It’s hard to beat the classic Caprese salad flavor combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. However, this version adds another dimension by adding a rich and syrupy balsamic glaze instead of straight vinegar to top it off. This, combined with a really good quality extra virgin olive oil, is all you need to make…
The beauty of Mason jar salads is they offer the perfect solution for a satisfying, nutritious lunch on the go or as a quick and easy weeknight dinner. The key to success with Mason jar salads is the order you add your ingredients. Always add the dressing first, followed by harder vegetables that won’t break…
Chili peppers are a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine. There are more than 150 varieties of peppers and each one has a flavor that is unique. If you choose to use peppers when making Mexican dishes, try to use the specific pepper recommended in the recipe. This will help your dish have an authentic flavor…
There is nothing nicer than home grown beans. A fresh bean with that snappy crunch when you are eating them raw is priceless. You can’t get that crunch from shop bought beans, as they have been off the bush for too long. They are a warm season crop and are perfect for putting into summer…
Growing your own pumpkins is really good fun. Watching the vines grow, flowers blossom and tiny little pumpkins form is really exciting. They require between 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day, rich soil improved with compost and lots of space or something to climb on. They are extremely easy to grow and can…
It may not be the main staple of the Irish diet, but it is still an important vegetable featured in many traditional dishes. Whether it’s a hearty meal of Irish Bacon and Cabbage or Colcannon, a dish made with potatoes and cabbage, many Irish recipes call for this nutrient-rich vegetable. Why is Cabbage so Healthy?…
Have you ever wondered exactly what a “kitchen garden” is or how it differs from a regular vegetable garden? For starters, a kitchen garden or potager (pronounced puh-ta-zhay), is a special kind of edible garden with a rich history tracing back to old English and French culinary gardens. Much like a traditional vegetable garden, a…
Do you have family or friends who are homesteaders and you just don’t know what to get them for Christmas or maybe a birthday? Well today is your lucky day because I’m going to share with you a great list of gift ideas for homesteaders! Homesteading has many different aspects and areas to focus on,…
Time for another garden tour! August, what can I say about August? Well, that’s the month the weeds got away from me…..again. The smoke was so heavy most days that we could smell and taste it and well…I just didn’t want to be outside breathing in that nastiness when I had the choice. So, here…
If you live in an area with distinct seasons like I do, there are natural limitations to when you can grow vegetables outdoors. In the spring, you have to wait until the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach acceptable levels. Then, before you know it, shorter days and cooler temps will return…