From Harvest to Table

Presented by Chef Jennifer Hill Booker

Grayson Technical High School

Gardening

• An outdoor classroom opportunity• -Integrates:

– -Math– -Science– History– Problem solving– Preservation

Methods

Harvesting your Garden

• An Indoor classroom opportunity:– Recipe Development

– Proper Cooking Methods– Preservation Methods

Easy Harvest Kitchen labs

• Cold Packed Tomatoes• Infused Oils• Infused Vinegars• Pickles• Relishes• Pickled Peppers

Infused Herb Oils & Vinegars

• Ingredients• 6 leaves fresh basil • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary • 2 sprigs fresh oregano • 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil

Infused Herb Oils & Vinegars

• Directions:• Place basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano,

and olive oil in a medium sauce pan. • Over low heat, bring oil to the first

simmer. • Remove from heat and Cool completely. • Remove herbs from pan and place in

sterilized bottle. • Pour oil into the bottle. • Seal and store in refrigerator. Use

within 3 weeks.

Canning and Preserving

• The acidity (pH) of a food is of great significance in determining the type of processing required for safe preservation of a food. In the case of pickled products, the foods preserved are often low-acid foods (cucumbers, zucchini), but their acidity is adjusted to bring the pH into the high-acid range so that may be safely preserved using boiling water bath processing.

pH Level

Salt

-Salt is a natural preservative which inhibits the growth of molds and bacteria.

-It literally pulls the life-sustaining moisture from those harmful bodies, making them unable to grow or reproduce. When used as a condiment or ingredient, it brightens food flavors and facilitates a balance between sweetness and acidity by decreasing the sourness of acid and increasing the sweetness of sugar.

Vinegar

• The most commonly used acid for pickling is vinegar.

• Vinegar needs to be of sufficient strength to assure that low-acid vegetables will be appropriately acidic.

• The vinegar should be 5 to 6% acetic acid (50 to 60 grain), and should not be diluted except according to an approved recipe.

Brainstorming Garden Styles

• Garden styles?– Traditional– Raised– PotsWhat to Grow?-Herbs-Tomatoes-Peppers

Q & A