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abastone's review against another edition
3.0
This is a beautiful introduction to home canning. There are very few recipes and they are very basic. I was kind of expecting some unique recipes and flavors from Ashley English, but you won't find that here.
It's a really attractive book (hardcover, well photographed) and I think from a beginner's perspective, it probably covers everything. But I have the Ball Blue Book and some others that cover the how-tos with heaps more recipes included. I gave this one to a friend who was just getting into canning.
It's a really attractive book (hardcover, well photographed) and I think from a beginner's perspective, it probably covers everything. But I have the Ball Blue Book and some others that cover the how-tos with heaps more recipes included. I gave this one to a friend who was just getting into canning.
mychaelann's review against another edition
4.0
Good basic info plus some yummy recipes for out of the ordinary canning projects. Will I really get around to canning this year...? Freezing is just so much easier, but not the same satisfaction as those full jars lined up on the counter.
crisarnold's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a visual learner, & I really enjoyed this book. she has a lot of pictures in it, but not in the way that makes it seem elementary. I really enjoyed the layout of this book and she also includes the history of Canning that I've never read before. This would be a great first book to give to somebody wanting to learn about canning, but I would also buy it for myself even though I've been canning for 2 years. :-)
mrsthrift's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book for my birthday and like many cookbooks, it's difficult for me to "review" it or add it to my reading list when I haven't made everything in the book. I have read through it several times, though, and it is a quality guide to canning. The canning basics are explained clearly, with lots of photos because honestly, some of the language used to describe canning can be a little difficult to understand if you're not already a canning guru. So I appreciate that Ms. English takes something that can be daunting and breaks it down into accessible baby steps. At the same time, if you already know how to can, this book is going to seem a little slim. There are recipes and inspiration for canning, jamming, pickling, buttering and preserving various things, but not that many. If you need a definitive recipe book, the Ball Book of Home Preserving is the one to turn to. Ashley's recipes are inventive and fun, however. The Lavender Peach butter has stolen my heart -- it's the only canning recipe I've made more than once at this point, and everyone who tastes it wants more. There is a section about canning seasonally - with canning ideas for Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. This is cool because it often feels like there's nothing you can do in terms of food preservation in the winter and early spring, but Ashley tells you to get off your duff and make some citrusy marmalade, fig preserves, or pickled asparagus. Yum!
artmajorese's review against another edition
2.0
This is a really excellent introductory book. It hits all the important safety concerns without being too overwhelming or scary. Unfortunately, I have been canning for several years now, so I didn't profit too much by the (attractively laid out) book. Some of the recipes looked interesting, but again... I have lots of family recipes and stand-by favorites already.
lindsay564's review
4.0
Nicely laid out book, very good design, lots of good info for beginners, but not a ton of substance for more experienced canners.
stringreads's review
3.0
more useful than the West book, but still seemed more like a glancing over of pressure canning