CUSTOM CLASSES
Let Preserving Techniques provide the food and fun for your next family & friends gathering, club meeting, office party or team building event! One advantage of the Custom Classes is that you can choose any two projects from the wide array of choices shown below to custom design your class.
Photos from a Time to Get Spicy class. Click to see larger versions.
After everyone dons their aprons, we will gather in my living room where I will present an overview of the class, ingredients, and preparation techniques. Then, we move to the kitchen for the hands-on portion of the class. Here is where you and your friends will create the hands-on projects that you will not only enjoy making, but get to take home with you. Classes are about 2 hours and include snacks and samples. You’ll also receive a handout with all of the information necessary so you can recreate the fun at home!
My teaching kitchen can easily accommodate up to 6 people.
Teens are welcome in classes. Younger children can enroll with a paying parent.
Please book your class 2 weeks in advance.
3-4 people – $55 per person
2 people – $60 per person
canning :Â JAMS AND JELLIES
All jams and jellies made at Preserving Techniques will feature a type of pectin that allows for a big reduction in sugar. Traditional jams and jellies have almost as much sugar as fruit. We use one-fourth of the amount of sugar.
Strawberry Jam
A low-sugar remake of the classic favorite. Great on toast but also as a topper for yogurt.
Peach Jam
A Grand Valley specialty. This is best when made with tree ripened peaches.
Plum Jelly
A great jelly that can be spiced for a wonderful holiday gift.
Apricot Jam
Low sugar but bursting with flavor. Great as a topping on oatmeal.
Pepper Jelly
With bursts of red and green peppers, this jelly can be made as spicy as you like.
Apple Jelly
A Fall treat made when the apples are at their best!
Grape Jelly/Jam
A classic for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
An early summer treat with a nostalgic taste.
canning :Â FRUIT
Learn how to save those lovely summer fruits so you can enjoy them all winter long.
Chocolate Cherries
A delicious and low sugar dessert on their own but fabulous as a topping for ice cream.
Cherry Chutney
A more savory fruit condiment that goes well with pork or your Thanksgiving turkey.
Strawberry Lemonade
Learn how to make a drink mix concentrate that will delight you all year long.
Peaches
Just straight up canned peaches. Great eaten any time or used in a cobbler.
Strawberry Vanilla Preserves
A touch of vanilla makes these a special treat. Use as a topping for waffles or pancakes, or with ice cream for a great dessert.
Applesauce
Learn how to can your own applesauce from our local apples. Great canned in a variety of sizes so you can tuck a jar in a lunchbox or open a large jar for a family dinner.
canning :Â PICKLES
A great way to preserve the summer’s bounty of vegetables.
Dill Spears
A classic accompaniment to a sandwich or diced up in a potato salad.
Relish
You can choose a cucumber relish or zucchini relish to preserve all of those abundant summer vegetables. We will have several options on how to spice these to make them extra special.
Okra
Pickled okra are a great snack or a fun way to garnish a Bloody Mary.
Dilly Beans
Another great snack and a classic accompaniment to the Bloody Mary.
Bread and Butter Slices
So good my younger son used to open a jar and eat the whole thing when he was a kid!
Corn Relish
Great to make when the corn comes into season around here. Great with fish or makes a colorful and flavorful addition to a pasta salad.
canning :Â SALSA
So fun to make your own salsa to enjoy all year long.
Makes a great homemade gift when you add a bag or your favorite chips.
Ranchera
A tomato based salsa that you can customize to your preferred spiciness.
Tomatillo
A zesty green salsa that makes for some great Enchiladas Suizas.
Fruit Salsa
Around here we like to make a peach salsa when the peaches are abundant. A slightly different salsa that will surprise your family and friends.
Tomato Corn Salsa
A mixture of tomatoes and corn that is great with chips but I like to add a jar when I make chili for some additional flavor, color, and nutrition!
Fiesta Salsa
A combination of lots of summer vegetables that makes a bright colorful salsa.
canning :Â CONDIMENTS
Homemade condiments that can’t be beat for flavor and fun!
Peach Ale Mustard
Made with local peaches and Palisade Brewing’s ale. So yummy on sandwiches and hot dogs.
Whole Grain Mustard
A full-flavored mustard that goes great with brats or is a great sauce for grilled meats.
Bloody Mary Mix
Your own special drink mix. This version is full of flavor but lower in salt than most commercial mixes. Combine with a pickled vegetable for a fun gift.
Bruschetta in a Jar
A wonderful topping for sliced bread but also a great pizza topping. My older son and his wife love making this one so they always have a nice appetizer available when friends come by.
Pizza Sauce
Make your own sauce to save the abundance of tomatoes in your garden. Add your own homemade mozzarella and you will have a gourmet pizza.
FERMENTATION
A very old method of food preservation that is very popular once again. Fermenting adds a great pickled flavor but also contributes to great gut health with all of those live cultures. You will take home a full quart jar with an airlock and all of the instructions for creating a successful ferment.
Sauerkraut
Learn to make you own kraut to enjoy with brats! We will talk about how to add additional seasonings to make this classic completely your own.
Kimchi
Another old ferment that is very popular now. You will create a jar to take home use. You will definitely impress your family and friends with this ferment you made yourself.
Escabeche (Mexican Pickled Carrots)
A taqueria staple that adds lots of color and nutrition to your tacos and sandwiches. You will be able to choose the spiciness that appeals to your tastes.
Kosher Dill Pickles
They used to be made in a large barrel and sold in the general store. You will only make a small barrel ( a quart jar) to take home and enjoy. Slice them up for sandwiches, dice them for potato salad, or just enjoy!
Giardiniera (Italian Mixed Vegetable Pickle)
Cauliflower, carrots, peppers, and more make a very colorful snack. Or you can chop the mixture up as a topping on a sandwich.
Kombucha
Learn all of the techniques for making your own fermented drink. Stop spending lots of money on store bought versions. You will go home with a great handout and a SCOBY to start making your own at home.
FOODCRAFTING
Mozzarella
Learn the techniques for making your own lovely, stretchy mozzarella. You will take home some of the cheese you make in class. If you add learning to can Pizza Sauce or Bruschetta in a Jar you will have a great combo to add to your kitchen repertoire.
Non-Dairy Cheeses
Great for vegans or those who are lacto intolerant. You will learn about the various types of non-dairy cheeses and you will learn to make a basic cheese that you can easily customize with flavorful additions. Each attendee will take home one container of cheese.
Yogurt
Learn to make your own live-culture yogurt. You will learn all of the techniques for making great homemade yogurt. Participants will take home a jar of yogurt to enjoy and use to create additional batches.