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Homemade Stovetop Popcorn
Homemade popcorn made on the stovetop with butter and salt. This snack is great for movie nights, snacking or just on the go. We grow our own popcorn because we love it so much. I will honestly make it 5 times per week. Hot fresh buttery and salty homemade stovetop popcorn is delicious and a healthy alternative to the late night cravings and junk food. I like growing all kinds of popcorn, but our family favorite are the small kernels of white popcorn. Grow popcorn just like you would sweet or dent corn during the summer months. Allow the cobs to dry on the stalks during the fall and then…
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Puffed Rice
Homemade puffed rice made with ingredients you can trust. Crispy and light rice puffed up in just a few minutes. I use it in treats and breakfast bars. Puffed rice stores nicely and is more nutritious than store bought cereal. Try using Jasmine or brown rice. Puffed rice cooks better with pre-cooked rice. I will cook my rice according to the type I use. I love using Jasmine and Brown rice. Both take awhile to fully cook on the stovetop but worth it for the health benefits. In this recipe I start with 1 cup of uncooked rice and it will puff up into 5 cups of puffed rice. If…
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Growing Onions
Growing onions is a long process from seed but may be worth every effort. Onions are an easy beginner plant to try. I have tried growing onions from seeds, sets, and starts. Starts are the easiest but probably the most expensive. Sets are not too expensive but never worth the end result. Seeds are the most cost effective and can have amazing results. Onions can be directly planted into warm soil in the spring but are best started under a grow light for big bulbs in growing zone 5. Onions need to be started in January if possible and as late as February 15th in zone 5 for best results.…
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Artisan Sourdough Bread
I often crave a crusty loaf of sourdough bread to dip into soups or slather butter on as a snack. I would make big loafs of bread but it never seemed to get eaten fast enough before it went stale. This loaf of sourdough is a smaller version of those big crusty round artisan sourdough breads. Perfect for small families or someone wanting a smaller fresh loaf every few days. It is relativity simple, tastes amazing, and made with freshly milled flour for much needed vitamins and minerals. Making anything sourdough generally takes longer than quick breads or yeast breads. This is because the sourdough is the rising agent instead…
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Best Companion Herbs for the Garden
Growing herbs in the garden are just as important as growing vegetables. Many herbs not only taste good but have strong smells that repel pests. Herbs can also attract beneficial bugs. Having many different plants in the garden creates bio-diversity. Bio-diversity is when many plants and creatures live together to create harmony and nutrient rich soil. Let's look at the best companion herbs for the garden and how to fit them in. Basil Basil is a strong smelling herb that repels many pests such as aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, mosquitos, and tomato hornworms. I plant mine next to asparagus, peppers and tomatoes. However, they are also great next to eggplant,…
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Best Companion Garden Flowers
It may sound odd to plants flowers with your herbs and vegetables but they are a must in my garden. Having many different plants in the garden creates bio-diversity. Bio-diversity is necessary for a healthy garden. Flowers can deter pests and shelter beneficial bugs. Strong smelling flowers can also confuse pests that are looking for a particular plant to feed on. Flowers are also so beautiful and pollinators love when I can fit them in. Now lets see what are the best companion garden flowers are my favorite. Bachelors Buttons Bachelor Buttons are great early flowers for pollinators. They are small flowers that come in many colors. Cut fresh flowers…
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Homemade Butter
Ever wonder how to make butter? It is actually easier than one may think. All that is required is a blender or stand mixer plus cream, The nicer the cream, the tastier the butter. I like to add Himalayan or sea salt to my homemade butter. However, it is also good with garlic and herbs! A quick little story my dad told my grandpa when they first met. Sitting down at the dinning room table, my dad was asked to say a prayer. Jokingly he said, "God bless the mice who fell into a bucket of cream. They swam and swam, almost ready to drown. Turning the cream into butter,…
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Real Marshmallows with marshmallow root
I have been enjoying "marshmallows" my whole life. Little did I know that those white puffy things from the store were not marshmallows. Those "marshmallows" were created in the 1950s with pure sugar and/or corn syrup with no benefits. I found out that real marshmallows are made from the marshmallow plant. In fact, over 2000 years ago the marshmallow treat was made from the root of this medicinal plant and provides many benefits. Benefits include gut, respiratory and immune system health, help with healing UTIs, small kidney stones, and is a natural diuretic. I make these real marshmallows with marshmallow root, honey and bovine gelatin. Start the night before by…
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Seed Starting Guide
Seed starting can feel like a daunting task. I used to just buy plants from a nursery and transplant them into the garden. However, I wanted a bigger garden every year and buying all those transplants cost a lot of money. Plus, some of the plants I was interested in, simply could not be transplanted. I found out quickly that I needed a seed starting guide to help me save money and start planning. When picking seeds to grow, I would love to do it all. I love everything from the smallest pea to the largest pumpkin. Finding out what plants like to grow in your area and what they…
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Blueberry Muffins made with soft white wheat
Healthy muffin with freshly milled soft white wheat berries. Sweetened with honey and juicy plump blueberries. Easy breakfast for on the go, busy mornings or dessert. I like making these the night before and even keeping some in the freezer. This blueberry muffin recipe is easy and quick. I have been milling my own wheat for awhile now. When I found out about the chemicals and toxins in the store bought flour, I knew I had to make a big change. Thankfully the processes of milling flour is easy. Only one more step was added to my baking steps. Freshly milled flour has more nutrients and minerals than the flour…
