Preserving the bounty

Many of you have probably begun noticing an abundance of summer squash and zucchini in your CSA shares and in the farm markets in recent weeks... And there is more to come! These delicious veggies produce in huge volumes once the warm weather hits, leaving us all to find creative ways to use the crops before they spoil.

And these aren't the only things we're finding in abundance as summer unfolds- berries, cucumbers, beets and onions are also making themselves known. Luckily, there are literally hundreds of amazing ways to cook these varieties, and better yet, tons of ways to preserve them as well. Because while we may be drowning in these fruits and veggies at the moment, there will certainly come a time when we miss their summer flavor- and that's where preservation comes in!

Because there are so many options, listing them all here would be nearly impossible, so instead we've compiled a list of our favorite sources for preservation ideas. Try these books and links for delicious and varied recipes for preservation, from quick and easy tips for freezing and creating refrigerator pickles to instructions and recipes for canning produce, pickles and jellies. Though some of these ideas will be more involved, all of these resources are geared towards small-scale, at home preservation. So dig-in and have fun!

Books:
• The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving
• Preserving Summer's Bounty
• Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving and Freezing

Links:
• Canned Heat at Epicurious.com
• National Center for Home Food Preservation

Recipes:
• Pickled Red Onions
• Relish, Sauce and Chutney- All in one day (scroll down to click on recipes)