— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension The scent of cranberries, citrus, and spice signals the start of the holiday season, and what better way to get into the festive mood than by making homemade jam? Jamming for the holidays transforms your kitchen into a sweet-smelling workshop and lets you […]
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— Mary Kate Reny, UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer We have officially turned the corner into comfort season, bringing with it the seasonal shift in food preferences and a whole different set of recipes to try. Wait! Too soon? Are your counters and garden still bursting with summer harvest that you need to preserve […]
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— By Lali Constantino, UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer Drying is one of the most ancient and cost-effective methods for preserving food. This simple technique relies on the natural energy of the sun or the dry heat of a hot summer day. You can easily do it by hanging herbs in a warm, shady […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension It’s green bean and cucumber season here in Maine, and pickling is my favorite way to preserve these vegetables. I always can a batch of crunchy dilly beans and sweet bread-and-butter pickles to enjoy throughout the year. But every year, I hear from […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension During the summer I usually get a few calls from frustrated preservers asking why their jam or jelly didn’t come out right. It’s annoying to try and make a nice, spreadable jam and instead end up with something that’s too runny or too […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Strawberry jam season is right around the corner in Maine, and one of my favorite fruit jams is strawberry jam (strawberry-rhubarb is a close runner up). I love to go to my local pick-your-own strawberry field, and then come home and make strawberry […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Springtime in Maine makes me want to sit outside and enjoy the sun on my face with a cool drink in my hand. I love looking to my garden for inspiration for making drinks like sodas, cocktails, and mocktails at home. While the […]
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— By Lali Constantino, UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer One of the most rewarding aspects of becoming a UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver is the opportunity to volunteer. The experience of volunteering broadens your horizons by allowing you to meet people from diverse backgrounds, attend festivals and fairs, refresh your skills, and, of course, […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension During cold and flu season many people turn to natural remedies like elderberry syrup and fire cider vinegar to try to prevent illness or lessen symptoms. Elderberries are full of antioxidants and vitamins that in turn may boost your immune system. Homemade elderberry […]
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— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Winter means citrus season in the U.S. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes—the list of citrus varieties is long. While not native to Maine, we love to use wintertime citrus fruits to make delicious marmalades and also try to incorporate locally-grown ingredients wherever possible. Marmalades […]
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