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Making your own herb seasoning salt sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Thankfully, fancy doesn’t mean hard. The key to creating the perfect seasoning is starting with quality herbs and salt and getting creative with your favorite combinations. You can customize your herb seasoning salt to suit your preferences and dishes. One of the best parts? By making your own herb seasoning, you can omit the questionable ingredients often found in store-bought seasoning salts. Not only will it taste bette …

Biscuit Recipe Makes 8-10 biscuits Ingredients: 4 cups all purpose flour 2 tbsp baking powder 2 tsp salt 10 tbsp cold leaf lard or butter (or some of each!) 3/4-1 cup milk or buttermilk Directions: Preheat oven to 425F Combine flour, baking powder, & salt together and mix thoroughly Add lard and/or butter to dry ingredients & cut in with a fork or pastry cutter (or your hands!) until pieces are evenly distributed. (You can also use a cheese grater for your butter if you wish) Mix in milk …

Fermenting in Mason JarsFor beginners, choosing a fermentation vessel can be as simple as going to your cupboard and pulling out one of the glass mason jars hiding in the corner. There are many great fermentation vessels on the market, but mason jars are by far the easiest vessel to use for several reasons - they are inexpensive, are available in many sizes, they are easy to find, and the clear glass allows you to see how your ferments are progressing. Another timesaving advantage of fermenting …

Foraging Wild VioletsHave you ever wanted to forage your own wild violets for culinary use? When it comes to foraging, violets are an excellent plant for beginners. This sweet-smelling flower is extremely common, easy to identify, and can be used in many different recipes including candied violets, violet sugar, violet vinegar, violet lemonade, violet simple syrup, violet jelly, violet honey, and dried violets for tea. Viola odorata, also known as the Sweet Violet or Wood Violet, is one of the f …

Making Sauerkraut with TurmericWhether this is your first batch of sauerkraut, or you are looking to expand your current stock of sauerkraut recipes, golden kraut is a terrific option. Beyond the stunning golden-yellow color that lights up every dish, turmeric has a number of health benefits, and preserving qualities. In fact, I tend to never get mold or Kahm yeast on my turmeric sauerkraut because of its antimicrobial properties. Not sure what I’m talking about?If this is your first time fermen …

What is Fire Cider?Fire cider or fire tonic is a spicy, vinegar-based natural remedy used as an immunity-booster, cold remedy, for sinus relief and general wellness, particularly during the cold and flu season. Most fire ciders are technically an oxymel, which is a medicinal tonic made with both vinegar and honey. Several key spicy ingredients are infused in an apple cider vinegar base, along with herbs and citrus, to create this tangy, uplifting tonic that will burn the bug right out of you!How …

What is Bone Broth?Whether you have had bone broth at a friend’s house, restaurant, or packaged from the store, it is all very simple - bone broth is animal bones simmered in water over a long period of time to create a nutritious and easily-digested broth. Healing broths have been around for ages because they are so simple to make, they utilize parts of the animal like chicken frames or neck bones, and they are just plain comforting to drink. A small batch makes almost three quarts of broth, an …

For the aspiring homesteader, making your own homemade cranberry sauce has to be one of the easiest recipes to follow. Unlike many fruits, cranberries contain a lot of natural pectin and gel up perfectly without having to add any store-bought pectin. Basic recipes include just three ingredients: cranberries, sugar, and water, and cook up in only 15 minutes. What could be simpler? Customize your flavors to lean towards sweet or savory, and enjoy this healthy cranberry sauce year after year!Additi …

What is Kimchi?Kimchi is a staple dish in Korean cuisine made of salted and fermented vegetables. The name kimchi encompasses any vegetable that is fermented in the Korean style. Believe it or not, there are almost 200 documented types of kimchi!Many people are familiar with the traditional napa cabbage kimchi also known as baechu kimchi. It usually includes napa cabbage, radish, and gochugaru (Korean chili pepper powder) with a few additional spices and vegetables. In Korea, kimchi is tradition …

Food Dehydrator, Oven Drying, or Sun Drying?Dehydrating your own fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and meats is an essential way to extend your harvest and enjoy delicious foods year round.A couple of fruit trees, a hunting trip, or a successful mushroom hunt can yield far more than one can eat in a week, and freezer space can fill up fast.The price of sun dried tomatoes alone can justify investing in a food dehydrator that can process pounds of dried tomatoes overnight!But where to start? Which me …