Monday Giveaway — “Canning and Preserving,” by Ashley English

by Katy on October 11, 2010 · 130 comments

Don’t bemoan the start of another work week, as Mondays are cause for celebration here at The Non-Consumer Advocate. Because, yes, it’s time for another Monday Giveaway. Today’s prize is a lovely and autographed hardback copy of:

Canning and Preserving with Ashley English: All you Need to Know to Make James, Jellies, Pickles, Chutneys & More.

This beautifully crafted book is the first in English’s Homemade Living series, and is published by the lovely people over at Lark Books. (Seriously, the books arrived with a hand written card that was a fancy as a wedding invite!) There’s also a book on Keeping Chickens, (which will be next week’s giveaway) as well as books on Keeping Bees and Homemade Dairy, which are scheduled for publication March of 2011. Ms English also writes the blog Small Measure, which is a darling chronicle of her projects and thoughts.

This book is fantastic, and would be appropriate for either the beginner or expert canner. It’s chock full of concrete canning information, as well as creative ideas and recipes. The photography is gorgeous, yet informative. And the best part is that Ashley is married to my friend Glenn, with whom I attended Antioch college. They are expecting their first baby any day now, and I can only imagine how lucky their little Nugget will be to grow up with such loving parents.

To enter to win this book, please write something about canning in the comments section below. I will randomly choose a winner on Wednesday, October 13th at midnight. U.S. Residents only, please enter one time only. Good luck!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

{ 127 comments… read them below or add one }

Jenni October 11, 2010 at 4:16 am

I started canning this year and have become addicted. My favorite discovery was that I can make and preserve my own ketchup. I’ll never go back!

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Lora October 11, 2010 at 4:19 am

I have fond memories of my grandmother canning and making preserves. I regret that my mother and I never learned how to do these things. I’m very interested in this book because I want to start canning and making foods such as pickles, chutneys, and jams, but I’m in need of instructions from an expert on how to do so properly since I’ve often heard that errors could be dangerous.

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Elly Hoehnle October 11, 2010 at 4:20 am

I’ve been canning for just 2 years now and am loving discovering things that my grandmother knew! I would love to get my hands on this book.

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Angela October 11, 2010 at 4:26 am

I have absolutely wonderful memories of my grandma’s canned peaches and pears. I haven’t canned yet, but I always wanted to learn. Awesome giveaway!

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Leanne October 11, 2010 at 4:30 am

I wish I could learn how to can so I could recreate the wonderful dilled carrots my nana used to make for me.

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Cyndi October 11, 2010 at 4:59 am

Last summer I made so much jam that despite giving a lot away, we are still eating. I could use some help branching out…

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Crystal October 11, 2010 at 4:59 am

Canning was never something that was done in my family. But I remember when I found out my ex-boyfriends grandma canned, I was crazy excited. It is definitely a skill I am going to pick up.

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Maureen October 11, 2010 at 5:14 am

My daughter just married into a canning family. One great grandfather has a huge hobby farm and everyone helps can. This year there is a wonderful picture of the other great grandfather, grandfather and grandson who is 2-1/2, putting the tomatoes thru the mill. The great grandfather just passed away, so this picture will hold a special place in their hearts.

When it came time for wedding favors everyone helped out canning strawberry jam and there is plenty left over!

I would love to give this book to my daughter as a newlywed and a new canner!

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Lee Ann L. October 11, 2010 at 5:27 am

Ohhh, I’ve been wanting to do make some jam/preserves and pickles! The store bought jam/jellies have high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient and I’m trying to get away from that junk.

I even went so far to try to make some Strawberry jam about two months ago and that flopped. It was more like a syrup than jam! LOL.

This sounds like a good book to own. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll learn how to make jam the right way! LOL. 🙂

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kaela October 11, 2010 at 5:49 am

I’m well into my 3rd season of canning and there are 100’s of jars on the pantry shelves. I know Ashley has some fabulous recipes, however, so I’d be thrilled to increase the preserving library by one more book!

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Grace October 11, 2010 at 5:58 am

I would love to learn how to preserve, I have a lychee fruit tree and a loquat tree that I need to take advantage of!

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Steph October 11, 2010 at 5:58 am

I’ve tackled freezer jam, and I now want to learn to can. I’d thoroughly enjoy a copy of this book. Thanks for the give-away!

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Alicia October 11, 2010 at 5:59 am

I started canning over the summer and it ended up being a huge adventure. It turned out that my mom had bought a canner that had sat, unused, in my basement for over a decade; however, I couldn’t use it on our new glass-top stove. My dad and I then pulled out his camp stove from the 1970s to see if we could use that. The seal on the gas pump wasn’t as tight as it should have been so we pulled off a quick fix using hand lotion (?!). I ended up canning several pints of delicious, fresh peach jam on my deck. It’s made a great present to share with family members but I’d really like to improve my knowledge of canning and try out new recipes.

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Rebecca October 11, 2010 at 6:17 am

I grew up helping my mom and grandma can, but only waterbath canning. After our garden massivly overproduced this year, I have recently purchased a 23qt pressure canner and LOVE IT! Can’t wait for next years garden.

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Lucy October 11, 2010 at 6:17 am

Oh my gosh — I love this book. I just had a little canning party at my house yesterday and we actually used this book extensively to guide us along. We canned the tomato-basil sauce recipe. This book answers every question a newbie might have! Since I’m using a library copy, I’d love to have a copy of my own!

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Raven October 11, 2010 at 6:20 am

Oooh!! How exciting! I am afraid of pressure canners and of canning anything other than tomatoes & fruit, because I’m scared I’ll screw it up. This would be a great book to have to help me get out of the rut and into more canning!

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psmflowerlady/Tammy October 11, 2010 at 6:21 am

I’ve been bitten BAD by the canning bug. Did tomatoes and pickled beets last year and this year I had to clean out a closet to keep all of my beautiful canned food in!!! I’m so excited that even though I can’t garden to save my life, I can still preserve someone’s local harvest for enjoyment throughout the year. Do you think she’d write a gardening book? Just teasing – I do love her blog though which I found on your blogroll.

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Kim October 11, 2010 at 6:32 am

I started canning for the first time this year. i started with tomatoes and spaghetti sauce and will be moving on the apple butter this week. It’s been fun!

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Kate October 11, 2010 at 6:57 am

This book looks awesome! I have been canning green beans and blackberry jelly for the last few years. I just recently tried applesauce. I would love to be able to branch out even more. Thanks for having such great giveaways!

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kayduh October 11, 2010 at 7:03 am

So far, I have only tried freezer jam, but I am gathering my courage to do the real thing!

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chppie October 11, 2010 at 7:12 am

I had a chance to look at a copy of this and it is a great read as well as informational. I make jam in the bread machine or crock pot but have yet to traditionally can. I like unusual flavors so am really looking forward to canning up some creative Christmas presents.

I also follow Ashley’s blog and find your link funny. You just never know who knows who in real life!

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Julie October 11, 2010 at 7:19 am

I’d love this! Just starting canning last year, after moving to a small peach orchard. Thanks!

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Missy Lindley October 11, 2010 at 7:26 am

My parents canned A LOT when I grew up, and my husband and I gave it a go with peaches several years ago. After we moved from the Willamette Valley, we took a hiatus, and only just started back at it this year, since moving back to the agricultural mecca called Marion County. After all my heirloom tomatoes came on at once (finally!), I canned a tomato jam that I hope will make for nice gifts to co-workers at the holidays. Also, apples from our tree and our neighbor’s tree became canned applesauce. Honestly, I don’t know what took me so long! I’m addicted! Next year = pickles!

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Jean Mittelstaedt October 11, 2010 at 7:30 am

The hub is actually the canner in our house. He developed an interest a few years ago in making his own applesauce and then moved to jam. He watches the gleaning notices and tries for all the free fruit he can. He’s got a favorite blackberry spot pointed out to him by another old timer. I admit he’s gotten pretty good at it–although an elderberry jam experiment a couple of years ago will go down in our family folklore in infamy…

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Rebecca S. October 11, 2010 at 7:37 am

My father, aunts and uncles share memories of their mother (who died before I was born) filling thier family’s basment with colorful jars of canned vegetables, and how comforting it was to go down in the fall and see all of that food stored for the winter! They don’t can things anymore, but I’d love to give my dad some canned food to fill his pantry with.

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Anne October 11, 2010 at 7:55 am

I’ve been interested in trying canning but have not had a chance to yet. This book would be helpful in getting a start!

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Sue October 11, 2010 at 8:15 am

I would love to can without fear — rather than the freezer jam/freeze-the-vegetable method that I have going on now! 🙂

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Stephanie October 11, 2010 at 8:16 am

My husband has a portable outdoor propane grill, and it is the most amazing tool for canning! I get 2 huge water canners heated up in 15 minutes and then process twice the number of jars at once (without heating up the kitchen). My friends come over, and we set up an assembly line and crank out dozens of jars in a day. It goes so quickly when you’re not always waiting for the water to boil!

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Elizabeth L. October 11, 2010 at 8:36 am

I’ve always wanted to give canning a try! I’m afraid of it, even after reading tons and tons of blogs and articles about how easy it is. I’ve yet to buy or check out a book on though. Maybe this would be a good way for me to get started!

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Rosanne Mays October 11, 2010 at 8:39 am

My favorite thing about canning is that if the electricity goes off the food doesn’t! :o)

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TraciFree October 11, 2010 at 8:39 am

I vividly remember my mother shooing the kids out of the kitchen for a few days every August while she toiled over boiling pots. The heat and the steam made her more than a little crazy, but we ALL enjoyed the fruit and tomatos come mid February. I’d love to provide that same brand of craziness to my kids, but was uninterested at the time my mother tried to teach me. Sadly, now my own mom is to the point where remembering how to can fruit is not as important as remembering the names of her nurses. I missed my chance, and am looking for an opportunity at redemption.

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Martha October 11, 2010 at 8:50 am

I’m just dipping my big toe into the world of canning – this book would be a big help in my conversion!

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Brenda Turner October 11, 2010 at 8:53 am

I made blueberry jam from my own blueberries this year! I would love to know how to can many other foods.

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Courtney October 11, 2010 at 8:56 am

I just went apple picking and am looking forward to canning some applesauce! I’d love to learn more through this book.

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Sara October 11, 2010 at 9:02 am

I would love to learn how to can, it’s definitely on my todo list! It would save me some money too as we are big pickle eaters and 100% fruit jam eaters, and those can be pricey.

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Anne October 11, 2010 at 9:09 am

I remember my mom doing some canning when I was young, but I’ve always been a bit leery because of the time involved/fear of poisoning someone. Pretty lame excuses I know.

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Anne Marie @ Married to the Empire October 11, 2010 at 9:22 am

Oooh, I could use this book. All of my canning attempts have been failures. Good thing I’m a terrible gardener, or I’d be in serious trouble!

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Jackie October 11, 2010 at 9:37 am

I remember by grandmother’s canned dill pickles. The recipe has been lost and no one has ever been able to recreate it. She stored them under her bed because of lack of cabinet space.

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lynda October 11, 2010 at 9:39 am

I like to can. This year I was looking for recipes for cucumbers. We had a bountiful cucumber harvest. There are only so many of one kind of pickle we can eat before it gets old. More recipes would be great. Thanks for the offer.

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April October 11, 2010 at 9:39 am

I haven’t tried canning yet but I would love to have this book to start learning how.

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Stacey October 11, 2010 at 9:54 am

I love this book! I got it from the library a while ago, but could only keep it for 3 weeks because it was so popular! I got into canning for the first time this year, and packed our cupboards full of canned goods, so I know this book would be a good resource for years to come!

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Christopher October 11, 2010 at 9:54 am

I’ve been canning for more than twenty years, and using my mother’s old canning pot, which I remember from when I was a kid. I just finished making this year’s marmalade batch, with my daughter (age 15) who was the real motivator to do it (she and I are the only ones in the house who eat the marmalade–40+ half-pints this year; better get hungry!!). Every year we do a huge production of Pomegranate Jelly, with the fruit from our neighbors’ tree. Some years I make pickles, hot sauce, salsa, or tomato sauce, but mostly these days I’ve settled in with the jellies. Recommendation: Pomona’s Pectin, in the light blue box. Lets you make low-sugar recipies that gel nicely.

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Anne Weber-Falk October 11, 2010 at 10:13 am

I have always wanted to really can but have been too afraid to. The closest I have come to canning anything is freezer jam. That’s not canning. I would really like to make spicy pickled green beans. A neighbor of mine used to make these and would give me a jar every fall. I miss those yummy beans.

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Christine S October 11, 2010 at 10:13 am

I’ve been wanting to start canning, but with my first kid just 11 weeks old, I missed a lot of the summer produce. Love to next year though!

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Lauren October 11, 2010 at 10:16 am

Im new to canning, and completely addicted. Im doing all sorts of stuff for Christmas baskets this year, and cant wait to get started!

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary October 11, 2010 at 10:23 am

My mom used to do some canning when I was young, and we all enjoyed it. I’ve been nervous due to the large supply of materials that seem to be needed.

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WilliamB October 11, 2010 at 10:48 am

I’ve tried canning twice, neither time successful. Given my general level of success in the kitchen these were hard lessons in humility for me! A book like this could really help.

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Gwen October 11, 2010 at 12:10 pm

I’ve been canning for years–fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. I actually haven’t done much in the jams and jellies dept. because they’re a bit more labor intensive. But I’ve got a freezer that’s too full of blueberries and I would love to turn some of them into blueberry jam!

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Nancy October 11, 2010 at 12:11 pm

I love the thought of canning, but am completely intimidated by the thought of trying it!

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Lindsey October 11, 2010 at 12:20 pm

I love, love, love canning and would really appreciate expanding my very limited resource library on the topic. Thanks for the opportunity!

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Jessi October 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm

I started canning just last month. I got a bunch of jars and equipment off freecycle and 20 lbs of tomatoes from my CSA and I made a bunch of BBQ sauce and bruschetta-in-a-jar. I used the ball book of preserving, which is great, but I’m really hankering for some updated recipes.

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Deb October 11, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Gosh I would love to have this book!

I taught myself to can a few years ago, just some basics with water bath canning. I had a prolific plum tree in my yard, and decided to make jam. The best jam ever! Then I canned my tomato harvests, then moved on to canning peaches. Opening a jar of those peaches in midwinter is like serving pure summer sunshine, they’re beyond delicious!

I purchased a pressure canner last summer, but haven’t had the nerve to use it. I haven’t gone beyond the basics I described above, but I would really like to!

Incidentally, when I first got into canning about 5 years ago, people would actually tease me about it. Now that it’s become popular again, I don’t feel like a kitchen geek anymore. :o)

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mamafitz October 11, 2010 at 1:14 pm

i taught myself how to make jam over 10 years ago, but this year i started canning other things. i’ve put up ketchup, peaches, and tomatoes. i would love to try pressure canning, so i can put up my chicken stock. our freezer died this summer and i didn’t realize it until most everything was thawed. i had to throw out so much meat and stock. 🙁

fingers crossed i get picked!

Linda

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Melissa October 11, 2010 at 1:19 pm

I’ve just recently started reading up on canning – one of my coworkers has a prolific garden and always brings in fresh produce. We have all been talking about canning so that we can use up all of her bounty.

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Janice Marcy October 11, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I am new to canning. My husband and I have made cherry jelly from our backyard cherry tree, blueberry jam and huckleberry jam. Recently, I helped my aunt make some stewed tomatos. They were the very best tomatos I have ever eaten. I plan on having a small garden next year and canning as much as I can. (No pun intended.) A canner is at the top of my wish list. We have been looking for a nice used canner on craigslist or at yard sales.

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Sheri October 11, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Hello there…I’ve always froze applesauce but this year decided to can it. It was a lot of work but worth it. I definitely want to try other foods next year. Thanks for the great giveaway–love your blog!

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Laurie October 11, 2010 at 3:07 pm

I just started canning this past month. A co-worker brought me a five gallon bucket of concord grapes. I made 12 delicious jars of jelly. My tomatoes stopped turning red so I made green tomato salsa – very tasty. I am so intrigued by canning. I would love to learn more. Would love to win the book.

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Jaime October 11, 2010 at 3:07 pm

I would LOVE this book! I have done a little canning and I would love to learn more about the art.

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Beth D. October 11, 2010 at 3:18 pm

For the past 3 years, I have been slowly learning to can and this year I tried so many new things. I made jam, tomato sauce, plain tomatoes, green beans (in a pressure cooker), dill pickles, green chilies, and made flavored alcohol with the leftover raspberry pulp. The more I do, the more confident I become and I want to preserve everything!

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Traci October 11, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Just did my first canning-pickled okra. It actually worked and it tastes yummy but truly, how much pickled okra can one eat? I’d love to have recipes and help for other yummy things! Thanks

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LT October 11, 2010 at 3:39 pm

I have 2 bags of grapes (picked from our own backyard!) in the freezer waiting for me to take the leap & try my hand at canning. Now I just have to convince my husband that it’s enough of a priority to take away time from our various home improvement projects! 🙂

Looks like a great book!

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Virginia Bruce October 11, 2010 at 3:53 pm

if you want to eat local, you have to put food away for the winter…and use what you put away! Think about how you’ll eat it before you can it!

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Mackenzie October 11, 2010 at 4:30 pm

I would love this book! I’ve been wanting to learn to can, so I can give homemade jams and jellies as gifts along with my homemade bread!

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MovingSeas October 11, 2010 at 4:39 pm

My only canning experience was with my grandmother when I was a little girl. I wish I had had the wherewithal to write down some how-to’s back then, as I am very eager to learn the art of canning and put the knowledge to work!

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jessica October 11, 2010 at 4:41 pm

I have no experience with canning but a book like this would be a great introduction!!

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Patches October 11, 2010 at 4:45 pm

My husband started his first garden this summer and is looking forward to learning how to can his produce. I would love to win this book to help him get started.

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namastemama October 11, 2010 at 4:51 pm

We have been canning for a few years. We started with tomato sauce and every year add a few things. This year we made tomato ketchup for the first time. We don’t eat that much so we’ll have enough for the whole year. It’s so good.

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Jana October 11, 2010 at 4:52 pm

I would love to have this book! I am learning how to can and my mother is learning how to adart recipes for a low sodium diet. This would be great to help us both along on our journey of having wonderful products on hand!

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Jana October 11, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Ok adapt.

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Connor October 11, 2010 at 4:56 pm

I used to can with my grandmother when I was younger. She was VERY particular about her watermelon rind preserves and woe to the child who wasn’t doing the best job of measuring 😉

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Sam Jones October 11, 2010 at 4:59 pm

I’ve been canning since I was 17 years old and never grow tired of it. But what I have grown tired of is my old, stained, worn out canning recipe books. I live near the author of the book being offered and keep chickens and bees too, so we have a lot in common, a lot to share…

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Ben October 11, 2010 at 5:00 pm

I have wanted to can for a while now. I finally have my wife convinced to let me try some applebutter this year. Would love to have a book on canning.

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Jill October 11, 2010 at 5:04 pm

I fondly remember walking into the basement of our ‘new to us’ century-old farmhouse when I was about 10. I was completely transfixed by the rows of colorful jars all lined up on a shelf – as if in homage to the past residents and as a gift to the new. Clearly, someone had lovingly, painstakingly canned those numerous jars of garden bounty, and all of a sudden, I took to farm life with leaps and bounds. When we moved to our current home, now across the country from that farm house, we discovered a hidden room in the basement with row after row of empty shelving, just waiting for the jars of garden produce. Sadly, I have not had the proper instructions to can safely. For this reason, I would love to receive this book!

Thanks for the opportunity, Katy!

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Darla October 11, 2010 at 5:16 pm

Oh! I love Ashley’s blog and have been dying to get this book. I am such a wanna-be canner, ready to take the next step!

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Shannon October 11, 2010 at 5:31 pm

This is a great book…I currently have a copy from the library (due back soon!) and I really want to own it because my first attempts at canning over the past two years have been less than successful. It is beautiful and easy to understand, and it will be on my Christmas list this year if I don’t win 🙂

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Molly On Money October 11, 2010 at 5:44 pm

I just started canning this summer. I can use all the help I can get!

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Kristin October 11, 2010 at 5:45 pm

Oh I would LOVE this book. I have canned my fresh garden produce every year but this one….we ate it all! I am always searching for more recipe’s and always have questions on how to can something. Great giveaway! Thanks.

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Kristen Harrison October 11, 2010 at 5:45 pm

Canning reminds me of my grandmother and mom and I think it’s somewhat of a lost art. I wish I had learned more from them about canning when I had the chance.

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Annie B. October 11, 2010 at 5:56 pm

A friend and I canned 80 pounds of tomatoes and pickled 20 pounds of cucumbers this summer. I hadn’t canned in many years and it was a hoot. We open the pickles to test on Halloween! We are saving the tomatoes until winter arrives.

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Carol October 11, 2010 at 6:02 pm

I’m 55 years old and I just learned to can this summer! Shows you’re never too old to learn a new skill. I bought my pressure cooker at an estate sale – it had belonged to an 80 year old woman who had had it for 50 years. It works great! And I feel such a tie to the past and a hope for self-sufficiency for the future by learning to can foods.

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Sarah T. October 11, 2010 at 6:03 pm

I know nothing about canning, and I’m dying to learn. I would love love love this book!!!!

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Martha October 11, 2010 at 6:16 pm

canning is fun and not as intimidating as it felt in my 20s…now I can peaches and tomatoes and pickle green beans at a minimum–and then applesauce and pickles if we’ve eaten the previous year’s–and jams if our bro in law isn’t going to give us tons–would love the book for more ideas…

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EMO October 11, 2010 at 6:17 pm

I’d like to learn more about canning!

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Karen October 11, 2010 at 6:26 pm

Canning is such a great way to connect the garden to the table and eat really locally ; ) I have canned off and on for the past 30 years but have used the same old books over and over. I am mainly interested in making chutneys and flavored oils, vinegars and liqueurs.

My latest project was making cherry vinegar. I can’t wait to make dressing with it when it has aged enough–about another month. Ashley English’s book sounds intriguing.

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Beth October 11, 2010 at 7:18 pm

I do not can. But I like to think of myself as a canner. I want to not be intimidated by the equipment I’ve had for a year in my basement. I want to grow tomatoes by the dozens, knowing that they won’t go to waste because they’ll be sauces for future meals. I want to buy peaches by the crate, knowing they’ll taste splendid on my boys’ tongues in January. And I want to have shelves heavy with jams from so many berry-picking adventures.
I want to take to canning easily, with the confidence that so many in generations before me had. Perhaps a book like this will guide me?

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Jay October 11, 2010 at 7:25 pm

I’ve only canned a bit with my grandmother, in the last couple of years, but I’m ready to put up my own batches of home grown stuff now. I love the way the beautiful jars look, all lined up in the cellar!

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Jessica October 11, 2010 at 7:27 pm

I want to do this! Especially with our yummy local raspberries and blueberries in the summertime. 🙂

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Tami October 11, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Canning is the only way I can deal with 70 lbs of pears! Chutney, jam, brandied and poached! It’s been so much fun!

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Lisa P October 11, 2010 at 8:03 pm

What a great giveaway! I am really interested in learning how to can correctly and keep window shopping the canning supplies area in my local grocery store. My mom always taught me that canning was “dangerous” and that one could become very sick (although I vaguely recall that her mother canned tons of tomatos & and I didn’t hear of anyone becoming ill) so I’ve been a little wary. I really do want to learn how to can safely & correctly and this book would be my guide. Thanks for the chance. 🙂

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Randy October 11, 2010 at 8:05 pm

I am new to canning, but always on the lookout for more information. I’m interested in canning everything from salsa to strawberry preserves to sauerkraut.

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Jupe B October 11, 2010 at 8:10 pm

Fall, a time to reap.
Persevere, preserve the fruit.
Canning jars of gold.

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Pamkenn October 12, 2010 at 3:01 am

Beautifully put!

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Elisa October 11, 2010 at 8:13 pm

I just made pickles last night using my grandmother’s recipe. Yum! I’d love to have some chutney recipes.

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Hillary October 11, 2010 at 8:44 pm

I would love this book! I just started canning this year, and have been bitten by the bug along with a couple of friends and my Mom. Talk about a great group activity! I’ve read her blog for a while now and imagine the book is quite amazing based on the recipes she’s posted.

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Jessica Wolk-Stanley October 11, 2010 at 9:03 pm

I know I am you sister (and so do you), and I think it is finally time for me to use my sisterly pull to encourage you to PICK ME!!!!!

I was never much of a canner myself, but I have very happy memories of our family canning back in the 70s. This also coincided, you may remember, with Dad reading us all of the Little House Books. Canning was fun, but it also made me feel very safe and secure, seeing our basement freezer room full of pickles, jams and applesauce. Our parents weren’t shy about experimenting either. Do you remember the rose petal jam? I seem to recall it was an old Victorian recipe our mother came across. We were fascinated, but man, was that gross!!! Another experiment was washing cucumbers in the washing machine. What an image! Alas, not destined to catch on. The pickles came out bizarrely soggy.

My canning didn’t start until we moved to Seattle and our rental came with three mature and very productive plum trees. I had never really cared for plums (too mushy), but this variety (turned out to be Italian Plum) was delicious. However, there were just too many for us to manage, so my mind turned to jam-making. Our family had made plum jam back in the day from plums from our Aunt Joanie’s trees, but I always had hated it. Which was unfortunate since Mom and Dad had made rather a lot of it and they kept on giving it to us in our lunches (where we couldn’t say no to it). It was very runny and made the bread soggy and had these awful blobs of plum to startle the sensitive palate. But that is another story. So there I was, with about a bushel of plums, but not wanting to gross out the family. My main complaint about that long-ago jam was the (please pardon me now) phlegm-ball-like globs of stewed plums. So I hit on what I like to think of as a stroke complete and utter genius…I ran all the plums through the blender! And it totally worked! Like a charm. No funky texture. No soggy bread. Great jam. And that, Katy (or shall I say, Non-consumer Advokaty), is why I need this book.

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rose-red October 12, 2010 at 2:16 am

Although I haven’t canned in many years I used to always help my grandma can when I was a child. Canning was a big part of her seasonal gardening.She called it “putting up” stuff. She has been long gone and I’d love to get back to canning now that I’m retired and have lots of free time.

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Nancy October 12, 2010 at 2:44 am

I used to do a lot of canning and preserving, but got away from it while working on ships. I’d like to start up again to supplement my food budget (now a necessity), but will have to start from scratch again. This book would be a very good beginning. Thank you for offering it, and hoping I’m on the receiving end.

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Pamkenn October 12, 2010 at 3:00 am

I moved to rural upstate Vermont – the Northeast Kingdom – two months ago from suburban CT. Canning here is a part of life as well as other parts of preserving the harvest for the long cold winter. My garden for the spring is in the planning stages and along with it plans for canning, drying and freezing. How I would love this book!

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missie October 12, 2010 at 3:08 am

I love canning……….grew up with it. Tomatoes are my favorite-you can can them soo many different ways! I would love a book on canning!

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Linda October 12, 2010 at 3:39 am

This year there were so many wild grapes in our area, I decided to make Wild Grape Jam. I canned about 16 jars to use as gifts and for my daughters’ peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It came out great. Very strong grape flavor and no corn syrup. Just grapes and sugar.

I wanted to can tomatoes this year, but my crop was not as plentiful as I had anticipated. Maybe next year.

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Jennifer Lorenzetti October 12, 2010 at 4:31 am

I love to can! Didn’t get to do as much as I would like this year, because the garden was putting out handfuls and not bushels. But here is one of our favorites:

WWII Chili Sauce
http://fastcheapandgood.blogspot.com/2010/08/wwii-chili-sauce.html

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Robin B. October 12, 2010 at 5:30 am

I’ve heard of canning parties and think it would be great fun to do with my girlfriends!! Of course, I have NO IDEA what/how to do any of this!

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Trish October 12, 2010 at 5:34 am

I got a recipe for dill pickles from a friend who had been canning with this recipe for 40 years. I made 116 quarts of these pickles this year.

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Lynda October 12, 2010 at 6:11 am

I’ve been canning for many years. I love it.

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Jackie October 12, 2010 at 6:15 am

I have yet to try canning but haven’t the faintest clue how! This book would be a wonderful teacher!

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kelley October 12, 2010 at 6:15 am

so far this year ive made over 160 jars of pickles to give as gifts and feed guests at my wedding. they were so popular my brother who got married just a month after me requested several dozen jars so that he could put them out as appetizers. my husband and i are already planning next years garden to keep up with demand better and honestly some of the best moments weve had together lately have been spent over huge pots of water and smelling like dill for days.

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Tiffany October 12, 2010 at 6:19 am

I have always wanting to start canning, but it scares me to death! I would love to have a good book on the subject.

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Maggie O October 12, 2010 at 6:46 am

I checked Canning & Preserving out at the local library and actually made Ashley’s peach lavender butter… DE-licious! The fact that after many years of thinking I wanted to try canning…I actually DID IT is a tribute to Ashley’s informative and attainable approach to gaining this useful skill set. I’d treasure my own copy of the book.

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Jo-Ann October 12, 2010 at 7:00 am

We made some pickles last summer but would love to branch out to other things.

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Natalie October 12, 2010 at 7:20 am

I haven’t tried canning yet, but this book would help!

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Laura B. October 12, 2010 at 7:31 am

I’ve only done one batch of “canned” jam – I usually do freezer jam because it’s easy…would love to try something new!

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Kayla K October 12, 2010 at 7:32 am

I do not have a garden yet, but my Mom lets me take all of the canned goods I want in exchange for helping her. This year I helped make 33 quarts of salsa and we froze several crates of peaches.

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Ash October 12, 2010 at 8:03 am

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and finally decided to de-lurk…this book looks like an awesome how-to on canning!

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leslie October 12, 2010 at 8:54 am

I’d love this book! I have some beginner’s preserving books on my paperbackswap.com wishlist!!

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Anne L. October 12, 2010 at 9:24 am

I bought a Ball canning kit a few years ago. So far the only thing I’ve mastered is jelly and jams. I would like to expand my horizons and can the tomatoes and cucumbers from my garden!

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Jennifer October 12, 2010 at 1:31 pm

This year I canned: applesauce, pearsauce, jalapenos & peaches. Unfortunately tomatoes eluded me. I couldn’t bring myself to can when it was 90 degrees with 90% humidity.

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Tracy October 12, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Every year I get the canning bug, and I never get around to it. I’d love to make it a part of our life, but can’t quite figure it out yet.

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Celeste Gray October 13, 2010 at 6:15 am

Canning is the a lost art in many places. My favorite is my mom’s canning that she shares every year. I’d like to carry on the tradition.

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Sarah Maine October 13, 2010 at 7:00 am

I’ve been slowly venturing into pickling – made pickled rhubarb this year, pickled beets and sauerkraut last year. Have not had the guts to go full fledged caning yet though I would love to try. The idea of opening a can of brilliant summer tomatoes in the dead of winter is romantic and practical at the same time!

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Cate October 13, 2010 at 7:11 am

This year was my first year canning, and I made: vanilla strawberry jam, blueberry jam, blackberry jam, vanilla peach jam, honey lemon apple jam, apple pie filling, lots of extra spicy salsa, and some corn relish.

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Julie October 13, 2010 at 7:56 am

Really want to know how to can. For years I’ve been using horrid Ziploc bags to freeze my garden’s green beans and my applesauce. Save me from myself! Please!!!

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Faith S. October 13, 2010 at 8:15 am

I would love to own this book. I love canning. Ijust started last year when I got married. I have to hold myself back from buying more cans when I go to the grocery store. ha ha. I just did applesauce, peaches, sweet potatoes, strawberries, and jams this year. I would love to learn how to do more things with cans.

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kate October 13, 2010 at 8:38 am

My husband and I picked blueberries this year, and I made three big jars of blueberry jam. They might last forever, but I would love more recipes!

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Michelle October 13, 2010 at 9:03 am

I have never canned, unless you can count frugal girls yogurt, but have always wanted to and would love a book to get me started! I will have to check the library for it if I don’t win it!

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Emily Folk October 13, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Although I consider myself fairly adventurous in the kitchen, I have always paused when thinking about canning. I remember my mother canning at the end of every summer… improper sterilization, food poisoning – good enough reasons for me to stay away. I always feel more confident about attempting something if I can see it being done as well as written instructions. I have been thinking about making simple pickles this year and would definitely appreciate Ashley’s guidance in the kitchen.

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Missy Batten October 13, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Learning how to can has been on my “To do list” for about 4 years now. Well this summer I finally learned and it was awesome! It was so easy to stock my pantry with the summers green beans, tomatoes, potatoes and I just finished a batch of cider applesauce. I look forward to canning preserves this winter with my frozen supply of fresh blueberries and raspberries. “Canning and Preserving,” by Ashley English would be a great addition to my kitchen library.

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jennifer October 13, 2010 at 8:36 pm

I love canning! My mom taught me when I was young. When I first met my future husband, I was surprised to hear that he canned as well! We’ve been enjoying so much locale produce this year and have canned pickles, 4 different kinds of jams, peaches, tomatoes, salsa, and tomato sauce. Applesauce is next on the list. There’s nothing better in the cold of winter opening one of those jars and tasting summer again!

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