Our family has a long history of preserving food, a skill passed down through generations. We share our knowledge and experience to help you learn the ropes and gain confidence in your preserving endeavors. It’s not just about extending shelf life. It’s about capturing the essence of each season and savoring it throughout the year.
A healthy sourdough starter smell is the foundation of delicious homemade sourdough bread. However, beginners often struggle with identifying whether their starter is thriving or failing based on its scent. My daughter and niece have both become quite good at growing their own fermented dough and coming up with lots of recipes for the discard. […]
Understanding Sourdough Starter Smell and Troubleshooting Read Post »
Today, we’re covering 3 foolproof methods of how to dry parsley right at home. Fresh parsley is a versatile herb that adds a bright, earthy flavor to many dishes. Whether you grow your own parsley in an herb garden or pick up a bunch of parsley from the grocery store, drying it is a great
How to Dry Parsley at Home: 3 Foolproof Methods Read Post »
The first thing to consider when storing fresh herbs is whether they’re tender herbs with soft stems, like parsley or basil, or hardy herbs with woody stems, like thyme or rosemary. Tender herbs are delicate and require a little water to stay fresh. One effective method is to treat them like a bouquet of flowers:
The Best Ways to Keep Fresh Herbs Fresh and Flavorful Read Post »
Learn how to make beef tallow on your homestead. This natural animal fat has been a staple in traditional kitchens for generations, and for good reason. This versatile, healthy fat is perfect for high-heat cooking, deep frying, and even skincare. Making your own beef tallow at home is simple, cost-effective, and satisfying. Learning How to
How to Make Beef Tallow: It’s Easy to Render Your Own Read Post »
Make Homemade Paprika with Fresh produce you’re your own garden. Imagine stepping into your garden, picking ripe peppers fresh off the vine, and transforming them into a rich, aromatic spice that will elevate your dishes all year round. Making your own paprika from garden-grown peppers is a rewarding journey that connects you to the land
Homemade Paprika with Fresh Flavors from Garden to Jar Read Post »
Store fresh eggs safely and maintain their quality and flavor. Knowing the best practices for fresh egg storage can help extend their shelf life and ensure you’re getting the most out of every single one. Whether you have your own backyard chickens, shop at the local farmers market, or buy eggs from the grocery store,
How to Store Fresh Eggs: Keep Them Safe and Fresh Read Post »
Good crisp salad greens are key and knowing the best way to store lettuce and keep it fresh and crisp for weeks is a must. If you’ve ever brought home lettuce from the grocery store or harvested it fresh from your own garden, you know how fast those vibrant leaves can lose their crispness. Whether
The Best Way to Store Lettuce to Keep it Fresh for Weeks Read Post »
Render pure lard from pork fat and create a liquid gold. It’s a rewarding process that connects homesteaders to traditional cooking practices. When I was first married years ago, my mother-in-law taught me how to render lard. She just used a roasting pan to melt the fat at a very low temperature. On the farm,
Simple Steps to Render Pure Lard for Cooking and Baking Read Post »
We spend so much time and effort in our gardens, storing squash for the winter is just as important to us. We had to do some research to find the best methods. Don’t worry, we are sharing with you so you can be successful in preserving your harvest too. As the growing season winds down
The Homesteader’s Guide to Storing Squash for Winter Read Post »
When the crisp autumn air rolls in, nothing beats the satisfaction of turning a bushel of apples into homemade applesauce. On the farm, apple-picking was always a family tradition. The apple trees were scattered throughout our 200 acres. But we knew where to find them. We’d head out to the apple orchards, and by the
Easy Homemade Applesauce Canning Recipe for Beginners Read Post »
There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade tomato sauce made from fresh, ripe tomatoes. Whether you’re using garden tomatoes or the best tomatoes from your local farmers’ market, the deep, rich flavor of a homemade sauce is unbeatable. Are you tired of cooking down tomato juice to make a thick sauce. Are you tired
Easy Hack for Thick Tomato Sauce: Freeze, Blend, and Can Read Post »
How long does zucchini last? For homesteaders and backyard gardeners, harvesting fresh squash is one of the joys of the growing season. However, zucchini plants are prolific producers. Often leaving you with an excessive amount of squash to enjoy throughout the summer. To make the most of your harvest, it’s important to know how long
How Long Does Zucchini Last After Picked? Read Post »
An easy sourdough starter is made from a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast from the environment, which will naturally ferment to become the base for many tasty sourdough breads. Creating your own sourdough starter is simpler than it seems, and with a few basic ingredients and a bit of time, you’ll
From Scratch: How to Make an Easy Sourdough Starter Read Post »
We love pumpkins in the fall, but how do you keep pumpkins from rotting so fast? As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to change, one of the joys of the fall season is adorning your home with vibrant pumpkins. Whether you’ve picked them fresh from the patch or carefully selected them for their
How to Keep Pumpkins from Rotting This Fall Read Post »
If you love cheese as much as my family does, knowing the best cheese storage methods is key. Living in Wisconsin, cheese is a staple at nearly every event, whether it’s featured in a recipe or served as an appetizer. A well-crafted cheese board can easily become the star of the table. Effortless to assemble,
Cheese Storage 101: Soft, Hard, and Shredded Read Post »
What is the best trick to store tomatoes? Storing them the right way can make all the difference between bland, mealy tomatoes and vibrant, flavorful ones. By following these farmer-approved tips, you can ensure your tomatoes maintain their peak flavor and last as long as possible. Whether you’re savoring a simple tomato sandwich or preparing
The Best Trick to Store Tomatoes, According to Farmers Read Post »
What is Freeze-Dried Fruit and How to Use It in Your Favorite Recipes? If you’re curious about this and how it can enhance your meals, you’re in the right place. It’s more than just a trendy snack. They offer a unique combination of taste, convenience, and nutrition. In this post, we’ll explore what it is
What is Freeze-Dried Fruit and How to Use It Read Post »
This beet pickle recipe is a refrigerator pickle or quick pickle recipe. Unlike pickles processed in a water bath canner, these won’t last as long but are much quicker and easier to make. You won’t need to sterilize jars, prepare a water bath, or wait weeks to enjoy them. These beet pickles are ready to
Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beets Recipe Read Post »
