Jam On: The Craft of Canning Fruit [Hardcover]

Laena McCarthy (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 2, 2012

Fresh, hip cookbook takes jamming out of grandma’s kitchen and into the 21st century

In Jam On, New York’s “Jam Queen” Laena McCarthy shares her love of making inventive handmade jam with delicious recipes and canning techniques. Her down-to-earth approach and unique, easy method allows even the novice cook to make fresh and exciting jam. The recipes in Jam On use less sugar, making the jams not only healthier, but more intensely flavorful than your average fruit concoction. With step-by-step instructions and four-color photographs throughout, McCarthy guides readers through the canning process and offers inventive herb and spice combinations for a range of signature jams.

Recipes include:
• Grapefruit & Smoked Salt Marmalade
• Strawberry Balsamic Jam
• Easy Like Sunday Morning Blueberry Preserves
• Tiny Strawberry Preserves with Thai Basil
• Rhubarb Hibiscus Jam
• Spiced Beer Jelly
• Hot Fireman’s Pear Jam
• Lime & Pandan Marmalade
• and much more

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Studio (August 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670026174
• ISBN-13: 978-0670026173
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Cooking by Ingredient > Fruits
  • #62 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Canning & Preserving

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Anarchy in a Jar could also be called "community in a jar". This book is Laena McCarthy’s story, and recipes, but it is really about you. It's about your community and the stories you can tell using the ingredients you find. Each recipe is simple, easy to follow and, most importantly, easy to adapt to make your own. The result is jams of glamorous color, and flavor that goes on for miles.”

—Jeni Britton Bauer, author of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home

“Laena is a true insider on the art of good cooking, and her homegrown jam recipes are a revelation. She captures the essence of fresh ingredients in a jar like no one else!”
—Cathy Erway, founder of Not Eating Out in New York and author of The Art of Eating In

"I never thought a McCarthy would solve the problem of having peanut butter but no jam. I think I'll fix myself a sandwich with this book now BLAP BLAP BLAP!"

—Eddie Huang, chef and owner of BaoHaus

“In Laena McCarthy’s hands, chaos is sweet.”

—Tasting Table

About the Author

Laena McCarthy is the founder and owner of Anarchy in a Jar, an artisanal jam and preserves company. Her jams are sold at Williams-Sonoma, Dean & DeLuca, Whole Foods in New York, and other specialty stores. She has been featured in The New York Times Style Section, The New Yorker, seriouseats.com, and various other blogs. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Michael Harlan Turkell, once an aspiring chef, now food photographer captures the inner-workings of the culinary world for his James Beard Foundation Awards nominated "BACK OF THE HOUSE" project.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Studio (August 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670026174
• ISBN-13: 978-0670026173
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Cooking by Ingredient > Fruits
  • #62 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Canning & Preserving

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Treat! August 10, 2012

By shelfishness

Format:Hardcover

I was honestly giddy as I read this book! Jam On by Laena McCarthy is a treasure trove of recipes that is absolutely perfect for this time of year with all of the berries ripe for the picking.

McCarthy does a wonderful job of making jam, preserves, and even syrups, approachable and exciting. Her featured stories (including her journey to becoming a jam queen) are intriguing, but her recipes are even genuinely fascinating. With enticing flavors like watermelon and lemongrass jelly, spiced beer jelly, sour cherry preserves, and Meyer lemon marmalade, Jam On is a contemporary cook's dream. There are exotic flavors like blackberry and lavender jam, and good old standbys like wild blueberry jam. With thorough descriptions and step-by-step photos on how to make jams and jellies, this book is as fun for first-time jam makers as it is for preserving pros. Plus, there is an entire section dedicated to all of the ideal pairings for the homemade jams and jellies featured in the book. Recipes like Laena's Ginger Scones, Anarchy Marmalade Manhattan, and Panpepato Honey and Spice Cake, make this book more than just a jam and jelly cookbook. If you are looking for freezer jams, this isn't the guide for you, but if you are hoping to expand your repertoire of jam options, this is ideal. Jam On is a delight with a great assortment of the preserved, pickled, and just plain delicious!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for seasoned canners December 2, 2012

By Amanda

Format:Hardcover

I purchased this book several months ago and it is excellent for a seasoned canner because of the interesting recipes and the recipe variations at the end of each chapter. It's okay for a beginner too, but I would probably recommend a first time canner start with the Ball Blue Book. There's a section on the basics and step-by-step instructions on canning, a section on jam and jelly, a preserves, marmalade, and chutney section, a section on fruit butters and jams using sugar alternatives, and a section on pickled fruit, syrups, and shrubs (sort of a sour vinegar syrup you can use in beverages). As you can tell, these are mostly high acid foods so if you are looking for instructions and recipes for low acid things such as vegetables, meat, beans, or soups, this isn't the book for you. If you are looking for interesting jam and jelly recipes, interesting uses for your fruit spreads, and great cheese pairings to go with your jams and jellies, this is a terrific book. I like the use of Pomona's in many of the recipes as it's my personal preference as far as commercial pectins. I've tried the beer jelly recipe and it is amazing. The green tomato chutney (awesome stirred in grits and topped with a fried egg) is another great tasting recipe. I've also tried the pickled blueberries, which turned out to be very tasty. I was very excited to make the Easy Like Sunday Morning Blueberry Preserves with frozen blueberries because it was past the season, but it didn't turn out at all like I had hoped. May have had something to do with adding sugar to frozen berries. These are the only recipes I have tried at the time of this review. I also think the Laena's Library section and sources sections have great recommendations for additional reading and for ingredient and canning supply resources.... Overall an excellent resource for anyone who loves to make jam. Read more ›

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jammin'! September 21, 2012

By Gail Roth

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

a lot of great information. well written, and it is obvious that the flavor combinations come from a true Chef.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jam on! May 10, 2013

By Daniel J Noel

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This has some really fun recipes and good info on what jamming is all about. I've try some of the recipes and love them.

Check it out!

5.0 out of 5 stars as a gift May 8, 2013

By Dog Lover

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bought for a friend so don't know how good it was BUT I bought it based on great reviews by cooks.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice pictures, well done April 17, 2013

By Kelly

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a very nice book for canners taking their jams to the next level. This book is very well done, and has nice pictures. I appreciate this artisanship of this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars jam book April 1, 2013

By JD

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

it looks like a very nice book and I'm sure when i have time to make the jams they will be delicious

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible! October 7, 2012

By Sewbeams

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Absolutely am so happy I bought this book. It not only gives you amazing recipes, but also encourages creativity. I just keep thinking, "How generous, and what a gift the author has given us readers". If you like jammin' - this book is for you!