Seeing a shelf full of ferments-in-progress never fails to brighten my day: the colors, the sense of accomplishment, and the anticipation of enjoying the fruits of my labor all play a part. Today, I gaze at the lovely jars of watermelon rind pickles just beginning their transformation and smile.
Continue reading “Farm Ferments: No Waste Watermelon Rind “Pickles””Category: Health
Under Pressure: Second-Time-Around Beef Bone Broth
I’ve been saving the bones from the grass fed and grass finished beef soup bones and oxtail that we purchased from a local farm. These were the core of a variety of soups, including Korean-Style Oxtail Soup, and we’d already enjoyed the meat and marrow attached to the bones. Would there be anything left in these pressure-cooked bones to make bone broth? Definitely!
Continue reading “Under Pressure: Second-Time-Around Beef Bone Broth”Wildcrafted: Easy Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup *v2.0*
As the fragrance of elderberry syrup wafts from my adorable 3-quart Instant Pot, I think of hot summer days, picking clusters of purple berries and, later, picking berries from the stems with fingers stained a dark bordeaux. In the depths of winter, those days are a mere memory, but the fruits of those labors are very real.
Continue reading “Wildcrafted: Easy Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup *v2.0*”Ferment This: Đồ Chua (Daikon & Carrot Pickles)
One of my favorite parts of the delicious Vietnamese sandwiches called bánh mì is the pickled veggies: they’re lightly salty, tangy, and sweet, a wonderful combination that complements the other sandwich ingredients perfectly. Also great in other dishes, like bún (vermicelli noodle bowls), this is a versatile condiment to keep on hand.
Continue reading “Ferment This: Đồ Chua (Daikon & Carrot Pickles)”Musings: The Benefits Of Birdwatching
Each morning, I watch the birds at the feeders from the kitchen window. There are large birds (Blue Jays, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, cardinals) and small birds (titmice, nuthatches, finches, sparrows, chickadees, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers). Doves (mostly Mourning and the occasional Ringneck) mill around on the ground, looking for scattered seeds. And while I watch those birds going about their business, I’m not thinking about the pandemic, the climate crisis, ongoing destruction of the environment, or the many social issues we’re facing; instead, I am enthralled by bird life.
Continue reading “Musings: The Benefits Of Birdwatching”Winecraft: No Waste Pineapple Peel Wine, Two Ways
When was the last time you bought a whole pineapple and cut it up? And when you did, did you also use the peel and core? If not, you’re missing out: fermented beverages are just waiting to be made from the humble pineapple “waste”…like delightful country wine. If you like frugal and creative, read on!
Continue reading “Winecraft: No Waste Pineapple Peel Wine, Two Ways”