Making jam was my first attempt at canning without my mom’s help. It was my first step towards becoming more self-reliant. I’ve been doing it for years, and I really enjoy it! Over the years, I have had a lot of success with my jams, but I’ve also experienced a lot of fails. I have had pots boil […]
Category Archives: Kitchen and Pantry
Nuts are naturally gluten free, and contain healthy fats and protein. Their flavors enhance baking, sauces, salads, dips and smoothies, They can be turned into nut milks, nut flours, or nut butters. They can be used raw, or roasted. However nuts are used, they are a delicious way to add extra nutrients and flavor to any dish, or they can be […]
As your kids come home with a bag of candies tonight, here are a few thoughts on how to keep tabs on all of that sugar. (We’ll talk about the rest of the ingredients in future Ingredient Spotlight posts!) Sugar contains no nutrients, and is not necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there is no ‘nutritional value’ standard, […]
If gluten-free is the buzzword of the modern food world, grain-free is its quirky, all or nothing, determined little cousin. Diets, such as Paleo and Primal, have been designed around the idea of eliminating grains (a.k.a. unnecessary calories) from one’s diet. Although it may be another fad, the concept might be worth the consideration. While not all grains are […]
Starches and binders have the unique ability to hold a lot of liquid, and are valuable when cooking and baking gluten-free. Many starches and binders also act in a similar manner to gluten, and can help to bind the liquids and the flours together, creating a sticky dough, and fluffy (as opposed to crumbly) baking. These starches and binders are […]
Making Homemade Pumpkin Puree is really very simple, and the flavor is worth the effort. It just takes a little time. Choose pumpkins that are characteristically sweet, and have a lot of flesh. While the puree may be primarily used in baking, it can also be incorporated into soups and stews to add thickness and earthy flavor. In fact, save the pumpkin water […]
Grains and Flours that do not have gluten are different in flavor and texture compared to their gluten-containing counterparts. I have enjoyed experimenting with many of these flours. They each contain different properties, such as their density, and their nutty, sweet, or savory flavors. Often combining two or three of these flours will help to bring out the best […]
I have had a request to explain how I freeze my tomatoes and I thought I would share it with you all, in case you were wondering what to do with your abundant crop, or that bushel you picked up from the farmer’s market. I never have enough tomatoes ripe at one time to make a large […]
Grow. Cook. Eat. Share. 