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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Year of Plenty

“Food In Jars” Blog a Helpful Online Companion for Canning Summer’s Bounty

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Foodista,the aspiring wikipedia of cooking, is featuring Food In Jars as their food blog of the moment. I recommend it as a good one to go to and learn about the experience of home canning, with one caveat - don't use the site's recipes unless they are cross referenced as scientifically tested recipes from Ball or So Easy to Preserve.

The blog seems to be well informed and the author even teaches canning classes, but I get a little nervous when I hear things on the blog like, "Sometimes, making pickles is so easy that it doesn’t even require a recipe." The author is speaking from the understanding that the general rule of thumb for pickling is to use half vinegar and half water for the brine. This is true, but what I fear is that someone who is less informed about home canning might just leap to the assumption that recipes aren't important, and that home canning is a great opportunity to improvise with a culinary flourish. The most important lesson from my Master Food Preserver course is to strictly follow the recipes from sources using scientifically tested recipes. Any time low acid vegetables are involved, don't mess around.

With that being said, the site looks engaging and motivational. Go check it out.

Go here for my series of posts from the Master Food Preserver Course.



Year of Plenty

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com