Sauces, Condiments, and Preservation

This article is about the the easiest way to make sweet, crunchy pickles, featuring a secret shortcut. Includes recipe, complete instructions, and lots of photos. You will love these pickles.

Two authentic Southern chow chow relish recipes (cooked and no-cook versions). Bonus recipes: peach relish and jalapeño jelly.

Nothing beats the fresh taste of homemade beef jerky. Say goodbye to the massively preserved, store-bought bags and find true comfort with homemade beef jerky recipes.

Learning how to make a quick pan sauce will give you superpowers in the kitchen. Three to four ingredients and five minutes will elevate a plain chicken breast or pork chop to a whole new level.

Step-by-step instructions on making a delicious and pretty syrup. These instructions can be used for just about any edible flower.

This is a recipe for homemade pico de gallo.

A simple recipe, with photos, to make the popular Israeli spicy condiment, zhug (skhug). Originally from Yemen, this Mediterranean hot sauce is easy to prepare, has a vivid green color, and has a garlic/cilantro aroma that is entrancing.

Celebrate the grand garden season finale. Here are some faster, space-saving methods to harvest and store garden produce at its best.

Many mason jar canning lids contain BPA which acts like estrogen in the body, disrupting normal hormone regulation. BPA-free claims may not be enough. Find out how to find healthy canning jars.

Preserved vegetables are the "magic" ingredient in home-style Chinese cooking. The preserved sweet salty radish called "choi poh" in Cantonese is a universal favourite. It's very easy to make. Enjoy!

This sauce is a fresher version of the jalapeño ranch dip from the Chuy's restaurant chain. I got rid of the ranch packet and made this from scratch.

Do you love McDonald's? Try my version of their famous tartar sauce. You can prepare this delicious recipe in just five minutes.

Red sauces—a simple idea with world-wide appeal. Each culture uses the produce of their garden to craft a condiment to accompany the foods they love. Let’s explore the origins of ten of these sauces and learn how to make them.

What is in a romesco sauce? Find out how to make an authentic version of this Catalonian salsa in your own home kitchen.

Peruvian ají sauce transforms chicken and French fries into something special! Learn how to make this spicy, addictive sauce.

This New York Strip Steak recipe is a simple preparation for a flavourful steak.

Of all the vegetables I can each year, tomatoes have to be my favorite. My instructions are easy to follow, and the photos will help you, too. You're going to love having jars of tomatoes you canned yourself.

Sample five smoky BBQ sauce recipes from the main barbecue regions of the United States. Also included, the origin of barbecue sauce and BBQ cooking methods.

A guide to making your own homemade jam with step by step instructions, photos and video.

Homemade mango chutney is better than any shop-bought chutney and a great go-to for any Indian curry or ingredient to other recipes. Here's a simple recipe!

Standard tartar sauce is great in a hurry and an even simply version takes about 60 seonds to prepare. At the same time, some of my favorites are also fast and easy.

Sauce made with fresh tomatoes has a unique flavor and the sweetness of the tomatoes grown in your own or someone else's yard can't be beat. Add what ever other vegetable and or meat you like and you have a healthy and tasty sauce for your pasta.

Gravy should be sublime, not like something out of the Twilight Zone.

Worcestershire sauce is a delicious fermented product used to flavour meat, fish, Welsh rarebit, and cocktails. It’s made from a secret recipe by Lea and Perrins.

How to make your own Seville orange marmalade. This recipe includes step-by-step instructions with photos and videos. Once you have tasted homemade marmalade, you will never want to buy the commercially made variety again.

This easy, raw pesto sauce uses fresh kale, garlic, herbs, and toasted sunflower seeds for a multi-purpose condiment!

Learn the secret to making a thick and rich tomato soup from garden fresh or canned tomatoes!

Pickles from zucchini? Yes, crisp and full of flavor! You'll be amazed at how delicious these pickles are.

I've made a lot of baby food in the past year. I prefer to make it at home because I know exactly what goes into it. I'd love to share my experiences with you.

Made with fresh ingredients, a fruit coulis is the perfect fruit sauce. Along with step by step photo instructions, you'll find recipes for a raspberry, a mixed berry and a strawberry version.

Mole, or Mexican BBQ sauce, has gained popularity due to the efforts of culinary genius Rick Bayless. This simplified recipe for red mole yields a silky, sweet, smoky sauce. A Scoville chart of dried chiles is included.

What does “French cooking” mean to you? Fancy, fussy, complicated? Mother sauces, the foundation of French cuisine are easy to prepare. I'll tell you how, and you'll never buy packaged sauce again.

A quick and easy tahini recipe. Only need 2 ingredients. Homemade tahini paste made in just 15 minutes. Ideal for making hummus, tahini salad dressing, tahini dip, tahini sauce or even tahini cookies!

Chili oil is a popular condiment commonly used in Asian countries. Some places add a twist on this condiment by adding garlic on it. Learn my version on how to make homemade chili garlic oil.

Recipe and photo instructions for my mom’s delicious fig preserves.

The best pizza sauce starts off with the freshest ingredients, not canned. Learn the secrets to an extremely fresh from scratch pizza sauce recipe.

10 ways to use up your leftover cranberry sauce. You might even be inspired to make some cranberry sauce just to try some of these ideas.

Is your jam thin and runny? Here are all the ways you can make great jam using low-pectin fruit, with example recipes.

With this recipe, making and canning fresh homemade cranberry sauce will be a breeze for your holiday meals this year! And you don't have to worry about what to do with all of the leftover sauce, if you have any. You can simply store it away for a mid-year craving or even for next year.

This recipe will help you with pressure canning sweet corn off the cob. Summertime is wonderful, if not just because corn is in season, and the best of it goes on sale at my local organic food store. We love everything about corn, like cream corn, corn broth, tamales, and especially corn on the cob.

Red wine vinegar, shallots and garlic reduce quickly for a fabulous steak sauce. This sauce will change the way you enjoy steak. It's so savory and flavorful, plus it's easy to make!

Wild berries are a common summer sight all over the world and are often free for the taking. Learn to make this quick and easy berry sauce, a delicious and elegant accompaniment for many desserts.

Are you wondering what to do with your bounty of beautiful chilies? Why not freeze them so that they are be available to use whenever you want to add a bit of spice to your life.

Fish can be preserved by drying, salting, and freezing. These methods go back thousands of years and are effective ways to store bumper harvests for times of scarcity.

I've tested dozens of bbq sauce recipes and these are the very best to make at home.

Quinces are a delicious but under-used fruit. Somewhere between an apple and a pear, they are too hard to be eaten raw, but they make a delicious jelly that's perfect for a Christmas breakfast... or as an awesome homemade holiday gift!

Salsa verde is a green salsa made in Mexico. It is made with tomatillos, cilantro, onion, garlic, chile serrano, and lime. It can be boiled or broiled. Includes variations and serving suggestions.

This is part one of a two part article on the advantages and disadvantages of home food preservation. In this article we explore food that is fresh, root cellared, and frozen.

Our humble little tomato plant grew beyond expectation and produced a bumper crop. I made a delicious green tomato chutney with garlic.

Making a real Cajun-style roux is no mystery—it simply takes a little patience! With a couple of tools and three ingredients, you can have true, rich Cajun flavor for gumbo or étouffée for yourself!

Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason jars. This method frees up your freezer space, and there is no freezer burn.

This recipe is focused on pressure canning black beans. By preserving your own food, not only can you control the ingredients in the food you make, providing your family with more nutritious food, but you also get the satisfaction of making food for your family.

If you've never tasted a gooseberry, June is the perfect time. Make a tasty jam from these green berries, and surprise your friends with the fresh, sweet, tart flavor, as well as the unusual color.

Craving Mexican fajitas? Try my recipe for a gluten-free seasoning mix marinade. Since this is a dry mix, it can be stored for months inside your pantry.

An easy storage method for your garden (or Farmer's Market) root vegetables. Suitable for carrots, beets, and many others. Potatoes and similar tubers, too.

Home canning is simple and can be a great skill to learn. I think it's economical and healthy because no chemicals are added during the process. It's a great way to store extra food!

Quick and Easy Avocado Recipes. Salads, salsa, guacamole and more. Enjoy avocado a variety of ways with these tempting and healthy avocado recipes. Includes, guacamole a la mexicana!

Green beans are essential in a well-balanced diet. Fresh from the garden, they have higher levels of nutrients than ones bought at the store. Here's how to harvest, and freeze green beans.

You can make and can your own robust pasta sauce that's free of preservatives, additives, and chemicals—and costs under $3 per jar. If you grow the ingredients yourself in your own backyard, the cost is even less!

Learn to make delicious and unique BBQ sauce from scratch! Easy directions and photos are included.

Photos and text teach you step-by-step how to pressure can milk by sealing it in jars for long-term storage.

Chutney is a regular side dish served with South Indian breakfast. Though use of coconut for making chutney is common, this tomato lentil chutney does not contain coconut. I have used lentils and tomatoes in this yummy side dish.

You can use those end-of-season, unripe tomatoes you picked from your garden or greenhouse to make an excellent chutney. I also include recipe tips for using the chutney in a ploughman’s lunch.

Bee colonies have been collapsing for a decade, but the demand for honey is rising.

Prepare tangy and fiery pickled South Indian Andhra-style mango with my easy and quick recipe.

Fresh ingredients & a short cooking time make for a quick & easy pasta sauce that tastes as fresh as summer.

A good, flavorful jalapeno hot sauce recipe that goes a bit beyond the basics.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to can stewed tomatoes.

This hearty, rustic tomato pasta sauce takes less than 15 minutes to prep and produces a bold tomato and garlic flavor. Pairs well with a variety of pastas and is an excellent spread for appetizers.

The perfect sauce for fish balls? Sweet and spicy fish ball sauce, of course! This recipe is both delicious and easy to make at home.

Get flavor and fire with this hot sauce that utilizes fruits and vegetables for complex flavor.

Here's how to decrystallize honey fast in small and medium batches- no pan or microwave needed. This method is great if you have crystallized honey, but don't want to decrystallize an entire jar, or are dealing with honey in a plastic container.

Olive & Vine is a Houston boutique that sells top-quality extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. Taste before you buy, and learn about health benefits for both.

Making cherry and black grape jam in the crockpot is going to be so easy, you'll be surprised that you didn't think to do this for yourself before now. Juicy cherries and crispy grapes made into a sweet, smooth, yummy concoction that you can enjoy with toast or biscuits.

Finding a succulent fresh mint sauce can be a tall order. Fortunately, I know of an easy, delicious recipe you can use in a curry, on lamb, on potatoes, or anything that suits your fancy!

Before the written word, there was honey; offering to the gods, source of potent drink and peasant currency, and even a love potion; honey is as old as time. Enjoy the history and the recipes.

Why go to an expensive Japanese restaurant? Now you can prepare a classic Japanese sauce at home without worrying about your budget. Follow my easy recipe for galicky sweet soy glaze.

Italian pesto is loved the world over. But have you ever tasted Tallarin Verde, or green noodles, the pesto of Peru? Creamy and mild, it is the favorite dish of many Peruvian children.

Homemade salsa that can be used all year round. Step-by-step instructions that include tips on how to handle jalapeno peppers to keep them from burning your hands.

Ten awesome recipes for barbecue sauce, including ideas for BBQ sauce ingredients. Lots of photos!

Hot green pepper jelly! This is great old recipe for this famous and fantastic tasting jelly that everyone loves. It is a simple recipe and easy to make.

Make your own cooking spray saves money, reduces the chemical additives you're putting into your body, takes 5 minutes to make, and is better for the environment and better for your health.

"Curry" is a blanket term used to describe a vast range of Indian spicy stewed dishes. There are many different styles of curries. Not all are hot. Get tips and recipes for curries here.

I am so happy to still have my grandmother's old food mill. Making homemade applesauce and choke cherry jelly is easy, fun, tasty, and satisfying. See videos in this post, then get busy!

Walnut oil is one of those oils you don't hear much about, but it is fantastic. Learn how to use it in your everyday cooking.

An essential condiment in every British household is a bottle of HP Sauce, just as it’s nearly impossible to find an American home without ketchup.

Save money and learn how to make your own kecap manis, the famous Indonesian condiment, which you can use in many dishes. Easy to make, and tasty, too.

When your chickens produce too many eggs to use fresh, or you find a good sale on eggs, preserve some for later consumption using an old-fashioned method. Store eggs in your basement or closet.

Bacon jam is almost impossible to describe—until you taste it. Sweet, spicy, smoky, salty, it's an amazing combination of delectable goodness. Check out how easy it is to make it for yourself!

Making sesame flax-butter is a good way to include healthful foods in your daily diet. This is a quick guide to add a new, delicious seed butter into your diet.

A fantastic recipe for freezing tomatoes. Use this recipe to save any excess tomatoes you may have. Use the frozen ones later to make fantastic sauces that are full of flavor.

Green sauces—a simple idea with world-wide appeal. Each culture uses the herbs of their garden to craft a condiment to accompany the foods they love. Let’s explore the origins of ten of these sauces, how to make them, and how to use them in dishes for your friends and family.

Spiced vanilla pear jam in the crockpot is one of the first things on my fall to-do list every year. I simply can't imagine starting the new season without the smells of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg wafting through my house. Yum!

Learn how to dehydrate foods and save money. Dehydrating foods takes none of the nutrients out and helps you use food at their prime.

You're going to love this delicious homemade mixed berry jam for water bath canning. Filled with deliciously fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries (and just a hint of honey), the burst of flavor you are going to experience when eating this jam is going to blow your mind.

Knowing how to make a white sauce can be invaluable cooking skill. You can use a white sauce in so many dishes either as a topping or a creamy filling.

Rhubarb is a large leafed plant with edible stalks that grows like a bad weed any where that it gets the opportunity to be planted. It is a very hardy perennial yet rather than being harvested with...

Awesome diabetic recipes! Low carb recipes for sauces, with photos.

Frank's Red Hot Wings Sauce is the secret ingredient in this fantastic homemade wing sauce.