A review by mrsthrift
Canning & Preserving with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Make Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Chutneys & More by Ashley English

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!