Cornmeal is one of the most versatile kitchen staples that you probably have right now. Whether you’re making cornbread, some kind of casserole, cookies, polenta, porridge, or anything else, it is a nutritious and filling ingredient. I go through tons of the stuff, and accordingly, I keep a lot of it on hand in storage. … Read more
There’s nothing quite as disheartening as taking the time to grow enough food for the winter, only to find that it decayed after just a short a while, and cannot be salvaged. From apples and pears to potatoes and squash, this guide will teach you exactly how and when to harvest and store your different … Read more
There are so many ways to preserve eggs I’ve lost count, but there are only a few ways to preserve whole eggs, and even fewer that keep them super tasty and ready to eat. Among these few ways, the very best is pickling. Pickled eggs are scrumptious, whether they are eaten as a snack, added … Read more
Fresh tomatoes are one of the tastiest and most versatile veggies there are, and whether you are bringing in a big bumper crop from your own garden or hauling home a huge load from the local farmer’s market, if you don’t act fast to preserve them, they will start to wrinkle, discolor, and go bad. … Read more
Sugar is one of those indispensable kitchen staples. You’ve got to have it for pretty much every kind of dessert and our morning coffee and tea just isn’t the same without it. Probably the best thing about sugar is that it doesn’t really spoil like so many other foods, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t … Read more
For so many homesteaders, getting fresh milk daily from your very own cow is as close to heaven as it gets. Farm fresh-milk tastes better, is better for you, and is more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to the factory processed stuff. But if you are smart you’ll still pasteurize that milk. Raw milk, for … Read more
Is there anything better than fresh produce? I think not. Whether you grew it yourself and are enjoying the literal fruits of your labor, or are hauling home a big bounty from the local farmer’s market, the flavor and quality make it worthwhile. Likewise, there’s nothing worse than busting out your veggies a few days … Read more
I think every homesteader by now understands the importance of storing food for a rainy day, or just storing it to prevent waste. Whether you’re preserving and stashing produce or other food that you grew yourself, or just stocking up on grocery store staples, it’s a great idea and a good way to improve your … Read more
If you’ve spent any amount of time in survival and prepping circles, you’ve probably heard of pemmican before. Knowing nothing else about it, you might be under the impression that it is basically old-fashioned beef jerky. But that isn’t quite the case! Pemmican is an ancient food first developed and used by Native Americans, and … Read more
If you think of meat with a long shelf life, what do you think of first? I’ll bet you’re probably thinking of spam, canned tuna or chicken, or some other home-canned animal protein. All good answers, to be sure, but what you might not know is that long shelf life meat is hardly a modern … Read more
Powdered milk is one of those pantry staples that everyone has, but if I’m being honest, I feel like most people don’t know how to use it. It’s nice to have just in case, but when’s the last time you actually reached for it? When was the last time you made it and drank it? … Read more
One thing that I think we all take for granted these days is the ubiquity of food preservation technology. Whatever you bring in, whatever is left over, toss it in the fridge or in the freezer, and forget about it until it’s time to eat. But food preservation was a very different thing prior to … Read more
Honey is an amazing food. Aside from the fact that bees make it, it can last virtually forever under the right conditions without spoiling. It’s true! Well-known accounts talk about honey being retrieved from an ancient Egyptian tomb as well as somewhere in the country of Georgia, that was still edible, if crystallized. So, aside … Read more
One of the things you start to notice after you do more and more of your own cooking, is just how inferior so many of our store-bought goods are. The major revelation for me was trying spices I had grown and processed myself. There’s just no going back… And while I haven’t grown my own … Read more
I don’t know about you, but I use entirely too much garlic when I’m in the kitchen. I can’t get enough of the stuff! Fresh garlic, of course, but it’s garlic powder that I reach for from time to time. And even better, it’s my own garlic powder that I’ve made at home! I didn’t … Read more
Powdered milk is a fixture in most kitchens. It’s used in all sorts of baked goods and other dishes, as a shelf-stable substitute for liquid milk and also as an emergency preparedness ration. It is easy to prepare without electricity, nutritious, and it doesn’t taste too bad once you get used to it. There’s a … Read more