UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

Central Sierra | Master Food Preservers | Articles

Featured Articles by Master Food Preservers

UC Master Food Preservers in Amador, Calaveras, and El Dorado Counties write articles for local publications and posts on food safety, food preservation, food preparation, and reducing food waste, among other subjects of interest.

You can find those articles by clicking the link below.

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Central Sierra: Master Food Preserver Articles | El Dorado County

Central Sierra: Master Food Preserver Articles that appeared in El Dorado County local periodicals. Most feature recipes and instructions for preserving the tastes of the season to enjoy at other times of the year.

saucy chicken wings on a plate

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Wing Sauce to Enjoy During Football and All Year Round

January 20, 2026

Preserve It! Chicken Wing Season! The Super Bowl always means there is a grand feast of snack foods to plan and prepare. While the textures and flavors abound at this annual gathering (whether you watch the game or not), it seems a quintessential ingredient on the menu is the spicy-vinegary buffalo…

two small pears on a wood board

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Canned Tiny Seckel Pears Make Delicious Treat!

January 20, 2026

Preserve It! For a Lofty Dessert! Seckel pears are crisp, juicy, and quite sweet with a slightly spicy flavor profile when ripe. They are very small in size (about one-inch diameter and three-inches in height – about the size of a small lemon), making them perfect for canning beautiful halves of…

a ceramic spoon rest holds a handful of fresh red cranberries

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Home Preserved Cranberry Sauce is a Real Treat

December 22, 2025

Preserve It! A Fruit from the Bogs! From the bogs and swamps of the northeastern part of the country comes a fruit widely used for those family gatherings this time of year. Sure, in a pinch, you could purchase one of those iconic cans of cranberry sauce from the grocery, but why not can and preserve…

three onions, one sliced, sit on a white background

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Classic Warm Winter Flavor a Must-Have for the Festive Table

December 12, 2025

Preserve It! A Jam for the Ages Cozy up with what might be considered classic, comforting, winter flavors of onion, maple syrup, and apple juice. This jam sets up more like a spread and is quite delicious on a hamburger or as a glaze over a chicken or a pork roast. Try pouring it over cream cheese as a…

orange fleshed squash cut into half-moon shape

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Compote Evokes the Festive Season, Makes a Great Gift

November 24, 2025

Autumn Glory Compote is as good as pie This autumn compote is a delicious change of pace from eating pumpkin pie, but still evokes the flavors of the harvest, and this tested recipe is safe for boiling water canning as well as atmospheric steam canning*. A versatile condiment with festive…

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: For Low-Sugar Jelly Options, Consider the Freezer

November 13, 2025

Preserve It! Homemade Fruit Spread is a Freezer Delight! What would you say to a fruit spread recipe with a low or no sugar option? Yes? Short on canning jars or just don’t want to deal with the processing? Freezer jam is the answer. A bonus is that freezer jam stays soft and can be scooped out as…

still life of a blushing red apple and a green pear

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Extending Apple & Pear Season in El Dorado County

October 28, 2025

Don't say goodbye to apples and pears yet Apples and pears have a long and distinguished history in El Dorado County agriculture. Locals and tourists alike appreciate our fine mountain autumn fruit. Right now, it's late in apple and pear season here in Camino, and most of the fruits will be gone…

sliced zucchini and small paring knife appear on a wooden cutting board

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Saving the Last of the Zucchini (Until you can appreciate it again)

October 3, 2025

Preserve It! Oh Dear, the Zucchini! Pickling is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. Queen Cleopatra attributed her legendary beauty as well as her health to the pickles in her diet. Roman troops were given pickles in their diet believing it would make them strong.What if you don’t have many…

healthy fresh peaches on a tree branch

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Think Georgia Produces the Most Peaches? Think again!

August 19, 2025

Preserve It! Peaches! Don't Hesitate to Buy Loads of Fuzzy Peaches (in season!) Have you noticed that fresh peaches have more fuzz than peaches in grocery stores? Before peaches are sold in grocery stores, some of the fuzz is removed to make it more appealing. It is thought that too much fuzz on…

jalapeno peppers on a wood cutting board with a stainless steel slicing knife

UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Properly Prepare for Pepper Season (EDC MFP)

July 14, 2025

Preserve It! Properly Prepared for Pepper Seasonby UCCE Master Food Preserver Laurie LewisThe heat of summer in California is in full swing. We are in the height of the season for growing peppers. If you enjoy peppers, or if you grow them in the garden, you may be looking for ways to enjoy the abundance of…