Why? Because you can! And pickle, and jam, or otherwise celebrate the resurgence of the domestic arts our forebears held so dear. Put on your best apron and step into our kitchen, won't you?
I decided to spice things up by nestling vanilla beans and star anise in with the peaches. We felt that those spice notes would work great with the bourbon used in these lovelies.
Tender butternut squash is steeped in vodka until fragrant. The infused vodka is then sweetened with a homemade syrup spiced with cinnamon, clove, black pepper, fennel and star anise.
With small batch canning I am able to take care of that pile of carrots and create a fantastic garnish. These slightly sweet and quite spicy pickles work great on sandwiches, soups and curries, or as a side for any brunch that needs some extra kick.
An easy amplification of fall's favorite fruit: pears. "You can't buy that in any store!" is high praise indeed, so adding a mix of frangrant spices elevates homemade jam to top notch gift quality. The holidays are coming...
A simple crabapple jelly livened up with the spicy and aromatic star anise for an intriguing take on the traditional jelly that's just as happy to be nestled beside your poultry as it is atop your toast.
