Some of the recipes in this book look truly delicious and the photos are inspiring me to put up lots of food - even though I've never canned anything in my life.

I do wish there was a photo of each finished product. There are a few, but many of the photos aren't labeled, so you don't even know which item you're looking at, and there are also a couple "artistic" photos of things like canning lids, which I find unnecessary.

My other beef is with the editor - there are a few recipes that refer the reader to "page 000" for further instructions and, of course, that page doesn't exist. For some of these instructions (for example, segmenting citrus fruits), it would have made more sense to place the instructions in a "Techniques" chapter in the beginning of the book, rather than to place them in a few recipes and then refer back to specific recipes. The book lacked consistency because of this oversight.

But I will give it 3 stars simply because it was inspiring. I'd like to try a jam recipe or two, as well as one for pickles! ( )

This is a great book for someone, like me, who is new to food preservation.The only reason I did not give it five stars is it seemed almost every recipe is also in my Ball Blue Ribbon canning book. The author did a great job of adding additional details for each recipe that helps a newbie. ( )

Love her blog.... if I have room I'll purchase her book. Like Smitten Kitchen, if you follow the blog, you glean much. I've tried several jam recipes that are now on my favorites list. ( )

Food In Jars Preserving In Small Batches Year Round (Marisa McClellan)

I don't know what I was hoping for...perhaps a totally new idea....it was the year round that piqued my interest and it was internet order...so I didn't look at the book first.
Lots of jam and butter combos that I would not have thought to put together...
Basic preserving talk.....
Things like peaches in bourbon..(I prefer mine plain), granola, pancake mix etc
I'll reserve judgment until I peruse further.

This book includes: Jams, Fruit Butters, Jellies, Marmalades, Curds & Conserves, Chutneys & Condiments, Pickles, Salsas & Relishes, Tomatoes, Syrups, Whole Fruit, Granols in Jars (?), Nut Butters, Other Foods in Jars.....

Ok: so I didn't know that aside from fresh Maple Syrup, one could/would make syrups or for that matter "Granola in Jars".

The "Other Foods in Jars" consisted of: pancake mix, beer bread mix (Really?), chocolate cake in a jar (again, Really?), trio of flavored salts, homemade cultured butter, homemade vanilla extract, chicken & vegetable stock.

SUGAR: SUGAR: SUGAR: SUGAR: And More SUGAR: is in these recipes.... even in the salsas & relishes..... That surprised me!

These are no quick & easy recipes, these take a great amount of time & concentration and in my opinion if you are going to go through all the time to sterilize the jars, prepare a water bath, chop/dice/peel the fruits/vegetables, you might as well make more than 4 jars of something.

You might ask yourself: "Why did she give this 3 ★ if she didn't write a glowing review?" The reason being, it is a good book with recipes that sound as if I might actually taste and enjoy them. ( )