Eating off the land, from scratch recipes, preserving food, and other fun kitchen tips.
Pears have been used as culinary treats for years, and the sugary flavor ensures that’s not going to change anytime soon. The soft texture can be quite pleasant, and the flavor makes it great for smoothies and desserts. With that in mind, I thought we’d look at 51 recipes for pear desserts and smoothies. Desserts … Read more
I love strawberries, they’re not the cheapest fruits you can get here in South Africa, so we don’t get them very often. When we do get strawberries, we enjoy them in a number of desserts and milkshakes/smoothies. With that said, I thought we’d look at some smoothie and dessert recipes which use strawberries. Let’s get … Read more
Is there a more satisfying meal on a cold winter day than a slice of warm bread and a bowl of hot soup? Growing up, we had a wood stove for central heat and some of the best days were when my parents would cook up a large pot of soup on the woodstove. I’ve … Read more
Ok, this is not your mom’s corned beef… Quick story. My dad always has corned beef hash the night before hunting season opens as a good luck charm. He cooks up corned beef and potatoes, stories are told, and the tradition remains alive for another year. For decades, he cooked Hormel Corned Beef. Then, one … 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
I’m a homestead author, jack of most trades, and a mushroom forager. I learned about safe mushrooms to forage around a decade ago and haven’t put on the breaks yet. One of the biggest challenges has been how to enjoy them all year. But I’ve finally found a solution: canning! I’m not talking about the … Read more
Protein is one of the most difficult foods to put up in volume. They are expensive when purchased commercially, don’t last as long as other prepper foods such as grains, and the selection is often limited. There are several options to rack and stack your protein. First, you can purchase cans of pork, beef, and … Read more
Hot peppers are literally the spice of life. Left with the decision of leaving my mother-in-law or my hot peppers behind at the end of the world…. Well, I’d at least ask her to carry a case of peppers on her lap. I love fresh hot peppers, but what is the best way to enjoy … Read more
Usually when we think of milk, we think of supermarkets, plastic bottles, or cardboard cartons. We also typically think of pasteurized milk not the raw, unpasteurized milk that comes straight from the cow. This begs the question: is it good for you? No, raw milk is NOT good for you. There’s a lot of conflicting … 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
Canned foods are a staple in my household. We eat a can of sweetcorn or baked beans often. They’re quick, convenient, easy to make; you can’t really go wrong with them. With that said, sometimes you don’t feel like standing in front of the stove and cooking so here’s the question: Can you eat canned … Read more
From zucchini to butternut, summer to acorn, I’ve never met a squash that I didn’t like. In fact, one of my favorite things about growing squash is that it produces delicious meal ideas for me to try during just about every season of the year. From early summer until first thing in the spring (thank … 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
Although they were once rare commodities in most parts of the United States, white pumpkins are seeing a huge surge in popularity. They are fun to decorate with, lending your home a festive fall feel that works well with any style of decorating. So that leads to the question of white pumpkins: are they edible? … Read more
Once you have tasted biltong, you’ll be a fan of this spiced dried meat that South Africans have made famous around the world. As with jerky, biltong making arose out of necessity. In the early days, when there were no fridges to store fresh meat, and once a steer had been slaughtered or an antelope … Read more