Preserving... It's Not Just For Your Grandmother

Preserving... It's Not Just For Your Grandmother

Recollections of the tangy crunch linger in your mind. When you think about it you salivate. Dick wanted to recreate the recipes he made with his family for pickled fruits and vegetables. He studies the worn copy of Mrs. Dull’s “Southern Cooking” cookbook. It was a wedding gift for his mother in 1932 and her culinary guide throughout her life. He makes the recipes over and over adjusting the ingredients, measuring, seeking feedback from friends and chefs and taking notes. It is not just about preserving the recipes; it is about craft and accessibility. The craft of achieving the right balance of flavors and texture and the choice to have those local organic summer green beans and cucumbers at the table all year log. Dick also loves to pass along the traditions to current and future generations through his activities around Atlanta. For more information contact him at: arbarch@gmail.com

Canning is growing in the culinary world. Appetites for locally grown food are increasing due to a desired interest to eat more sustainably. Organic produce grown by local farmers and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) is fresher, tastes superior, is not packaged and eliminates fossil fuel usage required by transport from distant places. There are many more reasons that justify our need to support our farmers as stewards of the land and sheppards of goodness to the table.

This is a resurgence. The interest of this craft came to the US in the mid-late 1800’s and boomed after World War II. Ball, the branded glass jar company is celebrating their 125th anniversary this year.

Dick has perfected several of his recipes and is now recognized on the Atlanta food scene. His pickles have made their debut at Floataway Café, recognized by “Food and Wine” magazine, features seasonal ingredients in Mediterranean and Italian style.

Floataway Café http://www.starprovisions.com/

For definitions of sustainable food and what you can do as a consumerwww.sustainabletable.org

Comprehensive nation-wide listing of local farmers markets and farms, grocery/Co-ops, restaurants, just plug in your zip code you will be impressed by the list www.localharvest.org also (see http://www.georgiaorganics.org/)

For guidelines and principals of home canning and food preservation see The National Center for Home Food Preservation at the University of Georgia (http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/)