Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Author Miriam Jacobs is a food columnist for Homestyle magazine and writes for other publications in the New England area. She is the editor of Best Recipes of Berkshire Chefs, and her articles and columns have been published in The Berkshire Eagle and The Independent. She has developed and tested recipes for The Red Lion Inn Cookbook, which is also a famous site in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Miriam was also a recipe developer for the Vermont Butter & Cheese Company, and 200 of her "tantalizing recipes" are showcased in her Storey book, The 10% Low-Fat Cookbook.