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How to Make Black Garlic Quickly and Easily at Home Famed for its many health and medicinal benefits, as well as its skill for warding off vampires, garlic has long been touted as a must-have dietary ingredient for ultimate health. Not only may garlic be able to boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease, but it may also help people live longer with reduced risks of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Sounds great, right? Let’s eat all the garlic …

Last summer, I sat in my basement faced with a dilemma. We were moving and I needed to pack up 500 glass canning jars. At the time, most were empty but a few dozen still had food in them. Packing the empty glass jars was a chore but not impossible. I wrapped each individual jar in paper and set them carefully in a box. The nerve wracking part came with the jars that were filled with food. They were heavier and I couldn’t pack them in a regular box for fear of the bottom falling out from th …

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 traditio …

During Herbert Hoover’s 1928 bid for the presidency, his election campaign promised a chicken for every pot and two cars in every garage. Unfortunately, those promises were derailed by the Great Depression that started just a few months after he was elected, but it remains a great sentiment to this day. Not only can one whole chicken be transformed into several meals for an entire family, it’s also one of the easiest and cheapest animals to raise for meat. I take great satisfaction i …

Three Delicious Recipes to Make with Sourdough Discard Sourdough starter is the gift that keeps on giving. In addition to making the most perfect bread you’ll ever eat, sourdough discard can also be used to make delicious breakfasts, desserts, and baked goods of all sorts! If you’ve jumped on the sourdough train, here are three ways to use up sourdough discard.There are a few important things to know as you work with sourdough starter and discard. One of the most important steps is t …

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! Addit …

What is a Probiotic Soda or Punch? Homemade sodas are vitamin-rich, fun to make, and economical! Unlike the sugary drinks you pick up in the store, at home you can make your own delicious and effervescent drinks using natural ingredients. These simple fermentations occur due to the natural yeasts and bacteria present in the air and on the fruit/substrate, which start to feed on the sugars present, and create the bubbliness of a soda. Because the bubbles come from a wild fermentation, you end up …

Creative Homemade Gifts It’s no secret that 2020 became the year of homemade sourdough bread, followed by a surge of home canning and other diy projects! It has truly been a time to learn new home-based skills, and the holidays are a great reason to share some of your creative bounty. From homemade jams and jellies to spice mixes, pickles, and even tea blends, there are a variety if ways to dress up your goods into cute homemade gifts. Even if you are not-so-confident with your cooking ski …

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! H …

Strawberry Rhubarb Vanilla Bean Jam Made Oh So Easy No homestead pantry is complete without homemade jellies and jams. Besides being so tasty to eat, they’re also very easy to make!If you’re intimidated by making your own jams and jellies, don’t be! Learn how easy it is to use the Jelly and Jam Maker from Roots & Harvest to make the perfect strawberry rhubarb vanilla bean jam and then get the creative juices flowing with so many more flavor combinations – many of whic …