Cast iron pots and pans have been around for centuries. They were first used in China in the 6th century and their use and appeal spread across Europe and to the pioneers of early America. At one point, more than a dozen cast iron manufacturers supplied the growing demand for cast iron cookware in the U.S. That is, until the invention of … [Read more...]
Poor Man’s Steak Recipe (Cabbage, Garlic & Butter)
Over the past few years, my husband and I have been trying to cut costs and save for retirement. When you get to be middle-aged and realize how fast time goes by, you start developing a sense of urgency about things like that. Anyway, one of the main ways we've managed to save money is by cooking more foods from scratch and giving up on … [Read more...]
How To Pressure Can Soup
Whether you're a gardener with a huge harvest that needs to be preserved or just someone who wants to stockpile food for hard times, you understand the importance of canning food. Unlike freeze-dried or dehydrated foods, which have to be rehydrated, canned foods are ready to eat as soon as you open them. However, you probably won't be eating … [Read more...]
8 Foods You Can Grind Into Flour + Instructions & Recipes
Grinding Your Own Flour Can Save You Money, Enhance Your Nutrition, and Teach You a Valuable Survival Skill. In many ways, bread is what made civilization happen. The ability to cultivate crops, especially grains, gave humanity the chance to find the time to invent things like language, culture, mathematics, government, and towns. The greatest … [Read more...]
12 Foods Soldiers Ate During the Civil War
The Civil War was a devastating time in American history, leading to more American causalities than any other war the United States has ever been engaged in. Conditions were rough for both Union and Confederate soldiers, and ensuring that they had enough food in the field was often a real struggle. In order to survive, soldiers in the Civil War … [Read more...]
How To Cook A Squirrel
Have you ever eaten a squirrel before? The taste is hard to describe. Some people say it tastes like chicken, only darker and tastier. Others say it tastes a like rabbit, or even pork, but not quite. I'd say it's a blend of chicken and rabbit. But the fact is, squirrel has its own distinct flavor, so you won't know what it really tastes like until … [Read more...]
How To Render Lard The Easy Way
Our Pioneer Ancestors Rendered Lard on a Regular Basis. Did They Know Something We Don’t? A lot of people are quick to say “no” to lard as a cooking ingredient. That’s unfortunate. They certainly have their reasons, and some are well-founded, but lard isn’t the bad guy that many people make it out to be. Moderation is the key, and a well-timed … [Read more...]
The World’s Oldest Bread Recipe – Just 3 Ingredients
People have been making bread for thousands of years. In fact, there is evidence of people making bread as far back as 30,000 years ago. Unfortunately, prehistoric men didn't write down their bread recipes on clay tablets. However, we have a good idea of what those recipes were. According to scientists, people used to mix together wild wheat … [Read more...]
8 Foods You Should Never Put In The Refrigerator
Most people are storing their food wrong and don’t even know it. By refrigerating non-refrigerable goods, you are likely causing your food to spoil faster than it should. You might be thinking that the fridge is like a cryogenic chamber where time moves slower, right? Wrong! Contrary to popular belief, not everything lasts longer in cold … [Read more...]
5 Off-Grid Water Sources and Systems
A dry homestead, or one that relies on municipal water lines, is not a sustainable homestead. When creating an off-grid water system, whether it is for primary or backup use, it is wise to set up multiple options in order to maximize your self-reliance. Rural homesteaders and preppers have more options for creating an off-grid water system and … [Read more...]
50 Staple Foods That Should Be In Every Cook’s Kitchen
A well-stocked pantry offers peace of mind. When you have all the basic cooking supplies on hand, you can be ready to prepare a meal on short notice and without the time and expense of running to the store for ingredients. Every family is a little bit different in terms of their tastes and customers. Some families may not be able to live without … [Read more...]
How to Cook on a Wood Stove + 9 Cooking Tips
Cooking on a wood stove requires a bit of patience at first, but the delicious rewards make the learning process well worth it. Having a wood cook stove or a wood burning stove will allow you to heat your home and cook food during a disaster where the power grid fails. You can cook food or boil water on either type of wood stove, but there are … [Read more...]
6 Ways People Stored Food Before Refrigerators
Long before the modern conveniences of refrigeration, people were storing their food using time-tested methods. Many modern homesteaders are learning and honing these skills as a way to preserve their harvest and continue to serve their families home-grown, home-raised food throughout the year. Here are six ways people stored food before … [Read more...]
10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns
Did you know that you might have a bountiful and nutritious food source right at your feet this fall? Acorns are much more than something to rake up with your leaves and deposit into your compost pile. With a little preparation and know-how, you can eat them as you would other nuts, you can use them to make oil, and you can grind them into flour … [Read more...]
20 Strange Meals People Ate During The Great Depression
The Great Depression brought out both the resiliency and ingenuity of literally millions of people. With few options, people had to make do with what was on hand. Clothes were sewn with spare flour sacks and shoes repaired with cardboard. Food, however, is where things got really interesting. Some foods were still plentiful and reasonably … [Read more...]
Off Grid Coffee Roasting and Brewing
If you're prepper or homesteader who also loves coffee, then at some point you probably asked yourself, "How can I drink coffee while living off the grid?" If going to the grocery store or a coffee shop isn't an option, you'll need another way to feed your addiction. Of course, you can stockpile coffee grounds, but those only last a few months. … [Read more...]
Canning vs Dehydrating: Which Method is Better?
As a homesteader, you enjoy growing your own fruits and vegetables, and fresh is always the best choice for taste and nutrition. But what can you do to preserve some of your harvest for the rest of the year? Two tried and true options are canning and dehydrating. Both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide which … [Read more...]
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