Canning Archives - East of Eden Cooking

2019/01/30

Lemon Lime Marmalade

Lemon Lime Marmalade is bright and tangy with in season citrus. A spark of lime flavor adds depth and mystery to the mostly lemon marmalade.

“It was a deluge of a winter in the Salinas Valley, wet and wonderful. The rains fell gently and soaked in and did not freshet. The feed was deep in January, and in February the hills were fat with grass and the coats of the cattle looked tight and sleek.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Marmalade inspiration is everywhere during winter citrus season. An almost endless variety of citrus opens the door to unique flavor combinations. This is why I make my own. Excellent orange marmalade is always available at the store. Lemon Lime Marmalade? Time to make my own batch. Last year’s lemon marmalade was lovely, I want outstanding. A spark of lime flavor adds depth and mystery to the mostly lemon marmalade. The Mr. has set aside his favorite blueberry jam and is having sweet and tangy Lemon Lime Marmalade on his morning toast. This is a complete surprise. Is it possible to convert someone to #CitrusLove? READ MORE . . .

2018/02/18

Lemon Marmalade

Every shiny scoop of Lemon Marmalade is the collision of sweet and tart. An explosion of lemon flavor captures the season of citrus in every jar of Lemon Marmalade.

“Liza was a good plain cook, and her house—it was always her house—was brushed and pummeled and washed.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

When it comes to cooking and baking my rebellious streak is tempered by “Is this something we will eat? With enthusiasm? Is this good use of resources, my time and food?” Bonus, if I can be creative and find joy in the making. Lemon Marmalade checks all the boxes. The collision of sweet and tart is in every shiny scoop. Using up an array of lemons, big and small, thick and thin skinned, Lisbon and a few Meyer, is what makes Lemon Marmalade so appealing. Canning with what’s in season always brings the best flavor and least cost. The joy of filling the pantry with homemade is not to be underestimated. READ MORE . . .

2017/09/242018/01/25

Roasted Apple Butter with Maple Syrup

A Change of Seasons

You aren’t planning to start preserving? Well, why shouldn’t we?

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Fruit butter is this month’s Food in Jars Mastery Challenge. There were so many decisions, what fruit to use and then what method of cooking. I was so very tempted to try peach or nectarine butter but the gravitational pull of autumn was more than I could resist. We stopped by Gizdich Ranch and bought newly harvested apples. On the day we went they had tiny, tiny Gravensteins, Golden Grimes, Honeycrisp, Gala and Mutsu apples. After sampling them all I chose the tangy, green skinned Mutsu for apple butter and baking. A few Golden Grimes and Honeycrisp came home for afternoon snacking. Apple season is here and I’m planning on enjoying every crisp slice. READ MORE . . .

2017/07/272018/01/25

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

The Hot Pack Challenge

“She was gay and frightened about the visit to Salinas. She liked the idea so well that she felt there must be something bordering on sin involved in it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We’re deep into July and the Food in Jars Mastery Challenge is in the seventh month. Seriously how is it the end of July? It’s that time of year when canning projects explode with the momentum of summer. Here along the central coast of California local tomatoes and peppers will peak late next month. Our summers are later than most, September and early October bring the most heat. It’s then that I’ll make huge batches of traditional salsa with local, dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes. For this month’s canning challenge I tried something new, Roasted Tomatillo Salsa. READ MORE . . .

2017/06/192018/03/23

Olallieberry Jam

The First Berries

“You’re smart. You think she might be in Watsonville? There or maybe Santa Cruz. Anyways, I’ll give it odds she ain’t further away than San Jose. She caressed her fingers tenderly. Would you like to make five hundred dollars Joe?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The Food in Jars Mastery Challenge for June is jam! Homemade berry jam is sublime. Use the freshest, sweetest berries for the best tasting jam. Berry jam is easy too, there is no pitting or chopping. This isn’t something that can be purchased at the farmers’ market or upscale grocery store. This is your jam, something you made with local, seasonal ingredients. Six months from now this summer’s jam will be the best thing in your pantry. It will be winter, every scoop of berry jam will bring thoughts of summer. It doesn’t get any better than this. READ MORE . . .