Lisa LaCivita
This time of year is ripe with fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden, famers’ markets and farm stands. So delicious! You can save a taste of summer by making preserves or jellies, pickles, drying or freezing this summer’s bounty. The library has an extensive cookbook section which includes books on canning and preserving such as: Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, Better Homes and Gardens You Can Can, The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving and Foolproof Preserving
Our non-fiction books are arranged by number (Dewey Decimal Classification System); similar topics will be grouped together. Preserving food books will be 641.4. Canning is a more specific way to preserve food; the canning books are numbered 641.42.
There are other ways to preserve the harvest besides canning. Freezing can be quick and easy but it is also useful to seek out guidance and tips for best results. Drying foods, especially fruits, can create healthy and enjoyable snacks. A sampling of books on preserving food includes: The Beginner's Guide to Preserving Food at Home, The Beginner's Guide to Dehydrating Food, The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest and The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food.
Fermented foods are ones that I do not have much experience with, but that does not mean that you shouldn’t check them out. Of course, we have books on this topic too! The Art of Fermentation, Fermented Vegetables, Fiery Ferments: 70 stimulating recipes for hot sauces, spicy chutneys, Kimchis With Kick, and Home Fermentation: a starter guide can get you on your way.
It is impossible to think of a fall harvest and not include apples. Here is just one book to whet your appetite: An apple harvest: recipes and orchard lore. Our cookbook section is filled with recipes to help enjoy our local bounty. Universal Class (another great library resource, scroll down after clicking the link, to see the list of 31 course categories) offers a free course in How to Can, Freeze, Dry and Preserve Food. Eleven lessons provide comprehensive coverage in a video format. While you are there, check out the many other Universal Class topics, over 500 courses are available!