Classes, Demos and the LA County Fair
Ernest Miller
Summer continues to be peak canning season, keeping me busy non-stop.
This past week we've canned 100% Heirloom Tomato Sauce, more of the
"Cherry Bomb" Pickled Cherry Peppers, Dilly Beans and Lemon Cucumber
Lemon Pickles (a wonderful substitute for bread & butter pickles).
We've also done some dehydrating (jalapeno flakes, anyone?).
We've chosen our next batch of Master Food Preservers for the fall
2011 class and notifications will be going out shortly. My next email
should have the full list. If you applied and did not make it into
the class, please do not take it personally. We had 118 applicants
for only 18 positions. The decisions were very tough. For those who
didn't get in, I recommend more canning and volunteering in low income
communities to improve your chances next time.
Lots and lots of events happening and we've posted most of them on the
Farmer's Kitchen website. You can read about everything here:
http://conta.cc/rqNg1M
But I have some highlights:
First off, I'm doing a basic tomato preserving class on Saturday:
The farmers' markets are full of delicious, ripe tomatoes; your garden
is full of delicious, ripe tomatoes; your friendly neighbor is leaving
baskets of delicious, ripe tomatoes from their garden on your
doorstep. How to preserve the bounty? This workshop will teach you
how. Don't miss out on having a pantry full of your preserved tomatoes
for next February. Learn how to preserve them now.
The class will start off by demystifying pressure canning, which the
USDA says "will result in higher quality and more nutritious canned
tomato products." It is also more efficient and, in our opinion, one
of the best methods for food preservation in the home. The class will
pressure can an amazing 100% heirloom tomato sauce. You will, of
course, learn how to make a basic tomato sauce, and some options for
different sauces as well.
Drying tomatoes is a centuries-old method for preserving tomatoes, and
California has a wonderful climate for truly sun-dried tomatoes, but
the class will also learn how to use a dehydrator and how to preserve
those dried tomatoes, including freezing. Can you store your sun-dried
tomatoes in oil? Yes, you can, but there are potential dangers, and
this class will teach you how to do it safely.
Finally, the class will end by canning halved tomatoes in a boiling
water bath. Beautiful to look at, delicious to eat, there are few
things better than home canned tomatoes on the shelf. They make
wonderful gifts as well.
Participants will take home one or more preserved tomato products and
receive a 10% discount on all purchases the day of the class.
You can sign up here:
http://bit.ly/oPCviX
I'm very happy to announce that the Master Food Preservers have
returned to LA County and now are returning to the LA County Fair!!! A
traditional haunt for Master Food Preservers, the fair is going to be
a great place for us to provide information to the public about safe
preserving techniques and encourage people to get into food
preservation. I'll be doing some demos, but plenty more from our
newly minted MFPs.
"The University of California Cooperative Extension is pleased to
announce Los Angeles County Master Food Preservers will be performing
demonstrations and answering home food preservation questions at the
LA County Fair. There will also be a special kids program teaching how
food is preserved and help children identify some typical preserved
foods in their pantry, such as raisins and ice cream. Demonstrations
will be held throughout the day on Thursdays through Sundays at the
Farmhouse Kitchen in the LA County Fairgrounds. Due to health
department regulations, samples will not be allowed. "
More information here:
http://bit.ly/ocZQno
As I noted before, I and Master Food Preserver Felicia Freisema will
be demoing at the "Ticket to the Twenties" Festival at the
Workman-Temple Homestead. We'll be doing our demo in an actual 1920s
Adobe Mansion Kitchen! It is going to be a great event:
Dig out your glad rags and join us at the Workman-Temple Homestead in
the City of Industry for a weekend of great fun! Celebrate the Roaring
Twenties on both days of the festival as you enjoy dance
demonstrations and lessons, silent film screenings with live musical
accompaniment, ukulele sing-a-longs and lessons, crafts, music, games,
vintage automobiles, historic house tours, and tasty food.
More information here:
http://bit.ly/pY5z54
There is much more going on in the future. Some really great events,
including planned field trips (!) and more MFP goodness. The food
preservation community is growing by leaps and bounds in LA!
As usual, if you have any questions about canning, pressure canning,
fermentation, dehydration, freezing, pickling,
curing, smoking or brewing, feel free to email me at
ernest.miller @ gmail.com.
Follow the Master Food Preservers of Los Angeles:
The blog:
http://ucanr.org/blogs/MFPLA/index.cfm
The Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/mfpla
The twitter hashtag:
#mfpla
Don't forget to sign up for the Farmer's Kitchen newsletter:
http://www.hollywoodfarmerskitchen.org/
And follow our twitter feed:
http://www.twitter.com/HollywoodFK
Thanks,
Ernie