Food In Jars

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Marisa McClellan, author of Food in Jars and Preserving by the Pint. She was signing her new book (Preserving by the Pint) at the huge Saturday Farmers' Market in front of the Ferry Building, and I was  representing Book Passage which was providing her books for sale.

Saturday Farmers' Market at the Ferry Building

As the market swirled around us on that beautiful, sunny day, Marisa filled me in on her life story. She was born in Los Angeles, moved to Portland with her family at about age 9, spent a happy adolescence in Oregon and moved to Philadelphia to be with her grandmother, where she married and has lived ever since. She has become an expert on canning and preserving, published two books on the subject, does freelance editing and writes a blog called  Food in Jars.

While we chatted, Marisa's fans would wander up to our table, recognize her from her blog or Face book page, and tell her how much they enjoy her blog and which recipes they had tried in her first book,  Food in Jars,  published by Running Press. The constant favorite was the Strawberry-vanilla jam. I confessed that I was a reluctant canner and didn't eat much jam anyway. She countered by explaining that most recipes in her books are not jams and jellies but ingenious combinations of various seasonal fruits and vegetables. In the new book she emphasizes preserving in small batches and often doesn't use the canning pot at all.  She suggested one summer recipe that really appealed to her followers—and to me: Zucchini Butter with Garlic and Fresh Thyme on page 85 of Preserving by the Pint. The veggie spread is delicious on bread or crackers and can be used as a quick sauce for warm pasta. I was sold, and since zucchini was bursting forth in the market and my herbs were in need of a trim, I made her recipe on the Fourth of July as my contribution to an annual block party in Walnut Creek. I decided to add savory as well as thyme.

My Winter Savory

And my Thyme

Zucchini Butter with Fresh Thyme and Savory

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
5 garlic cloves, gently smashed
2 large zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
5 to 6 sprigs thyme and/or savory
1/2 teaspoon finely milled sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place a large skillet over medium heat. Place the olive oil and butter in the pan and allow them to melt together. Roughly chop the garlic and add it to the pan. Add the zucchini. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the zucchini has begun to soften. Strip the thyme and savory leaves off their stems and add them to the pan.
   Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring often. The goal is to cook the liquid out of the zucchini and melt it into a flavorful, spreadable paste. If at any point, the zucchini starts to brown and stick, add a splash of liquid...and lower the heat a bit more. The total cooking time should be right around an hour.
   Divide the cooked spread between 2 half-pint jars. It will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or a year in the freezer.

Gemelli Pasta with Zucchini butter, green beans,  corn and basil

The next day I followed Marisa's advice and used more of my zucchini butter on warm pasta with a healthy addition of green beans and corn kernels, also from the farmers' market. It was quick and delicious, but unfortunately my supply of the zucchini butter is almost gone! I'll need to make more and next I want to  try her Peach-barbecue sauce and Thai-basil pesto. I may become a canner yet!