I can feel autumn sneaking up on us already... Although we're still having our fair share of 90+ degree days, every 4th day or so, the nights cool off to be surprisingly crisp for this early in September, and I know it's coming... But the preservation work is just beginning. Whether it's canning apple slices, smashing the garden cabbage into sauerkraut, or pulling the still-very-green tomatoes off the vine to ripen in boxes, I'll be ...Continue Reading
Horse Hair Detangler Recipe
I've never been one of those girls who is good at "doing" hair. Apparently I missed the memo in high school that you were suppose to spend hours in the mirror playing with different styles... So I didn't. Instead I was outside, riding my horse, working at Jiffy Lube (wait-- have I ever told you that? But yes, I totally changed oil at Jiffy Lube to pay for college...), and pretty much doing every other thing I could think of that ...Continue Reading
8 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter
The air was so brisk this morning, I promptly went back inside and changed from shorts into jeans. And so it begins... Summer is rapidly fading and I've got to face the facts: it's time to prepare the garden for winter. Honestly, this year my garden seemed to miss the memo altogether that it was summer, with still-green tomatoes and very few crops in sight come August. Mind you, a summer hail storm probably had something to do ...Continue Reading
A Guide to Quick Pickled Vegetables
My garden is convinced it's the end of June. Except it's actually nearing the end of August. That's a problem when frosts can come as early as mid-September... Truthfully, I'm not holding my breath that I'll have the opportunity to can giant batches of tomatoes or cucumbers like last year. (Learn how to safely can anything here) So instead, I'm focusing on the produce that is trickling into my kitchen in small handfuls. And what ...Continue Reading
Digging Up and Storing Potatoes for Winter
Some people buy lottery tickets. I grow potatoes. The thrill of not knowing what you'll get is intoxicating, and I find myself giddy every time I head outside with my basket to harvest spuds for supper. It's like winning a million dollars. Almost. ;) But there’s something pretty awesome about any food that actually grows and thrives under ground. It feels like there’s a little bit of magic going on when you pull a few scallions or a ...Continue Reading
