Sarah's Books


Read about Jam, Jelly and Marmalade:
  • "Sarah Hood traces the earliest forms of preserves in Persia and China, following the link between preserving and the availability of sugar, the contributions of railroads, jam’s part in the emerging labour movement and the rise of large-scale commercial preserving that shipped these comestibles to all corners of the globe. Who thought jam, jelly and marmalade were just delicious foods to spread on toast, dress a pudding or fill a tart? The truth? It’s the history of the world... in a jar." – Elizabeth Baird, best-selling cookbook author and member of the Order of Canada
  • "Canadian journalist Hood packs fascinating information into this slim volume that surveys the history of putting up sweet preserves, from its earliest forms in China and Persia through the customs of the breakfast table and unexpected role of jam factories in the labour movement." – Nathalie Atkinson, The Globe & Mail
  • "[T]his little book will make your breakfast toast more than a morning routine, as you layer it with history, science, and intention." - Hattie Klotz, Literary Review of Canada
  • "Sometimes little things are full of big surprises. This tiny book is jam-packed (pun intended) with history and information. Award-winning jam-maker Sarah B. Hood has crammed a lot of history, culture, facts, and figures into the 160 pages of Jam, Jelly and Marmalade: A Global History . . . The long history (and struggle) behind every jar of fruit preserve makes for a gripping read, and this little book will not disappoint neither culinary historians nor home cooks." – New York Journal of Books
  • "A nice survey of the history of jam-making and preserves for the layperson." – Elka Weinstein for Digestible Bits and Bites, newsletter of the Culinary Historians of Canada

Read about We Sure Can!:
  • "Let me introduce Sarah – a Torontonian with tons of energy, intellect and a passion for preserving. Her new book, We Sure Can (...) embraces preserving with a passion." –  Elizabeth Baird for the Toronto Sun
  • "Of course the real test of any cookbook is whether or not a novice can easily follow the instruction without the benefit of someone more experienced by your side. Happily, Ms. Hood does not disappoint. Everything you need to know to successfully make jams, jellies, and pickles can be found in We Sure Can!—right down to listening for the ping of a lid that has properly sealed once you take it out of the hot water processing bath." – Penny Pleasance for New York Journal of Books
  • "This beautifully photographed book by Sarah B. Hood offers basic canning instructions as well as a motherlode of recipes, from the traditional ('Baba's Dill Pickles') to the trendy ('Carrot Rhubarb Jam with Rosemary'). And it's not just the home cook who can benefit. Bartenders, chefs, even food truck hot dog vendors will find condiment recipes to take their creations to another level." – City Food
  • "Once you've mastered the principles of preserving, you're only limited by your imagination. To learn the basics, pick up a guide like the terrific new cookbook We Sure Can! It's full of clear, easy-to-follow directions for sterilizing and processing jars, as well as mouth-watering recipes for preserves of all sorts, many of which would be terrific as cocktail ingredients or garnishes." – Joanne Sasvari for The Vancouver Sun
  • We Sure Can! is also very much a fascinating examination of the power of blogging. While selecting and testing recipes for her book, Hood put some of the recipes on her blog, and then watched for comments as people sussed them out. She also crowd-sourced ideas on Twitter while writing. Hood treasures the way online canners connect with each other, even when a new cookbook is not involved, and she touts the truly excellent quality of the information gleaned through reading food blogs. – Liane Faulder for the Edmonton Journal​

Essays

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Travel Guides
  • Toronto (contributor and copy editor), Tourism Toronto, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
  • Eyewitness Travel Toronto Pocket Map And Guide, (update editor), Dorling Kindersley Ltd., London, 2012.
  • Berlitz Pocket Guide: Toronto (update author), Apa Publications, Singapore, 2007.
  • Insight City Guide: Toronto (contributor), Insight Guides, London, 2006.