4: Award-Winning Sweet and Sour Pickles
“What do you do with 30 Lbs of Cucumbers?” Part 3: Dill Pickles
In between sushi meals, I pickled. There's a whole lot of energy in sweetened and vinegared white rice, it turns out. Finding a good basic dill pickle recipe, however, turned out to be tricky. Now I know I should have gone either to my Joy of Cooking or to the US National Centre … [Read more...] about “What do you do with 30 Lbs of Cucumbers?” Part 3: Dill Pickles
Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls with Cauliflower
So I made a test batch of cabbage rolls for my friend's party and then another batch at his house. I used the same recipe except for a few spices, and all in all, both worked just fine. Since my friend and I eat partly raw I figured I'd do the raw substitute for rice and use … [Read more...] about Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls with Cauliflower
Sauerkraut-Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Don't Knock 'em til you Try 'em. When a good cook friend who makes litres of sauerkraut for personal use insists that he lives on sauerkraut-peanut butter sandwiches on his home-made sourdough bread, you have to be a bit skeptical. But when he trades you a jar for some of your … [Read more...] about Sauerkraut-Peanut Butter Sandwiches