Homegrown & Homemade
Anyone who’s had a dog or cat would tell you that they definitely have feelings. Quinn exhibits shamefulness when he’s been caught sleeping on the bed, and sheer joy when Karl comes home from work. And the cat… well, he gives me the sourest look of anger and betrayal anytime I return from an overnight trip. But a chicken? A little peanut-brained bird has feelings? Oh, …
In my modern kitchen, on my modern stove sits a piece of equipment that connects me to the generations of cooks that came before me. It’s something that people have used for hundreds of years to make nourishing food for their families, and I love carrying on this tradition. If you don’t have a cast iron pan in your kitchen right now, I ask you: why in the world not?! …
(gluten-free, easily dairy-free, vegetarian) I was eating kale before it was cool. I even have three different varieties of kale planned for this year’s garden! I also tuck my pants into my socks… I’m kind of a trend-setter. My grandma grew kale in her garden 50+ years ago, and my parents grew it in theirs when I was a young girl, so I’ve been a kale-lover my whole …
(gluten-free, grain-free, vegetarian, paleo) A frozen and thawed green bean will never be as good as a green bean just plucked from the garden, still warm from the sun. So finding new ways to use and elevate our preserved garden produce throughout the year is a necessity. Especially since Karl and I love flavor. We NEED flavor. Rarely will you find us eating just plain …
This is our 4th year tapping trees and making our own maple syrup. And I’ll tell you a secret: the most trees we’ve ever, ever tapped is 4! And this year we only tapped 2! When there is still snow on the ground and it is too cold to do most other outdoor projects around the homestead, maple syrup making seems like the perfect activity to welcome in …
(gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, paleo) Do you have a favorite food that brings back fond memories? For Karl, one of those is salmon patties. Grandma’s salmon patties with cornbread and homemade strawberry jam, to be exact. It’s what she’d always make whenever he and his siblings would visit. Dinner was followed by BINGO, where Grandpa would call the numbers, and the prizes were little candies or coins all …
(gluten-free, paleo, grain-free, vegetarian) I think deviled eggs should always be described as rustic. Is there a food that is more homespun, wholesome, and natural than the egg? I think it would go against my morals to create fancy swirled deviled egg filling with a piping bag. Plus, that just takes too much time. Deviled eggs are already a labor of love, especially when you have to peel farm …
(gluten-free, grain-free, paleo) Yes, all three meats! Because, why not? This is something you’d like to make on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. When you have highfalutin company coming over. For dinner, served with a fresh, crisp and slightly sweet salad. Or even just to keep in the fridge for easy re-heatable breakfasts for a few days. I sent this to work with Karl for lunch …
Don’t be fooled, “creative” is just a code word for weird. We’re about to dive into some really odd stuff here. It might make your stomach crawl, but your chickens will love it! Plus, these ideas really can help you save money on chicken feed. We wanted our meat birds and egg-layers to be of the highest quality, raised in the best conditions, living healthy and …
When I give a gift, I love it to be thoughtful and from the heart. And homemade when where I can! I also am a sucker for other people’s artisan handiwork, or just plain-old good ideas for things to improve, simplify, or beautify our lives. And I think these things make great gifts. I like to seek out the unique, the different, the handmade, or the-something-you-don’t-see-everyday. And …
