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.
This roasted tomato marinara is one of my favorite ways to turn fresh tomatoes into something we can enjoy long after tomato season is over. Instead of cooking a large pot of tomatoes on the stove for hours, everything goes onto a sheet pan and into the oven. The tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs roast
Garden Fresh Roasted Tomato Marinara Read Post »
It’s easy to dry fresh herbs at home. They are one of the easiest crops to preserve and drying them lets you enjoy garden-fresh flavor long after the growing season ends. Whether you’re growing a few pots of basil on the porch or harvesting armloads of herbs from the garden, drying them at home is
How to Dry Fresh Herbs at Home: A Complete Beginner’s Guide Read Post »
These 24-Hour Sweet Summer Pickles are one of the easiest ways to preserve the fresh flavor of garden cucumbers without pulling out the water bath canner or spending hours in the kitchen. Nothing says summer quite like a jar of crisp homemade pickles chilling in the refrigerator. With just a handful of pantry ingredients, fresh
24-Hour Sweet Summer Refrigerator Pickles Read Post »
Learn how to prepare tough or thick rhubarb stalks for baking and cooking. Discover when to peel rhubarb, how to remove stringy fibers, and the best ways to use mature stalks in pies, jams, and desserts. Don’t let large, thick rhubarb stalks go to waste. While young rhubarb is often tender enough to chop and
How to Prepare Tough or Thick Rhubarb Stalks Quickly Read Post »
This simple roasted eggplant puree is one of the easiest ways to preserve fresh eggplant and add extra vegetables to everyday meals. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the eggplant and creates a soft texture that blends into a smooth puree in minutes. Freeze it in 1-cup portions, and you’ll always have a ready-to-use
Easy Roasted Eggplant Puree Recipe Read Post »
Easy Strawberry Simple Syrup a versatile recipe that belongs in every farmhouse kitchen. Whether drizzled over breakfast favorites, stirred into refreshing drinks, or used to finish off desserts, this homemade strawberry syrup delivers fresh flavor and a touch of homemade charm in every spoonful. There’s something so satisfying about turning a handful of fresh strawberries
How to Make the Best Strawberry Simple Syrup: Fresh & Easy Read Post »
If you love the rich, aromatic flavor of real vanilla, you’re going to adore this quick and easy vanilla bean paste recipe. Unlike store-bought versions, making your own version allows you to use fresh vanilla beans to create a strong vanilla flavor that elevates your recipes. Making it a versatile ingredient for any recipe that
How to Make Easy Vanilla Bean Paste in 5 Minutes Read Post »
This easy old-fashioned cranberry juice canning recipe is perfect for beginners and seasoned homesteaders alike. Using the hot pack method and a water bath canner, you’ll learn how to preserve the bright, tart flavor of whole berries in quart or pint jars. Perfect for sipping through the holiday season, gifting to neighbors, or keeping on
Easy Old-Fashioned Cranberry Juice Canning Recipe Read Post »
It’s time to fill your pantry shelves with a few jars of bright, tart homemade simple cranberry juice. When the cranberry harvest rolls around, we love making our own cranberry juice from whole cranberries. This recipe is super easy too. This simple method is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basic methods of
Simple Cranberry Juice Canning Recipe for Beginner Read Post »
Delicious Mock Zucchini Pineapple might just be my new favorite way to use up the zucchini from my overflowing garden. It’s a delicious way to preserve zucchini while giving it a sweet, tropical twist with pineapple. Whether you have a lot of extra zucchini, a few large zucchini plants, or just a craving for a
Delicious Mock Zucchini Pineapple Canning Recipe Read Post »
If you love chocolate-covered cherries or a rich, fruity treat, this Chocolate Cherry Jam is a perfect addition to your homestead kitchen. Not only is it delicious on toast, biscuits, or pancakes, but it’s also ideal for canning, making it a long-lasting homemade treat you can enjoy year-round or share with friends and family. Why
Easy Chocolate Cherry Jam Recipe from Scratch Read Post »
Let’s talk about safe canning at home. Few things on a homestead are more satisfying than preserving your own food straight from the garden. But whether you’re a seasoned homesteader or just starting out, it’s crucial to know which canning method to use. Choosing the wrong method can risk harmful bacteria, including Clostridium botulinum, which
Safe Canning at Home: Water Bath vs Pressure Methods Read Post »
Finding the best way to store fresh mint leaves is a good idea for every home cook or gardener with large harvests. If your herb garden is overflowing with mint plants this season, you’re not alone. We’re in the same boat! While mint is a versatile herb we love tossing into iced tea, mint pesto,
Expert Tips on How to Store Fresh Mint Leaves Read Post »
This traditional method for making pure toasted sesame oil uses only sesame seeds and water. No added oils, no preservatives, just rich, flavorful oil straight from the source. If you are looking to take your kitchen self-sufficiency to the next level, this one is a keeper. It’s a satisfying and simple process that honors old-world
Make Pure Sesame Oil Using Just Seeds and Water Read Post »
This delightful blueberry kombucha is one of our favorite fermented beverages to make right at home. On the homestead, we’re always looking for ways to live more simply, reduce waste, and make things from scratch. And that includes what we drink. It’s naturally fizzy, slightly sweet, full of probiotics, and a great way to use
Delightful Blueberry Kombucha: Make Your Own Read Post »
It always seems the dill is ready before my produce from my garden, so how do I store dill, so I have it for recipes and canning. Fresh dill is one of those aromatic herbs that brings bright, tangy flavor to everything from chicken salad to dill pickles. This works for fresh dill from the
Smart Ways to Store Dill for Maximum Freshness Read Post »
Learn how to keep your potatoes all winter with this storing potatoes 101 guide. Whether you’re stocking up on grocery store potatoes, bringing home a few bags from the farmers market, or storing a just-harvested crop from your backyard garden, knowing how to store potatoes the right way makes a big difference. The wrong environment,
Storing Potatoes 101: Cure and Keep them All Winter Read Post »
Did you know you can freeze rhubarb? If you’re lucky enough to have your own rhubarb plant or pick up fresh rhubarb from the farmer’s market or grocery store during late spring or early summer, freezing it is a great way to enjoy its tart flavor all year long. Freezing rhubarb preserves its bright color
Easy Way to Freeze Rhubarb for Fresh Flavor Anytime Read Post »
Tips to store green bell peppers. If you’ve ever brought home fresh produce home from the grocery store only to find them soft and wrinkled a few days later, you’re not alone. They are part of the fresh produce food group that can go bad quickly without proper storage. Luckily, a few simple tips can
How to Store Green Bell Peppers: Tips That Really Work Read Post »
This strawberry kombucha brewing guide walks you through the second fermentation process, where plain kombucha is transformed into a fizzy, flavored treat. Why Brew Your Own Strawberry Kombucha? On the homestead, we’re always looking for ways to stretch our dollar, reduce waste, and take control of our food and drink. Making your own kombucha at
How to Make Home Brewed Strawberry Kombucha Recipe Read Post »
