For the past 16 years I have been online in one form or another, either owning websites, writing for them, or spending time on them. Last week I sold the last of my blogs, and have called my internet life quits. This includes OFF, and while I will miss the people here that have followed me, as well as those on the forums, I am excited to be moving on to another life, something that has been missing in my world for years. Starting in January I am going back to college. My main focus of study ... [ Read More ]
End of the Summer Squash Relish
That moment when we think we cannot eat another bite of summer zucchini. This relish is much like a cucumber relish, except that it is very mild. This makes it perfect for using not only as a condiment for hot dogs and burgers, but also as a side for just about any meal. This is a great way to use a up a bit more of an abundance of zucchini, the ingredients are very simple, and it is quick and easy to make. End of the Summer Squash Relish Ingredients: 8 cups of green zucchini, finely ... [ Read More ]
Get the Lowdown on Different Dehydrators and Choose the Best One For You
I love my dehydrator probably more than any other appliance I own other than my kitchen aide mixer. It is also my favorite preservation method. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dry everything I grow or bring home, and I actually canned far more than I dried, but I love my dehydrator for the versatility it offers me. There are so many things I can do with the dehydrator, in terms of snacks and extras I would not otherwise be able to afford, that if I had to choose one appliance from my ... [ Read More ]
Spicy Sweet Raspberry Pepper Jam
Most people would not think of putting peppers and raspberries in the same sentence, but for me, that spicy sweet flavor is amazing. Good all by itself, or as a relish or sauce for chicken, added to crackers and even spread on a piece of toast, the strong flavor and sweetness of the raspberries is perfectly offset by the spiciness of the Jalapenos. I tried it once and could not get enough, so now this recipe is a keeper in our home. This jam is not overly spicy, it has ... [ Read More ]
10 Beginner Canning Mistakes You Might Just Be Making
We have all had our share of canning disasters. Sometimes those canning disasters can threaten to destroy all of your hard work, other times they can discourage you from wanting to try canning ever again. The worst mistakes can make you sick. Canning is not difficult but there is some amount of exactness to it that can cause the smallest thing to upset the entire process. Beginners can easily be discouraged by what they believe are the dangers of canning, or because they cannot ... [ Read More ]
What Every Canner Should Know About Food Borne Illnesses
Food safety is something that every person who plans to store their own food should learn about first. Not just the techniques to ensure that your food is safe, but also the signs that there may be a problem, as well as the different food borne illnesses and their symptoms. Food borne illnesses are not as uncommon as you might think, and while chances are good that you will never have a problem with the food you preserve, part of the reason that will be so, is the precautions that you ... [ Read More ]
Best Tips to Store Home Canning Jars
Once you pull your food out of the canner, you might assume the job is done, that your canning is safe and that food borne illnesses are no longer possible. But there are still some Canning storage best practices to keep in mind as you get ready to store your food. Where not to Store your Canning Jars A lot of people talk about using walk in closets, under bed storage, and a variety of other creative places to store their food. While that might seem like a great idea to use these ... [ Read More ]
Green Thumb Series Part 3- How Planting Zone and Weather Affects your Garden
This is an ongoing series, Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here. As a green thumb you need to know what you can plant, when you can plant it, and how to give certain plants special care if the growing zone is not quite right for it. Each plant has its own specific requirements some are pickier than others, and some very hardy and can tolerate just about anything. Learning what you can plant is only one part of the equation, you must also learn when to plant it. Planting Zones There are several ... [ Read More ]
Green Thumb Series – Part 2 Finding the Right Location
As we discussed in part 1 of the green thumb series soil can almost always be amended to make it viable for growing a garden. What is more difficult is finding the right location for your garden. While gardening of some type can be done almost anywhere, there are plenty of variables that can affect where and what you grow. Plants need 3 things in order to grow, light, water, and good dirt. The location you choose for your garden can be watered, the soil can be amended but you must consider ... [ Read More ]