As home canners, we are proud of what we preserve. A pantry full of home canned goods makes us feel as though we have done our job by providing for our family. Rows of jams, pickles, tomatoes, salsas, sauces, chutneys sparkle on the shelves, enticing us to open them up for special dinners. We carefully […]
Homestead How-Tos
You Can Recondition a Cast Iron Pan
Not too long ago I did something terrible to a well-loved cast iron pan. Believe it or not, I forgot to turn off the stove after I made a meal and the pan sat on the burner. For hours! Yes folks, it is time for another true confession. While I would love to say that […]
Smoking Peppers: A New Twist on Roasted
Late summer is my favorite time of year. Mornings are brisk, but it warms up by mid-morning. Leaves are beginning to turn colors, but they are still on the trees. But my favorite thing? The aroma of chile peppers. If you live in the southwest United States, chile roasters are a common sight at farmers’ […]
20 Steps to Create an Urban Homestead
When people hear the term homesteading, most think of a sprawling acreage in a country setting. Dusty roads. A herd of cattle. Water from the well. Pickup trucks. And while some homesteads fit this image, there is a growing trend of homesteads across the country. It is urban homesteads. Now you may think, “how can […]
Eco-friendly Dishwasher Cleaner
Love them or hate them, dishwashers can lighten the workload of washing dishes. Simply load them with dishwasher safe items (hint: wood is not considered a dishwasher safe item), add dishwasher detergent, and set the desired wash cycle and start the dishwasher. Simple, right? But what do you do when the dishwasher gets dirty on […]
15 Smart Grocery Shopping Tips
Grocery stores are commonplace across the country. They have become one-stop food shopping destinations. Need dairy? Yep… they have it. Bread? You betcha. Beans? They have them by the can or bag. Produce? There is a whole section of the store dedicated to it. But when you go to the grocery store, are you shopping […]