Gift Ideas

Barbara Ellis provides expert answers for all of your toughest vegetable-growing questions. Designed to be used as an in-the-garden reference, this sturdy little volume is packed with helpful information on everything from planning a garden and sowing seeds to battling pests and harvesting organic crops. With clever tricks to cut down on weed growth, secrets for maximizing production in confined growing spaces, and fail-safe watering guidelines, you’ll have the know-how and inspiration to grow your most abundant vegetable garden ever.

From The Back Cover:
Know more, grow more! Do you ever wish you had a master gardener right next door? Now you do, with this little reference that delivers big vegetable truths to all your questions:
- What are the easiest vegetable crops to grow?
- How soon can I plant my peas in spring? How can I grow almost all my own food?
- Can I grow vegetables in containers? Is there any way to make weeding go faster?
- What can I put in my compost piles?
- How can I keep birds from eating my crops?

Build your own winery! Learn how to set up a home winery and construct all the basic equipment for just a fraction of what commercially manufactured products would cost. Leading you through the entire winemaking process, Steve Hughes includes building plans and step-by-step instructions for making more than 30 essential winemaking tools. From fashioning presses and pumps to the best way to fill and cork bottles, The Homebuilt Winery covers everything you need to know to affordably enjoy delicious, high-quality homemade wine.

From the Back Cover:
Whether you have a cellar stocked with homemade vintages or are a recent convert to the rewards of home winemaking, you are likely to need some new equipment. The Homebuilt Winery provides complete building plans for 43 winemaking projects, pieces that facilitate the entire process of turning grapes into wine - from crushing and destemming to bottling and labeling. Each project includes thorough step-by-step instructions, building diagrams, an illustration of the completed piece, and instructions for use.

A home winemaker and experienced builder himself, Steve Hughes understands every step in the winemaking process and has designed projects that are useful and durable, yet easy to build with only basic carpentry skills and materials. Using his building plans, you can do anything from replacing a few worn pieces to building an entire home winery.

If you have a backyard, or even a sunny porch or balcony, you can grow your own hops, brewing herbs, and malt grains to enhance the flavor, aroma, and uniqueness of your home-brewed beer - and ensure that you have the freshest, purest, best ingredients possible. Simple instructions from experts Joe and Dennis Fisher guide you through every step of the process, from setting up your first hop trellis to planting and caring for your herbs, harvesting and drying them, malting grain, and brewing more than 25 recipes specifically designed for homegrown ingredients. This fully updated second edition includes a new section featuring color photography of the plants, expanded information on growing hops in small spaces, innovative trellising ideas, an expanded section on malting, new profiles of prominent grower/brewers, and up-to-date information on grain-growing best practices.

You’ll never think about compost the same way again! Turn the compost bin upside down! The nutritious, organic diet your garden craves is as simple as creating compost heaps right in the garden. Plants and compost live together in labor- and time-saving harmony, producing bright, sweet, juicy vegetables all season long.

Garrett Oliver, award-winning Brewmaster and Vice President of Production of the Brooklyn Brewery, recognized by Gourmet Magazine as a 'passionate epicure and talented alchemist', reveals the full spectrum of flavors contained in the more than 50 distinct styles of beer from around the world.

Most importantly, he shows how beer, which is far more versatile than wine, intensifies flavors when it’s appropriately paired with foods to create a dining experience most people have never imagined. Garrett, along with photographer Denton Tillman, traveled throughout Europe visiting fellow brewmasters to trace the beers of the world to their sources. Back in the States, he met with the star chefs he has advised about beer. The resulting book is a motherload of information, lushly illustrated with Tillman’s gorgeous photographs of the world’s best beers and the breweries that produce them. Above all, The Brewmaster's Table is a new way of thinking about beer – one that will bring this under-appreciated brew to the status it deserves.

Whether it’s a Belgian wheat beer with a simple salad, a Brooklyn Pilsner to wash down spicy tacos, a pale ale alongside a porcini risotto with foie gras, or even a Framboise to accompany a dark chocolate brownie, beer is the perfect complement to any dining experience, at home in front of the TV or in a four-star restaurant.

He explains how beer is made, shows you its fascinating history, and then leads you through the amazing range of flavors displayed by the dozens of distinct styles of beer from around the world. Finally, he suggests beer pairings that will please your tastebuds and blow your mind. Whether you’re a beer aficionado, a passionate cook, or just someone who loves a great dinner, this book will indeed be a revelation.

Master home brewer Stephen Snyder presents the A to Z guide for producing expert home brewing results every time. Everything there is to know about home brewing is here - how to ferment, condition, bottle or keg, store, serve and savor your homebrews.

Also Included:
- Tips on choosing yeast, malt, hops, specialty grains and additives
- Lists of every type of beer in the world - and how to make them
- Discoveries of supply shops, beer associations and publications
- Master Brewers’ suggestions for improving your beer

Providing easy-to-follow instructions and with the zeal of a true believer, Snyder walks novice brewers through their first simplest batches to more advanced techniques to the ultimate in homebrewing - formulating your own recipes.

Topping it all off is a mind-boggling array of recipes collected from brewmasters around the world. It would take a lifetime to brew them all. For each beer type - from India Pale Ale to the heaviest German Bock, from fruit- and spice-flavored beers and Christmas beers to the blackest chocolate stout - Snyder includes endless variations and professional advice, making this, truly, the only brewing guide you’ll ever need.

Does the beer buyer at the liquor store ask your advice? Do you understand the difference between a turbid and a single infusion mash? Do you travel with a tulip glass handy? Have you even eaten ramen just to afford a vintage Cantillon gueuze? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you may be a Beer Geek and in need of this hilarious guide. Patrick Dawson provides everything you need to fully live a life ruled by beer, from the Ten Beer Geek Commandments and the Beer Geek Hall of Fame to guidance on what to drink, how and where to drink it, how to gracefully correct an uninformed bartender, where to buy 'geek goods', how to flawlessly execute a beer tasting, how to plan the ultimate beer-centric vacation, and much more. Includes quizzes to help you determine your level of geekery, as well as witty illustrations by Greg Kletsel.

Open a cold one and get cooking! Showcasing the diverse ways that beer can be used to enhance a meal, either as an ingredient or by pairing, John Holl’s collection of 155 tasty recipes are designed for the beer-loving foodie. From twists on traditional favorites like American Wheat Bear Steamed Clams to unexpected surprises like Chocolate Jefferson Stout Cupcakes, you’ll soon be amazing your friends with the culinary versatility of your favorite beverage.

John Holl, an enthusiast who believes that there's perfect beer for every meal, conducts an exciting tour of delicious food designed to eat with fine craft brews. Thinking beyond standard burgers and nachos, talented brewpub chefs offer pairings such as Pistachio-Crusted Salmon Sandwiches served with a bright hefeweizen, and Curried Pumpkin Chicken Soup paired with - what else? - a pumpkin porter. Craft beer never tasted so good.

Pour a stiff drink and crack open this comprehensive guide to everything there is to know about the world’s greatest whiskeys. Exploring the traditions behind bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and even Japanese whiskey, you’ll discover how unique flavors are created through variations of ingredients and different distilling techniques. With advice on how to collect, age, and serve whiskey, as well as suggestions for proven food pairings, you’ll be inspired to share your knowledge and invite your friends over for a delicious whiskey tasting party.

A tall and slender glass is best for serving lighter, delicate, or effervescent beers such as pilsners, lagers and wheat beers. The narrow shape shows off beers with brilliant clarity and allows you to see the beer sparkle as streams of bubbles rise to the surface. The narrow shape is also ideal for pilsners and wheat beers because it enhances the aromatic qualities of these delicate styles.

This handsome mug has a tall, slender form and holds 22 ounces. It features thick walls, a solid base and a large handle. It is an excellent mug for lagers, draft beer, tall cocktails and floats!

Amelia Slayton Loftus shares her expert knowledge in this comprehensive guide that includes everything homebrewers of all levels need to know to brew delicious, organic beer. She covers the why's and how's of organic brewing, things to consider when buying equipment, and everything you need to know about organic ingredients (what makes them different, how to get them, and how to make substitutions). She also offers more than 30 irresistible recipes. You'll learn how to brew sustainably by growing ingredients yourself, recycling water, using solar energy, and achieving zero waste. Loftus also includes information on developing new recipes, tips for honing competition skills, and a tasting guide to different beer styles.

The Pilsner glass is best for serving this crisp and clean style of beer from Germany to the Czech Republic. The tall and slender design preserves the carbonation and delicate flavors of the Pilsner style.

Cordials and Liqueurs are best served in this slender glass for an elegant presentation. The small size and narrow design are suited for these strong and flavorful beverages.

This complete beer tasting set includes four 6oz pilsner tasting glasses and a wood serving flight. This pilsner-style taster features a tall narrow shape to accentuate the delicate qualities of more subtle beer styles such as pilsners, lagers, wheat beers and pale ales. The narrow shape will also reveal more subtle color tones of even the darkest brews. This beer tasting set is perfect for any serious or casual beer enthusiast and durable enough for commercial use.

Set Includes:
4 x 6oz Libbey Pilsner Tasting Glasses (#16)
1 Wood Serving Flight (96381)

This complete beer tasting set includes four 5oz mini pub glasses and a wood serving flight. These Libbey beer glasses have the classic pub design to showcase the quality and presentation of craft beer. This beer tasting set is perfect for any serious or casual beer enthusiast and durable enough for commercial use.

Set Includes:
4 x 5oz Libbey Mini Pub Glasses (4809)
1 Wood Serving Flight (96381)

Enjoy your abundant harvest of garden-fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year with these simple, yet satisfying home-preserving techniques. For fresh-off-the-vine flavor and a full payload of vitamins, you can’t beat the fruits, vegetables and herbs preserved from you own garden. For more than 25 years, countless gardeners and cooks have turned to Keeping the Harvest for complete, easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on how to save some of the homegrown goodness of summer. Now this classic handbook has been entirely updated so you can take advantage of the latest techniques and most up-to-date equipment. Furthermore, all directions in this new edition follow the USDA’s most recent guidelines for home preserving.

In this updated edition, you’ll learn new timesaving methods such as using a microwave oven to blanch vegetables and quick-dry herbs, as well as venerable tricks of the trade, such as adding a little salt and vinegar to keep preserved fruits from losing their vivid color in the jar. Each chapter is packed with important technical details - for example, how much headroom is required when freezing fruits and vegetables, or how to keep liquid from boiling out of the jars. The authors have also included a host of simple, down-home recipes for making tasty pickles and relishes, delicious jellies and marmalades, and even your own ketchup and chili sauce.

Ranging from advice on the optimal time to pick your produce to what equipment you’ll need to how to maintain an accurate inventory so nothing goes to waste, Keeping the Harvest teaches you proven methods so you can enjoy your garden’s abundance all year long.

Learn All About:

- Canning
- Jams & Jellies
- Freezing
- Pickling
- Drying
- Curing
- Cold Storage

Admiring brightly colored jars of jams, jellies, marmalades, and other fruit spreads in your pantry is sure to bring a bit of summer sunshine into even the coldest, grayest days of winter. Combining centuries-old lore with state-of-the-art methods, this bulletin will teach you everything you need to know to transform fresh fruit into tempting preserves. Here you’ll find wonderful, flavorful recipes — even some that are low in sugar.

These are just a few:

Red Raspberry Preserves
Spiced Strawberry Jam
Ginger Jam
Apple Butter
Lemon Jelly
Carrot and Orange Marmalade

Make your own soft drinks that are tastier, healthier and cheaper than anything you’ll find in stores! From soda water to sarsaparilla, in Homemade Root Beer, Soda & Pop, you’ll find easy-to-follow instructions for more than 60 traditional batches of old favorites and experiment with new combinations of natural ingredients to create your own refreshing recipes.

You’ll make fabulous, fizzy creations like:

Taking good care of yourself has never been so much fun! Blending and brewing your own soothing, invigorating, healthy, or just plain delicious herbal teas is as good for the spirit as it is for the body! With Herbal Teas’ simple instructions and recipes for every need, age, and life situation, even beginners can dive right in for the healing or just for the joy of it.

Here are just a few of the herbal teas that you will discover:

- Energy Boosters
- Stress Busters
- Detoxifying Teas
- Love Potion Teas
- Dream Teas
- Teas For PMS
- Teas For Teenagers
- Uplifting Teas
- Prenatal Teas
- Teas For Healthy Skin
- And Many More!

From breaking ground to savoring the finished product, every aspect of growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine is covered in this classic guide. Fully illustrated instructions clearly show you how to choose and prepare a vineyard site; build effective trellising systems; select, plant, prune, and harvest the right grapes for your climate; press, ferment, age, and bottle wine; and judge wine for clarity, color, aroma, and taste. This revised and updated edition features all-new information on creating your own sparkling wines, ice wines, port-style wines, and dessert wines.