Robin Martin, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Although the best pumpkins for cooking are the smaller, sweeter varieties of pumpkin, pretty much any pumpkin can have its life extended after its role as an autumnal decoration is concluded. Prepare and freeze* pumpkin purée for soups,…

 Paige Weisskirch, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer  Dried fruit bread (Photo caption: Paige Weisskirch, used with permission). Every November, I open my pantry and face the same situation: half-empty bags of dried apricots from the previous year’s baking; figs I…

Earl Weak, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer In simple terms, pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) a solution is. A pH below 7 indicates an acid solution A pH above 7 indicates an alkaline (basic) solution pH 7 is considered neutral In the context of food…

Tim Long, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Red Delicious apples at the market (Photo caption: Tim Long, used with permission).  If you’re looking for a native apple tree, you’ll to be disappointed. Apples, other than three varieties of crabapples, aren’t native to the Americas…

Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Your Name Here MFP Badge (Photo caption: Henry Shaw, used with permission). Do you want to learn more about safe food-preservation techniques? Do you have a passion for sharing your knowledge with others? Are you willing to donate your…

Robyn Barker, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer If you have a sunny spot in your garden or on your patio, chili peppers are fun and easy to grow. The plants don’t get too large; they can even be grown in a container. They are relatively disease and pest free. With limited space and…

Mary Nazara, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Los Angeles Mary Nazara, used with permission.  I started preserving in the summer of 2022 after a phone call from my sister. She had a tree full of ripe plums and didn’t want them to go to waste. I already had…

Henry Shaw UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Contra Costa Image credit: Henry Shaw, 2025. My love of food and cooking began as a small child at my mother’s side in the kitchen. Over the decades, both my culinary interests and kitchen skills have grown…

Kirsten Hansen, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Jar of pie filling on a marble countertop (Photo by Penny Pearson, used with permission).  October is peak apple and pear season across much of California. This tasty Apple-Pear-Cranberry pie filling makes the most of the season…

Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Image Credit: Henry Shaw, 2025.  Do you want to learn more about safe food-preservation techniques? Do you have a passion for sharing your knowledge with others? Are you willing to donate your time as a volunteer for a good cause?…