We are fortunate to have access to an incredible bounty of locally grown food here in Nakusp, and equally fortunate that the library has many books to help you store, preserve, freeze, and cook it all.
The library also has information on more fall activities, such as identifying mushrooms, wine making and Halloween costumes. A sampling of a few of these volumes includes:
Home Food Systems from Rodale Press
There is tons of information in this one: Canning, storing, sprouting, drying fruit, veggies, and meat, cheese and butter making. You can learn how raise cows, sheep, pigs and earthworms. This book, published in 1981, is a fun look at some old fashioned, but still relevant information.
The Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today from Bernardin Home Canning Products
The experts at Bernardin have gathered information for first time canners, and old hands in this book. It includes equipment lists, safe canning methods, and recipes for pickles, salsas, jams and much more.
Put a Lid on It!: Small Batch Preserving for Every Season Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard
This is the book for unique, gift quality jams, sauces, and spreads. Most recipes are in batches of 2-6 cups and includes Indonesian Satay Sauce, Chili Thai Sauce, Apricot Grand Marnier conserve, and Mango Marmalade.
Better Homes and Gardens You Can Can This comprehensive beginners guide to canning, pickling and preserving includes step-by-step photos to guide a novice through the tricky parts. Each page has a colour photo, and simple recipe for sweets, such as blueberry pie filling, and savouries, like tomato-basil jam.
Preserving: The Canning and Freezing Guide for All Seasons by Pat Crocker
Preserving, new to the library in September, divides recipes into Summer, Fall and Winter. There are many sauces, and chutneys, and recipes in which to use them. Also included are handy tips like how to slice a mango.
Once your shelves, freezer, and pantry are loaded with beautiful, healthy, preserved foods, look to our cookbook section for great ideas on how to use it all. The library has soup and salad books, recipes for vegans, diabetics, and those on gluten-free diets. French cooking, Italian cooking you get the idea, lots of cookbooks!
If your harvest of grapes, blackberries or saskatoons is especially bountiful, check out the winemaking books. The library has several.
Winemaking Made Easy by John Whittaker is a good place for the beginning wine maker to start. Rather buy your wine? Pick up John Schriener’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide and take in some Wine Fest events this fall. Newly updated, this guide contains thumbnail sketches of wineries and wine makers, and everything that you need to know to take a self-guided wine tour.
With the many wild mushrooms that we have locally, a good guide is essential. Have a look at the beautiful coloured ink drawings in Mushrooms of Western Canada by Helene M.E. Schalkwijk-Barendsen or The Field Guide to Mushrooms William S. Thomas, which contains excellent colour photos and descriptions and recipes for wild mushrooms.
For some Halloween costume inspiration:
Dressed for Thrills- 100 years of Halloween costumes and masquerade by Phyllis Galembo
This is a photographic history of costumes. Some ingenious, some a little creepy!
Halloween Costumes from Singer Sewing Reference Library
Hats, halos, crowns, capes, wings, wands and sceptres. There are tons of great ideas in this book.
Fabulous Faces and Outrageous Outfits for Kids by Petra Boase
Face painting and simple costumes made mostly with common household items.