Self-Sufficiency: Preserving

Preserving fruits and vegetables is a great way to turn home-grown or local produce into delicious treats that can be enjoyed all year round.

There are several different preserving methods and all give satisfying results. Jams, jellies, fruit butters and curds, bottled fruits, chutneys, pickles and salted vegetables are all practical and economical ways to preserve seasonal produce. And you don’t need a load of kitchen gadgets and equipment to get started: a heavy-based pan, funnel, sugar thermometer and a selection of glass storage jars are all you need! Ingredients listings, popular fruits and vegetables, sugars and cooking techniques are all explained, along with storage information and helpful hints and tips. This, along with the 60 delicious recipes that follow, make this book your one-stop guide to successful preserving.

Carol Wilson is a food writer, cookery consultant and member of the Guild of Food Writers. She writes for a number of food publications both in the UK and the US, has written several cookbooks and has appeared on TV cookery programmes. A judge for the Slow Biodiversity Food Awards, she contributes regularly to Country Kitchen, Living France, Gastronomica, and others.