Have you ever seen the bizarre-looking, Doctor-Suess-like curly tops that grow on the stalks of hardneck garlic in the spring? These are flower stalks the garlic plant sends upward to make babies (seeds), but if you are growing garlic for the fragrant bulbs in the ground, you should cut off these scapes so the bulbs […]
How to make pickled beets with honey, allspice and cinnamon
If you like beets, you HAVE to make this recipe. If you think beets are just okay, not necessarily great, you HAVE to make this, too, and in turn you will start falling in love with beets. How could you not? The combination of the sweet taste of beets, made even sweeter with honey, cinnamon […]
How to make rose water
My little daughter and I worked in the garden for hours and decided to take a bath this afternoon to soothe our sore muscles. We didn’t take an ordinary bath but added a major touch of luxury and lovely scent by adding rose water I had made a few days before, and for good measure […]
How to make nettle pesto, and why everyone should eat it
How to make nettle pesto, and why everyone should eat it. There. I should-ed on you. Although I usually don’t tell people what to do, I urge everyone to eat nettle pesto. Why? Because nettles are so, so good for you, and because I think nettle pesto tastes better than traditional pesto made with basil. […]
How to render lard
Lard is amazing. Compared to olive oil, lard is a close second in the monounsaturated fat department. The main fat in lard (oleic acid) is a fatty acid associated with decreased risk of depression and heart disease, as well as anti-cancer benefits. Lard is packed with Vitamin D, which people are extremely deficient in here […]
How to make dandelion root tea, and why everyone should drink it
There are many reasons to drink dandelion root tea, and it’s fun and easy to dig your own roots, dry them, and make them into a delicious drink – even use it as a coffee substitute! You can use the whole plant: roots for tea, greens for salads and soups, flowers in wine and syrup. […]