There are two things I don't like about canning. #1- I don't like how hot it makes my kitchen. But since building a summer kitchen isn't on our current to-do list, I can't do too much about that problem for the time being. #2- Many canning recipes call for boatloads of sugar... For some recipes, like my honey-sweetened Chokecherry Jelly or my Strawberry Freezer Jam, I've learned how to use alternate sweetener or ...Continue Reading
How to Make Non-Stick Eggs in a Cast Iron Skillet
Think you need a coated "non-stick" pan to make scrambled eggs? Not so! It's totally possible to make a perfect, non-sticking batch of scrambled eggs in your trusty cast iron skillet. And today I'm going to show you how. Cooking with Cast Iron I used to have a bunch of cheapo, non-stick pans that I used on a regular basis. But when I became aware of the health hazards connected the chemicals in the coating, I promptly ditched my ...Continue Reading
How to Make Peanut Butter From Scratch
Guess what I'm doing at 9:00 on a Sunday night? If you guessed making homemade peanut butter, then you'd be right. (That's what we do for a good time out here on the prairie. We're wild like that...) Peanut butter can actually be a very healthy food. That is, when it's made with healthy fats and no refined sugars. Unfortunately, your typical-everyday-choosy-moms-choose-it brand of peanut butter is seriously lacking in ...Continue Reading
How to Grow Broccoli in Your Fall Garden
I'm pleased to have Susan of Itzy Bitzy Farm sharing today! She is a wealth of gardening info, and will give you everything you need to know about planting cold weather crops. (This is something I really need to work on!) When the heat of Summer is at its highest, that is when I know it is time to think about planting cold weather crops for Fall and early Winter harvest. Many gardeners do not realize that from zones 5-8 one can grow ...Continue Reading
How to Put Together an Essential Oil Toolkit
Essential oils can be kinda overwhelming at first, huh? Not only are there a million-and-one different oils to choose from, but then comes the question of accessories... Oh, the accessories. Two of the top questions I get are, "What oils should I start with?" and "What else do I need to go along with them?" Today I'm going to introduce you to my most-used oils, along with the tools that you'll want to have as you dive into the ...Continue Reading