The Art & Science of Homesteading
You’re singing it now, aren’t you!(If you have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s in reference to a Simon & Garfunkel song… one that easily gets stuck in your head!) Last year I experimented with a new method of freezing herbs, plus a new herb blend and it turned out FANTASTIC! I’ll be making a whole lot more of it this year! If you …
It’s one of my favorite times of the year on the homestead! We’ve worked hard all spring, and high summer finally brings the fruits of our labor. Fresh produce is starting to roll into the kitchen, and there is no shortage of herbs around. The garden is overflowing with basil just begging to be showcased! While I’m usually okay with a simple drizzle of olive …
I’m a dip person. I want to dip stuff into other stuff, all the time. And this Homemade French Onion & Herb Dip is one of my favorite dips- so that’s saying a lot! I think I love it so much because it combines two classics- it’s a little bit of a cross between a creamy ranch dip and a french onion dip. And it …
Basil: the quintessential smell of summer around here! If only there was a way to preserve it… Oh, but there is! And I’m not talking about basil-scented soap and basil hand lotion. I can’t quite decide if these products are a good way to get a basil fix, or completely weird?! While I agree that there are quite a few foods that fall under both the …
This is autumn in a crockpot. You know how I know that? Because it’s autumn… and I went right outside and harvested the sage from my herb garden. We picked the apples from our tree and the onions from our garden just a couple weeks ago! And because when I walked into the house and was hit with the smell of herby, apple-y, slow-braised meat, …
Did you know that almost every time I make this Tomato Basil Frittata (which is pretty often), Karl goes around saying “frIIiiTTtaTTa” in his best Italian accent (which is pretty bad). Must be the scent of fresh basil getting to his head. During the winter when we were eating only preserved eggs, this frittata was all we ever had- because it is so good that we …
After convincing Karl to try a piece of our Christmas tree, I asked him if he had any witty openings for this “How to Eat Your Christmas Tree” post. He says: “If you like trying new wild edibles, then this post is sure to have you on pines and needles.” And then, with a big cheesy grin, he laughed at himself like Steve Urkel. So, there’s …
(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, grain-free, healthy, vegetarian) When we moved onto our homestead last year, I knew that one of the things high on my garden priorities list was to establish a mint patch. People are usually quick to warn you about mint: not to plant it in a garden or flower bed, because it will take over everything. Which is precisely what I wanted! I …
I’m pretty sure I won Karl’s heart with potatoes: his favorite thing in the whole wide world. I learned early on in our relationship that I needed to become a potato-master, which I now proclaim to be. These are the best potatoes ever- crispy, salty, easy to prepare, and no special equipment needed- no deep fryer, just a pan. Plus, they are a great vehicle …
