by Esther Henry
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." And it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas in many kitchens across the country as well! At this time of year cranberries begin to go on sale at discounted prices, apples from the fall harvests are needing to be used up, and so this Cranberry-Apple Sauce... Continue Reading →
Perhaps the header picture is a bit deceiving: we are not using a campfire to cook the popcorn this evening, we are using a gas stove indoors. However, the principles of making the popcorn are the same. We stopped using microwave popcorn several years ago, and now only cook it over the fire as my... Continue Reading →
I am a stickler for safety in the kitchen, but don't always follow the rules and demands of the "experts." Call me a rebel. Maybe I am. But what I am about to share with you, I must put in a disclaimer, so here goes. DISCLAIMER: The USDA has not recommended canning butter or dairy,... Continue Reading →
I'm not new to dehydrating. But I am new to this new commercial dehydrator we recently purchased. I am used to using really old, round, vertically stacked dehydrators without the ability to control the temperature. I had to constantly watch it to make sure the contents on the bottom rack didn't burn, rotating the trays... Continue Reading →
"A little dirt never hurt anybody." We heard that often while growing up. We were raised outdoors, although we always had a roof over our heads. We were encouraged by our parents to "play outside." We had no television, phones were permanently attached to the wall with a long cord and cell phones and internet... Continue Reading →
Corned Beef is a staple around our household. The prices have gone up and up in recent years, but they still go on sale around St Patrick's Day every year. This year we took a "quick run" to the grocery store the weekend before, just to grab a few things. (Yeah, right!) We were not... Continue Reading →
Did you know that the USA is one of the only countries that refrigerate their eggs? We are the ONLY ones that refrigerate 100% of commercial egg sales. Most of the world does not refrigerate their eggs: they just sell them on ordinary shelves or at roadside stands out in the open. Australia was the... Continue Reading →
It seems like autumn is the season when preserving the harvest from land and sea is at full swing! Kitchens across the world at at their busiest, and ours is no exception. We are in the mountains and landlocked (not near an ocean), however, we were blessed with a huge donated load of wild caught... Continue Reading →
This Easter season, we roasted up a whole leg of lamb, and foraged dead nettles growing everywhere in our flower beds next to the house, as a side dish. They pair well with lamb and mint sauce. Dead nettles are in the mint family, although they taste nothing like mint: they are fairly bland, with... Continue Reading →
There's nothing like friendly neighbors...and nothing like nasty neighbors! We've dealt with both over the years. However, as we've grown and matured and gained experience in life, we've discovered that living purposefully and humbly reaching out to our neighbors and even offering help in humility, can make all the difference in the world! It's called... Continue Reading →
Simple Home and Hearth 