Lard is a once-popular cooking ingredient that has been around for centuries. But with so many things, it has fallen out of favor today in place of “modern” industrialized oils and other trickery. Many of us, your author included, can remember our parents and grandparents keeping a big jar or crock of lard handy around … Read more
Are you interested in learning how to make a rack for sun-drying produce? If so, you’re in the right place. But first, why bother sun drying at all? Dehydrating food like fruits and vegetables to save for later use is one of the oldest and simplest ways of preserving food. It allows you to save … Read more
Pemmican is a Native American survival dish that has been around for centuries. Used as a long-lasting, high-calorie food suitable for long journeys afield or in storage, pemmican is made of dried meat and rendered animal fat, and sometimes with other ingredients like berries or herbs. Pemmican often served as a sort of survival ration … Read more
“Jelly and custard again, nana?” Jello is a staple dessert of the Seebregts family, to the point that it’s become a running joke. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from chowing down; why should it? This is especially true with fruity-flavored jello. Well, haven’t you ever wondered if you could dehydrate jello? Yes, you can … Read more
Do you want to know how to store meat without electricity? It is actually a lot easier than you may think. There are a number of methods that you can use. In this article, we will discuss 14 different ways to improve the shelf of your meat without relying on electricity. From the simple to … Read more
There is a lot of debate over whether sugar goes bad in heat. Some people say that it does, and others say that it doesn’t. So, what’s the truth? You can bake with sugar and there aren’t any problems, but what about leaving it at a lower temperature for longer? Does sugar go bad in … Read more
There are a lot of questions about dehydrated food. Is it safe? Is it healthy? Is it appropriate for long-term consumption? Though naturally dehydrated foods have been eaten around the world for ages, the proliferation of factory produced dehydrated provisions and homemade dried food for survival readiness has raised health questions among some homesteaders. So, … Read more
I like a spicy life and some of my food choices reflect that attitude. I love hot wings, Mexican food, and occasionally spice up every day fare such as scrambled eggs. This extends to include the wonderful world of horseradish. While not unlike hot peppers, horseradish has a much more aromatic effect that hits the … Read more
Beef jerky is a popular, tasty treat that’s perfect for anywhere and everywhere. Depending on whether you buy it at your local butcher or make it yourself, you want it to last. So, here’s the question: how long does beef jerky last? Store-bought beef jerky will last for 1- 2 years if properly stored. Homemade … Read more
Native Americans’ lives back in the day were hard, as they focused much off their energy to find and preserve food. They grew various crops, were able to forage for natural growing plants that were good to eat. They were also prolific hunters. Despite their ability to supply food, it was hard to have enough … Read more
Ramen… 2-minute noodles, instant noodles, whatever you call them, this is one heck of a foodstuff! This is quite possibly a hiker’s best friend, while out on the trails because it’s lightweight, it doesn’t take up much space in your pack, and it’s easy to prepare. Additionally, it’s great for household meals and snacks – … Read more
I’ve always liked biltong, it’s one of South Africa’s favorite snacks; it’s easy to get as most butchers have it in stock and it equally easy to make. I’ve made some myself many times, and it’s one of my favorite foods to make. Now, beef jerky is the American equivalent, and many people think they’re … Read more
I’d never really considered dehydrating honey on the homestead, however, the other day I was gifted a lot of honey and I really wanted to use the five-gallon buckets that it came in for another project on the homestead. So I did some research and came up with some ways to store the honey that … Read more
Dehydrating food is a great way to preserve it for future weeks, months – perhaps years, depending on what exactly you’re preserving… I love dehydrating herbs in particular, as this makes it easy to store them for later use. Herbs definitely aren’t the only foods you can dehydrate, though. You can also dehydrate fruits, vegetables, … Read more
Preserving onions is not usually high on the top of a homesteading garden “to do” list simply because they keep so long with extra effort and processing. When bushel after bushel of tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and other garden staples must be canned or dehydrated, onions often get lost in the shuffle… and ultimately go … Read more
Potatoes have been a staple crop for centuries. Thankfully, they are an inexpensive and easy to grow vegetables that consistently produces a bumper crop. But, storing the potatoes so they do not rot and are both good and safe to eat for the winter and spring (until a new crop can be harvested) is a … Read more