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How to can salsa safely: why the tested ratio of tomatoes to peppers and vinegar is a safety feature, plus a step-by-step water-bath method.
Read More →Harvest and butchering season is upon us. Given that, its a good time to brush up on some skills that may come in handy after the harvest, and maybe even learn some new ones. Lard has a number of uses as a cooking fat—from baking to frying, and everything in between. Ever wonder how to…
It’s a bad time to be a seed-spitter. Sunflower seeds have long been my constant companion. Whether making a run to the store, or working in the woods or field, sunflower seeds have always provided a nice, salty (or spicy, depending on seasoning!) distraction to keep me occupied. Alas, I’ve noticed a sharp uptick in…
I know, I know. Its summer, and summer is almost never considered soup season. But what if I told you there’s a hearty soup that can serve as a staple on your next camping trip, without needing any sort of refrigeration to preserve. In fact, it stays good so long it could last you all…
Not sure what you’re going to make for dinner, but looking to enhance the flavor profile of your brisket, steak, ribs, lamb, chicken or game meat? Then Hi Mountain Seasonings new Rub-3 Packs may just be what you are looking for. Rub Pack #1 features the Steak Rub, Rib Rub and Poultry Rub and Rub…
Have you always wanted to make some butter for the family, but not wanted to make it in the sort of quantities that require a full-on butter churn? Mason-jar butter can be a great option for the aspiring homesteader. Follow along below for how to make it! Ingredients Believe it or not, all you’ll need…
There are few things nicer to enjoy on a crisp, early-spring morning than a steaming-warm cup of tea. Curling your hands around the mug and taking in the aroma, you can almost feel the promise of the coming turn in weather. Tea has a bit of an exotic reputation of course, due to its near-4000-year…
When the storm hits and the power goes dark, you doubtless have prepared your homestead with a vast array of generators, battery-powered flashlights, and maybe even crank-powered variants. But what if the darkness lasts even longer? Read on for an easy way to may your own candles, to store away in case of emergency. Materials…
To those looking for this article and not finding it a week ago, my sincere apologies. A few things came up on the homestead requiring my immediate attention, and I am running a week behind schedule. That said, I’ve always heard a week late is better than never, so let’s jump right in on baking…
Sourdough bread–one of the oldest forms of our favorite, gluten-based snacks–has become something of a resurgent celebrity. Amidst the global pandemic, people of various interests and backgrounds suddenly found themselves with more time on their hands, and this tricky-but-delectable sandwich-component became a favorite new skill to develop. Of course, out on the homestead, the pandemic…
It’s no secret–the great outdoors get a lot less welcoming in the wintertime. When the seasons cold chases you indoors however, that doesn’t mean you must give up on fun projects and activities until spring! To the contrary, it’s a great time to work on stuff indoors, and the kitchen is always a cozy place…
As the temperatures drop nationwide, snow blankets the ground and Christmas approaches, folks all over are beginning to indulge in their favorite holiday traditions. For some, this is cheery fires and yule logs. Others cut evergreens to adorn with festive ornamentation. Still others decorate their whole houses in lights. But for many, it’s the simplest…
There are all sorts of ways to cure meat, but most at some point require cold-storage to prevent rot. There’s salt curing, smoking, drying, and good old-fashioned freezing, among many others. With one method of curing however, you don’t need to worry quite so much about how quick you eat your meats, or where you…
