Canning

As a little kid, I was not fond of trying new vegetables – a reluctance that I believe many of us share. However, parsnips were never even an item on our dinner table because they weren’t part of our standard rotation of vegetables. We pretty much stuck to the classics – green beans, carrots, corn, … Read more

Is there anything better than the sweet taste of fresh carrots? I don’t think so. Except, perhaps, the taste of fresh carrots that you’ve just harvested from your own garden. This year, I harvested over a hundred pounds of carrots grown in just two small raised beds in my backyard. I’ve never grown that many … Read more

Confession: this year is the first year I’ve grown enough peppers to preserve. Usually, our peppers end up being stringy, tough, and bitter – something that I have learned is the side effect of too little fertilizer, poor soil, and cold weather that doesn’t allow the plants to mature properly. This year, though, I remedied … Read more

It is the time of the year that the race is on to beat the birds and the blistering sun. It is blackberry season. There are lots of things to do with all of them blackberries, from eating fresh, to cobblers, smoothies, and blackberry jam. My family likes to divide into teams and see who … Read more

There is nothing better than homemade spaghetti sauce! Whether you’re keeping an eye on your health – homemade spaghetti sauce has far less sugar and sodium than the storebought varieties – or you simply prefer the taste of fresh sauce, making and canning your own sauce is a great way to make the most of … Read more

Nothing says summer quite like sweet, homemade canned tomatoes. Canning tomatoes always makes me feel a little bit bittersweet. On one hand, I love being able to enjoy the delicious bounty of a summer’s hard work in the garden. On the other hand, the time in which it is time to can tomatoes marks the … Read more

I’m pretty sure salsa was invented by someone who had no idea what to do with all the extra tomatoes, peppers, onions, and jalapenos in his garden. Throw a few ingredients in here, a couple more there, add some spices, and voila! Tasty salsa. I’m just kidding, of course. But when it comes right down … Read more

As a little girl, I used to visit my grandma and grandpa’s farm on the weekends. The place was very picturesque complete with cows grazing in the pasture and an old tire hanging from a tree limb that served as a joyous swing for my siblings and I. Grandma was always cooking yummy things up … Read more

There are so many cuts of meat that you can get from processing a deer, most of which need stored in the freezer. Well if you are like my family, we also raise and process our own beef and pork. To say the least, our freezers are full. The cuts of meat are different and … Read more

For years, grape jelly has always been my go-to jelly for peanut butter sandwiches and even meatballs! Yes, I have a recipe for slow cooker meatballs that require a jar of grape jelly to be pored over them and they are DELICIOUS. When my kids were little they always asked for grape jelly. If I … Read more

With the fall months quickly nipping at my heels, I am beyond ready to start canning up my favorite winter soups. A family favorite is homemade vegetables… My kids and husband love reaching for a jar off the pantry shelves during the blusteriest parts of winter. Nothing beats a hot bowl of homemade soup when … Read more

It must have been about 10 years or so ago. I was still living in Michigan (go Blue!), the state that I grew up in, and visiting a local apple orchard. This orchard wasn’t just any orchard as it had quite an elaborate gift shop and bakery attached to it. You could get anything from … Read more

It’s time to make some delicious apple butter! If you’re lucky, you’ll be picking a few bushels right on your homestead; however, even if you don’t have your own apple trees (yet!), fresh apples are abundant at farmers markets and pick-your-own orchards this time of year. So how can you take advantage of a good … Read more

Are you ready to make some blueberry jam? If you’re a homesteader, finding a way to preserve delicious easy-to-grow fruits like blueberries should be a top goal this year. Making jam is easy, inexpensive, and can help you get the most for your dollar; and if you grow your own blueberries, you can make this … Read more

Garlic is a superstar in your garden, and pickled garlic is one of the best ways to enjoy this tasty vegetable. More and more people are growing garlic on their homesteads. It’s also easy to get your hands on garlic, even in bulk, at nearly any grocery store. However, most people use garlic solely to … Read more

Canning is a great way to preserve the foods you harvest, forage, hunt, or buy. Once you learn how to can, you will be able to keep your pantry stocked all year long. If you sell foods at a farmers’ market or run a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, foods like canned jams and pickles … Read more