Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday's Freebie: Yes! You Can!

That jar o' jam was not that hard to do.
My daughter is going back to school to become a registered dietitian. (Big applause for L! That's a hard choice to make... going deep into debt with student loans, putting adulthood on hold and heading back into the classroom because her first degree was just not lighting her fire.) I'm very proud of her for making this decision. And, of course, this new path is prompting all sorts of food, nutrition and dietary discussions.

I sort of made the resolution ~ (made it in my head, but I guess, now, I'm declaring it) ~ to grow more and store more during this upcoming garden season. I've avoided this like the plague! The idea of canning and preserving? Good Lord... I truly have become my Mother.

But, I just finished reading this book and it's got me kind of excited. Because it's a modern day bible on how to freeze, dry, can, sugar and ferment my way to nutritional bliss. (Ferment had me really excited but I'm sorry to say there was no how-to on Dandelion Wine.)

Would you like this book? 
I have a copy to give away. 

Just leave a comment and promise me faithfully that you'll truly follow through and cook up a batch of freezer jam. Or, some other delightful thing.

"Yes! You Can! And Freeze and Dry It, Too" is a modern step by step guide to preserving food. Written by Daniel Gasteiger.

Cold Springs Press gave this book to me to read and review.

I give it 2 thumbs up and now I'm giving it to you. Just leave me a comment.

* Update 1/31/2012. The drawing has now ended. Congratulations, Melospiza, winner of this truly great book.

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16 comments:

Liza Downey said...

Yes! I'd love a copy and I do so solemnly swear I'll can something awesome. Maybe not as good as my Grandmother's sweet and sour pickles, but I know I'll get an A for effort!

monica said...

Me too! I'd love to have some guidance — I worry about killing people with improperly sterilizes jars... ;)

Anonymous said...

Please don't enter me in the contest, but I wanted to offer congratulations and encouragement to your daughter on her big step. It's an important decision and I send her every good wish for success :)

Melospiza said...

I routinely (=almost once a year, most years) made jam and pickles before my kids were born, and I'm dying to do that again, to show my kids that it's possible (and that we can LIKE it.) I'd love a copy. And I'd make it a Thing to follow through.

Liz said...

This is a fun giveaway. I would love a canning "bible" and I like that it includes other methods of preserving as well.

Rilly said...

I spent 30 yrs. raising a large family and it's been 25 yrs. since the last one left home and I'm still having a hard time learning to cook for 2. That's where my vacuum sealer comes in handy. I make strawberry freezer jam every year because we grow such beautiful berries here in the PNW. I never inherited my mom's penchant for canning but may resort to it if prices get any higher....and my son plants a garden.

Bonnie K said...

I love cookbooks and I love canning, so what an excellent combination. I happen to have a recipe for dandilion wine. Go figure I have no dandilions. Let me know if you want it.

growingagardenindavis said...

I have jam down pretty well... I'd love to step up to the next level. Drying, sugaring?, and fermenting...I'm curious!

rina said...

I've just recently started following your blog (I live at 6700 feet). I love gardening and canning. You can never have too many cookbooks! Please enter me in the giveaway.

Laney said...

Having never done it before, I canned tomatoes a couple of summers ago; it was very easy and I felt such an incredible sense of accomplishment - I still pat myself on the back!

Marguerite said...

I have been thinking and thinking about learning how to can food but like you - have I become my mother already! yikes. That said, I have to learn because the garden keeps putting out more food and my trick of throwing everything straight into the freezer to deal with later has resulted in bags of apples in a permanent state of freezer burn. Canned apple sauce would be so much nicer.

Rose said...

Congratulations to your daughter! In these days of high tuition, that isn't an easy decision, but, as I always have told my children, it's more important to find a career you enjoy than anything else.

I think I've already turned into my mother:) Canning was a summer tradition at our house when I was growing up. These days I'll put up (can) pickles, fruit, and jam, but I prefer to freeze everything else. An unfortunate incident with a pressure cooker and some green beans many years ago made me swear off that type of canning:(

RURAL said...

I will finally have the space to have a freezer, a extra cupboard, and the room to store anything I can can, freeze, dry, or cook. Horray!!! You have no idea how wonderful that feels.

And way to go for your daughter, its a big step, but one she won't regret years from now. We all take different roads to bliss.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Anonymous said...

Daniel is a great guy and has written an awesome book on canning. I grew up in a home where canning was a way of life as my Grandmother and mother were always "putting up" something for the winter... This would would set me on my way to canning goodness indeed.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Oooh! I'm so glad we discovered each other on FB. This is something I've been wanting to learn. My grandmother passed away before she could ever educate me on the techniques of canning and preserving food. What I've learned, I've done on my own, bumbling through.
I've made freezer jam and froze our peaches and apples, and I've made fridge pickles with our veggie garden produce.
But I want to do so much more!

So yes,, please enter me! :)

~Lisa

Carolyn said...

OOh..maybe even I could make something if I had this book! I've actually made freezer jam once and it was great!