food history
Homemade winter mincemeat from historic recipes; bear, venison, and pigs feet
There was a wonderful madness in my kitchen as eight friends and family joined me this last Sunday to make mincemeat from historic recipes. Both the bear and the venison were contributed by the Great Hunter (Jackson Landers) for which…
Taking care of ourselves and each other: Self-reliance, sustainibility, and Andrew Zolli
Around about Thanksgiving is pretty much when I close up the summer and early fall making/doing/storing food bustle. I’m getting ready to hunker down; you’d think I was a squirrel. South Dakota winters have a way of sticking in…
Everything but the squeal: Rendering fresh lard
I made the first of the season’s lard the other day. It turned out exactly right! My friend Rowena Morrell recommended I render my lard in the oven in my turkey roaster pan at 225 degrees. In the past I…
Despite the storms our garden and animals are sprouting and growing and laying
The stormy events of the past several days have made the dog crazy! Especially the lightning! But the hens, the pigs and the garden seem to just continue doing what they do best; grow and lay eggs! But…
Through the Seasons with The Virginia House-Wife; French Beans
Mary Randolph, The Virginia House-Wife French Beans Cut off the stalk end first, and then turn to the point and strip off the strings ; if not quite fresh, have a bowl of spring water, with a little salt dissolved…
Hand Made Chocolate: the Aztecs, the Spanish and Us: A Class in Chocolate Craft
Sooooooo, did I mention CHOCOLATE? Creating, savoring, eating chocolate? Our day will be spent exploring all things chocolate. The Aztec rulers drank their chocolate dark and bitter and used cocoa beans as money; after 1530 the Spanish added sugar and…