Nutrition & Health

Freezing Food: Tired of pulling something out of the freezer to find that it looks like the inside of an ancient artic cave filled with ice stalagmites? As simple as freezing foods sounds, there are multiple techniques to keep frozen food quality high.

In this program, presented by UCCE Master Food Preservers of Orange County (https://ucanr.edu/sites/MFPOC/), you will learn how to preserve this months Farmers' Market bounty.

Make and Take Cheese Making Class In this Make and Take workshop you will learn the skill of transforming milk into 2 different cheeses, Mozzarella and Queso Blanco. The class will include materials and tools for making cheese as well as recipes and food storage tips.

Entering your preserved food in the El Dorado County Fair adds excitement to the process. You may not be able to predict your competition, but knowing what judges are looking for increases your chances of bringing home a blue ribbon.

Too many lemons, limes or mandarins? Learn how to make sweet spreads from citrus. Recipes include traditional marmalade and lemon curd, spiced orange jelly, and lemon thyme jelly. Techniques include boiling water and atmospheric steam canning for shelf stable products.

Don't miss the Placerville Plant Sale - Perennial plants April 26 Trees, shrubs, grasses, succulents, native and perennial plants. Sale at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden. Parking $2

Hello to all of our friends out there in the OC! The holiday season is right around the corner, and the UC Master Food Preservers of Orange County are back with their popular Gifts from the Kitchen. This class will focus on Packaged Comfort Food! There is no cooking required.

Join the UCCE Master Food Preservers for their monthly general Q&A session. A panel of volunteers specializing in freezing, dehydrating, canning and food safety will be available to answer your questions, share their tips and encourage you to safely preserve food at home.

Second Friday of every month. Click HERE to sign up. Pressure canners with only a dial gauge need to be tested annually to ensure the dial gauge is accurate. If your dial gauge is not accurate, it is not correctly reading pressure which may result in under or over processing and unsafe food.

Bountiful Berries: Berries are so delicious and versatile. Make freezer jam without the need for canning. Learn basic canning techniques to go beyond jam to make conserves, preserves and chutney. Learn how to freeze cranberries and other berries to enjoy them year-round.