Blog

Learning to make things from scratch is one of the main goals of anyone who desires to live a homesteading lifestyle. Even if you don’t have a homestead of your own yet, learning to make things from home with whole, real ingredients can be a skill you practice! Long before you buy the farm! Begin with something simple! Like applesauce!!!What you will need: Food MillRipe ApplesStockpotUsing a stockpot, some ripe apples, and Roots & Harvest food mill and you are on your way to fresh, homemade …

If you’re wondering how to flavor homemade kombucha, you’ll love these ideas for using frozen fruit, fresh ingredients, or even essential oils to add a fun twist to your brew.What is kombucha?Kombucha is a fermented tea packed with flavor, fizz, probiotics, and healthy enzymes. It makes a great alternative to soda or juice and is even associated with certain health benefits.Health benefits of kombuchaThe antioxidants found in kombucha may help to prevent diseases such as diabetes, and heart dis …

I often wonder what my great-grandmother would think if she could see me now. In this fast-paced, technologically advanced world we live in, spending my days on our homestead rebelling against the status quo by slowly fermenting my sourdough starter to craft our homemade bread, churning butter by hand as I connect with my daughter through conversation, weighing out my vegetables while making memories with my son as we can, gathering eggs from our hens, and tending to our gardens and orchard. Thi …

While I am a firm believer that the perfect gift is usually homemade that comes straight from the heart, I do believe store-bought presents can be just as meaningful and needed sometimes.When I buy something from the store I usually try and follow these guidelines: It needs to be something usefulIt needs to be something of good qualityIt needs to be something that can be used time and time again… so that it is the gift that keeps on giving!Which is why when Roots & Harvest reached out to me …

If you plant your fruits and vegetables, you probably want to use them for your holiday meals too. Regardless of the fruit, you want to ensure that you can comfortably use it for a meal. But first, you need to ensure you keep your garden well-kept for when you need them.Some fruits and vegetables you need to use from your garden can be included with late fall foods and canned foods. Below are some ideas for your garden produce for the late summer and early fall foods in combination with the frui …

Garlic is an important ingredient on my homestead. I find ways to use it on the farm, in the kitchen and for my animals. Here in Ohio garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in late June. Being such an easy crop for us to grow, I make sure I have multiple beds dedicated to it every year. In honor of National Garlic Day, I will be sharing 3 different ways I use garlic on my homestead!One simple and easy way to use garlic is to incorporate it into Chicken magic water. Chicken magic water is a …

A good roast chicken will never let you down. And though the recipe calls for just five ingredients roasting a chicken to tender, juicy, skin-crisped, perfection can be tricky – it’s a matter of cooking two different kinds of meat at once. The lean, white breast cooks faster than the rich, dark legs and thighs.The best technique originated in Asia, home of the chicken where the cooks roasted their birds on a rotisserie. This way the heat of the oven circulates around the chicken while its fats n …

Serves 4This warm chicken salad is based on a classic French bistro recipe that makes use of rendered chicken fat, but a good olive oil works beautifully, too. It’s a great way to use leftover roast chicken, whether you roast it yourself or use a rotisserie chicken from the market.Vinaigrette2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice2 small shallots, finely chopped½ teaspoon Dijon mustard½ teaspoon honey¼ cup warm, rendered chicken fat or extra virgin olive oilSalad3 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken …

Confession. I have a “thing” for the Roots and Harvest yogurt maker. I don’t know if it’s the cute little jars or the fact that I can set a timer and a temperature and walk away. When the time goes off, voila! Yogurt in a cute little glass cup, the perfect portion size.The other day I was making yogurt. The final product was fine, but I wanted something a little thicker, like Greek yogurt. I remembered I had purchased the Greek yogurt strainer from Roots and Harvest, so I pulled it out. My 3-yea …

Butter Boards! You’ve seen the in-foodie magazines and social media as the latest greatest trend … but in truth, they’re really not all that new. Chef Josh McFadden popularized the age-old concept in his James Beard Award winning cookbook, Six Seasons: A NEW WAY WITH VEGETABLES. He began serving this easy nosh at dinner parties to draw guests to the table, giving them something to nibble as soon as they sat down.Inspired by the fresh herbs and edible flowers from his garden, he’s devised numerou …