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?
Love radishes but toss the greens? Don't! Those fresh greens can be part of a salad or soup. They can be sautéed. And they can be the base of a fabulous pesto! You'll love this!
Scared off by the prospect of making jam? Remember one number: 223. That's the temperature (in Fahrenheit) that your gorgeous mixture needs to reach to jell. Everything else is just cooking!
In San Diego, loquats are ubiquitous and largely ignored, even when heavy with their delectable, unique fruits. Marmalade making yields its own pectin, and adding loquats softens the texture and reduces the added sugar.
Mulberry season has come earlier and earlier the past couple years to my yard, which means my canning season begins now! One of my favorite mulberry recipes is jam with balsamic vinegar and rapadura sugar, with deep colors and intense flavors.
I love loquats and love that my neighborhood has trees for me to pick from. But the season is short and the fruit is delicate--so you have to be creative in how you enjoy them. Pickling solves that dilemma. My friend Amy Finley shares her recipe.