Category Archives: preserving food

Pick A Peck Of Peppers

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Ann Lovejoy
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

To protect yourself, always use gloves when handling fresh chiles. Also, avoid touching yourself ANYWHERE, and keep some antihistamine (such as Benedryl) on hand in case of accidents. If hot peppers give your hands a “burn”, plunge them in cold water and take an antihistamine immediately; the burning sensation is a histamine response, so the usual burn treatments won’t help. Here’s another tip from direct experience; always work in a well ventilated space. When prepping peppers and when using a vegetable dehydrator, run a vent fan to avoid getting those volatile pepper oils in your eyes, nose, or throat and save yourself from a world of hurt.
Continue reading →

Posted in preserving food, Recipes, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living, Tomatoes, Vegan Recipes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Bevy Of Beans

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Ann Lovejoy
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Spunky Sizzled Beans

2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
1 pound Romano beans, ends trimmed
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
4-5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon finely chopped Ristra or any hot pepper
1-2 teaspoons raspberry vinegar (or any)

In a wide, shallow pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add beans, sprinkle with salt and cook without stirring until lightly charred (2-3 minutes). Flip with a fork or tongs, adding garlic and hot pepper. Cook until well browned (2-3 minutes). Splash with vinegar, stir to coat and serve. Serves 4. Continue reading →

Posted in preserving food, Recipes, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living, Vegan Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Extracts Of Summer

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Ann Lovejoy
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Nectarine & Lavender Vinegar

2 cups finely chopped ripe nectarines
2 tablespoons fresh or 1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
2 cups plain (unseasoned) rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar or honey

Combine all ingredients with 1/3 cup water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low, cover pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into a clean jar, cover and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight or up to 36 hours. The next day, strain into a clean bowl through a fine sieve or muslin, pressing gently to get all the liquid out. Pour liquid into a clean bottle, seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Makes about 2 cups. Continue reading →

Posted in preserving food, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Pickling Almost Anything

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Ann Lovejoy
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

A reader with a boatload of cucumbers asked for some recipes to help preserve the bounty. As it happens, I have an abundance of cucumbers as well, and spent a happy morning turning them into snappy garlic dills. While I was at it, I also pickled several other things, because I love the contrast a piquant pickle provides to a rich or lean meal. Spicy, savory or sweet, pickles can be made with fruit or vegetables and sometimes combine both. Back in the day, our ancestors pickled lemons, onions, and watermelon rind, and enjoyed garden-based concoctions like chow-chow, piccalilli and relishes. Before refrigeration, pickling was an easy way to preserve fruits and vegetables well into winter. Every well-stocked larder boasted rows of pickled beans, pickled peaches, pickled lemons, and even pickled eggs. Whether tart-sweet or savory, pickles graced American tables nearly every day of the year. Continue reading →

Posted in preserving food, Recipes, Sustainable Gardening, Vegan Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments