A few months ago, our local grocery store had boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for about 1/4 of the regular price. My mom, sister-in-laws, and I decided to take … Continue →

Eggs of some sort are always my go-to breakfast when I have a houseful, with omelets being the most requested. But when they start saying they don’t like this … Continue →

(My oven is working again! It ended up being a very small, inexpensive, and easy to replace part. Three months later.)

Because of the easiness of it all, I … Continue →

I have wanted and needed a means to smoke bacon, ham and cheese for as long as I can remember. I have finally managed to assemble a good working system. … Continue →

One of the great joys of this season for me is pomanders. Pomanders smell great, they’re easy to make … Continue →

Now that I have tasted success in my early cheesemaking adventures, I have been trying to assemble useful or at least … Continue →

After the 2011 CITR Retreat, I was bound and determined to make cheese. In fact, after my Hard Cheesemaking class that evening, I called my “Raw Milk Hookup” just … Continue →

The days and the weeks are flying by! Thanksgiving Day is less than two weeks away and I just realized it! Out-of-town family will be here in eleven … Continue →

It’s time to bring the pumpkins in and process them for cooking. I love pumpkin and try to … Continue →

Cooking can be intimidating for some and cooking for a crowd can seem impossible to many. It’s NOT so hard if you know some simple tips–I actually quite ENJOY it! … Continue →

I absolutely LOVE my steam juicer!

It’s not just for fruits and vegetables–you can make stock with it, too…. Continue →

Everyone has their own little tips about grilling–whether you grill with charcoal, propane, wood or over an open fire pit. We have a wood fired grill, but all of … Continue →

We have an underground stone root cellar. It’s one thing I love about old farmhouses. I love old farmsteads! They have such … Continue →

Have I ever mentioned I love old cookbooks? There’s much more than recipes in these old cookbooks. There is a plethora of information–things you never knew you needed … Continue →

What is menu planning? Planning ahead of time (usually by either week or month) what meals you’ll cook. Meal planning makes life easier when it comes to the … Continue →

My red and white vinegars

For years I thought about making homemade vinegar, … Continue →

All four of my organic wines have finished making and are ready to bottle! Not only are they all four ready to … Continue →

Here in New England, March is called Mud Season, but it is also Sugarin’ Season. Although commercial operations require a significant … Continue →

This week I was able to purchase a roasting chicken for 69 cents per pound. But this bird weighs more than … Continue →

I have been curious about a mysterious “something” I keep hearing and reading about among friends and online. Last week, the mysterious subject came up again, when Helen, a … Continue →

Ever try a fabulous recipe and it just doesn’t turn out as promised? Maybe it was the measuring! Some recipes are forgiving if you’re a little off, some … Continue →

Our forefathers and mothers used to be self sufficient. They did just about everything, from fixing the windmill to delivering babies. And they could cook just about anything that was … Continue →

I used to have no imagination when it came to turkey. Leftover turkey meant sandwiches. And more sandwiches. Then everyone would get tired of turkey and never … Continue →

Many folks like to snack on nuts. They can be a great source of minerals that the body needs. I know that some of you are allergic to all nuts. … Continue →

You’re proudly bringing your magnificent turkey to the table. It’s a precarious balancing act, but it looks like you’ll make it. Guests are craning their necks to watch. Suddenly, behind … Continue →