Tomato paste is a wonderful thing to have on hand. It’s thick and rich with flavor. We use it for…
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Preserving Your Harvest
From garden to table, I will show you preservation techniques. Enjoy a jar of spring berry jam in the fall or corn on the cob in the dead of winter.
Mixed Berry Jam with Raspberries, Strawberries, and Blueberries
Mixed berry jam is perfect for this time of year. The strawberries are just wrapping up for the season, the…
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How to Can Jam Without Sugar or Honey
1 to 1. That’s the average ratio of fruit to sugar in most jam recipes (commercial and homemade). I’m…
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How to Freeze Spaghetti Squash
Do you have a bunch of squash on hand? Freeze it for later! Freezing spaghetti squash is super easy and takes less than an hour from start to finish. It’s a great way to save your favorite gourd for winter. After you learn how to freeze spaghetti squash, be sure to scroll down to the bottom for some excellent recipe ideas.
How to Dry Herbs Easily with a Dehydrator
Summer is winding down and before you know it all the glorious fresh herbs we’ve been taking advantage of will no longer be available. It’s time to talk about how to dry herbs. You can simply bring them indoors and hang them as bundles from hooks (I like doing this with lavender). You can also make racks/screens like these ones. When you need to preserve a lot at a time, it’s easiest to dry herbs with a dehydrator.
Dill Pickle Recipe (with Surprise Leaf for Crispiness)
I love dill pickle spears. I prefer spears over coins because they stay crisper. Yes, late at night I sneak to the kitchen to eat them right out of the jar. Shhh, don’t tell my children. There are a lot of dill pickle recipe ideas online, but there is something they all lack. The secret to a crispy pickle. Leaves. Plant leaves.
Specifically, I am referring to grape leaves. Grape leaves contain tannins that inhibit a naturally occurring enzyme in cucumbers that cause them to soften. Other types of leaves (such as oak and cherry) work, but may cause a bitter taste in your pickles.
