Central Sierra | Master Food Preservers | Articles | UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

Featured Articles by Master Food Preservers

UC Master Food Preservers in Amador, Calaveras, and El Dorado Counties write articles for local publications and posts on food safety, food preservation, food preparation, and reducing food waste, among other subjects of interest.

You can find those articles by clicking the link below.

Central Sierra: Master Food Preserver Articles

The articles in this collection present news and recipes for home cooks and preservers. Most of these have appeared in local periodicals, and many feature recipes and instructions for preserving the tastes of the season to enjoy at other times of the year.

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Press Release: New Kitchen Kits Project at Amador Public Library

October 5, 2026

By Carletta Amatisto-Smith

Kitchen Kits Allow Residents to Borrow Equipment Up to 3 WeeksJackson, CA- The Amador Public Library has several kits available that encourage sensory play, story time with kids, and adult literacy. Now, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Amador County UC Master Food Preserver program, the Amador…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Herbed Garden Marmalade Recipe

August 10, 2026

By UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

Preserve it! The county fair is over (did you enter any home canned goods this year?) and gardens are currently exploding with vegetables and herbs. Give this marmalade a try. The recipe comes from Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, 2014, edition 37.Herbed Garden Marmalade RecipeYield: about 5 half…

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six half-pint containers of fresh blackberries and loose blackberries on a towel

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: What to Do with Too Many Berries

July 8, 2026

By UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

Preserve it! Make jams and jellies All varieties of berries are in season. While they are delightful added to salads, stirred into your daily yogurt, made into a pie, or blended into a smoothie, we have all been over-enthusiastic when stopping at a fresh berry stand. You made the smoothies, the pie, the…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Dehydrating Herbs is Fun and Easy

June 16, 2026

By UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

Preserve it! Dehydrating your herbs Fresh herbs, whether purchased at a local grocery store or grown in your own herb garden, are easy to dehydrate and preserve. Start with a clean kitchen and clean countertops. Then, rinse the fresh herbs under running water to get rid of insects and dirt. Use a salad…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: It's Blueberry Season! | El Dorado County

June 4, 2026

Preserve Today, Relish Tomorrow. Many of our local u-pick blueberry farms are open between late-May and mid-July. We all know blueberries are pretty expensive, but, oh, so worth the effort and expense. Here is a recipe that gets the most out of your harvest basket: Blueberry Bonanza is two recipes in…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Time to Spring Clean Your Pantry and Freezer

April 21, 2026

Preserve it! Time for a Review Before planning this year’s garden or trips to the farmers market, let’s look at your pantry and freezer with a keen eye. Take stock of what you preserved last season and what you have consumed up to this point. If, by this time of the year, you have an abundance of…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Wing Sauce to Enjoy During Football and All Year Round

January 20, 2026

Preserve It! Chicken Wing Season! The Super Bowl always means there is a grand feast of snack foods to plan and prepare. While the textures and flavors abound at this annual gathering (whether you watch the game or not), it seems a quintessential ingredient on the menu is the spicy-vinegary buffalo…

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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Canned Tiny Seckel Pears Make Delicious Treat!

January 20, 2026

Preserve It! For a Lofty Dessert! Seckel pears are crisp, juicy, and quite sweet with a slightly spicy flavor profile when ripe. They are very small in size (about one-inch diameter and three-inches in height – about the size of a small lemon), making them perfect for canning beautiful halves of…

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a ceramic spoon rest holds a handful of fresh red cranberries

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Home Preserved Cranberry Sauce is a Real Treat

December 22, 2025

Preserve It! A Fruit from the Bogs! From the bogs and swamps of the northeastern part of the country comes a fruit widely used for those family gatherings this time of year. Sure, in a pinch, you could purchase one of those iconic cans of cranberry sauce from the grocery, but why not can and preserve…

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three onions, one sliced, sit on a white background

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Classic Warm Winter Flavor a Must-Have for the Festive Table

December 12, 2025

Preserve It! A Jam for the Ages Cozy up with what might be considered classic, comforting, winter flavors of onion, maple syrup, and apple juice. This jam sets up more like a spread and is quite delicious on a hamburger or as a glaze over a chicken or a pork roast. Try pouring it over cream cheese as a…

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