Clearly Delicious: An Illustrated Guide to Preserving , Pickling & Bottling

by Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz

Offers recipes and step-by-step instructions for making jams, pickles, chutneys, flavored oils and vinegars, and herb and spice blends

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

143 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1994

Reviews

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very pretty book. Unfortunately, while the pictures are lovely, there aren't enough of them. I don't need a picture for cranapple jelly as much as I do for gooseberry and elderflower jam. What I liked: some exotic and exciting combinations for jams. Also has chapters on unique things like putting up luxurious oils/ vinegars or combinations of herbs/spices or decorating bottles.
What I didn't like: I don't need a chapter on preserving fruits in alcohol. and honestly, while it is unique to preserve things in pretty bottles, I would say this book is less about preserving food as it is doing it prettily. If you want something really aesthetic but not too practical, this is the book for you.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only tried one recipe out of this book, for apricot chutney, and I really loved it. Some of the techniques are a little fussy. Lots of fancy and unusual recipes, not so many basic ones. A good additional book for home canners, but not a good primary one.

* Update * I tried the cranberry butter recipe for Christmas 2006 and it was terrific.

CMB

[Arturo Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

very accessable with full color photos. welcome addition to the kitchen library.

[Rachel Bsk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up from the library and I’m surprised they have it in circulation because it does not follow any sort of safe canning or preserving practices. Don’t use these recipes, they have no boiling water bath component and put you at risk for botulism.