MAKING CRUNCHY PICKLES When most people think of pickles, they think of what is sold in the grocery stores. Typically these are vinegar-brined pickles. This style of pickle became widely available because they are fast and cheap for manufacturers to make. They became popular because they tend to be super acidic, tangy and crunchy. Who …
How to Make Sunscreen Sunscreen is something that I never used to bother with. But over time, even with olive skin, I have began to appreciate the protection. For me, it isn’t about skin lightening and those sort of issues, it is about safety. While I have only burned a couple times in my life, …
It’s that time of year. The weather is getting warmer and people are getting outside. Yes, after this long pandemic, we are actually getting outside! With that, we might want to start thinking about how to care for ourselves and our families should we have a run in with poison oak or a swarm of …
Companion planting helps to increase possible yields in vegetable gardens and the ideas offered here are meant as suggestions. It is basically pairing plants so that one benefits the other, or possible they both benefit. In reality, each location will have different growing results based on soil, sun, wind, the ecology which includes rodents and …
DIY HOUSEHOLD CLEANER I have some issues. Some people might say I have a LOT of issues, lol, but right now I am going to talk about artificial fragrances (which I am super sensitive to) and the overuse of plastics. I mean, there is a pile of plastic floating in the ocean that is …
Are you looking for options about how to grow your vegetables on a budget? Do you need to save money to feed your family? Are you tired of most blogs telling you to “just” buy the newest shiny gardening fad product at the big box store or garden center? I am too! So, let me …
Growing Vegetables in Containers Growing plants in containers can be very helpful. Containers work well if you have very little space, cannot plant in the soil, if you’re a renter and want to be able to take your plants with you when you leave, live in a townhouse with only a balcony or even on …
Dashi is an integral part of Japanese cooking. A good dashi is essential to most meals and is a key ingredient to this Japanese inspired dish using stinging nettle. Ohitashi means “to steep vegetables in a dashi base”. Cooking vegetables or meats on a dashi base is very common in Japan. Nishimi is a dish …
I used to help organize events called “Meet your Farmer”. These events were meant to help our community get to know their local farmers. This was a really fun community event where people could actually put a face to those farm products and CSA programs that they participated in. This was also a great opportunity …
Dashi is an vital part of Japanese cooking and healthy lifestyle. Being able to create a good dashi is an art. A basic dashi is mainly made from kombu (a type of seaweed that encompasses a range of different species). There are different types of dashi and one can be made with as little as …