Preserving the Harvest - Drying, Curing, Canning...

How to preserve fruits and vegetables by drying, canning, pickling and making jams and jellies. Keep the freshness of the harvest by preserving your own garden vegetables at home. There’s a method safe and easy enough for everyone, as well as tips for success and recipe suggestions.

Fresh garden herbs can easily be air dried, to preserve their flavor and quality. Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.

Freezing is a quick and easy way to preserve fresh garden herbs. We usually think of drying herbs to keep them, but many herbs, like basil, mint and chives, don't dry easily. Freezing these herbs will preserve their garden fresh flavor for months. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.

If you’ve saved and dried your herb garden bounty, consider giving some away as gifts. After all, not every cook has access to an herb garden. You can either package up individual herbs in lovely canisters, jars or bags or mix your herbs for a custom blend that will have your chef friends naming recipes after you.

Herbs and fruit are a seasonal treat that can be carried into the winter months by making herbal jellies and jams. Don’t want the fuss of making your own jam? Don’t let that stop you. You can flavor store bought jams and jellies and turn them into personal statements from your garden.

Flavored oils are wonderful to cook with, easy to make and they are always welcome as gifts. Use fresh herbs from your garden to create flavored herbal oils.

Herbal sugars can be made easily and used to flavor things like baked goods and drinks. Just as herbal butters, oils and vinegars infuse your cooking with flavors from the herb garden, herb infused sugars will make your fresh herbs go even farther.

Herbal vinegars are one of the simplest concoctions to whip up and yet they lend a complex undertone to so many delicious dishes. Don’t confine your vinegar use to just salad dressing. Herbal vinegars will dress up spreads, like mayonnaise, sauces and all types of appetizers.