Making your own peanut butter is one of those simple, back-to-basics kitchen skills that can really make a difference. With this easy method, you end up with a creamy spread that tastes richer and fresher than anything you’ll find at the grocery store, at a fraction of the price. If you’ve never tried it before,…
What could be more cozy for a Southern winter than pulling a pan of satsuma marmalade rolls out of the oven—golden brown on top, fluffy on the inside, and smelling like warm citrus and butter? These rolls are based on my original recipe for fresh milled flour cinnamon rolls, but instead of a spiced filling,…
Dyeing With Cosmos Flowers: A Simple Guide to Summer Color This year, I filled a sunny stretch of my dye garden with cosmos flowers, and they rewarded me with the happiest colors I’ve seen in a long time. Cosmos sulphureus, sometimes called orange cosmos or sulfur cosmos, produces some of the most joyful natural dyes…
If you’ve ever enjoyed a chilled glass of agua de jamaica (hibiscus tea), you’re going to love this fizzy twist — Roselle Hibiscus Soda. This homemade soda is naturally fermented, full of probiotics, and has a tart, floral flavor that strikes the perfect balance between tangy and sweet. It’s a healthier alternative to sugary sodas and a fun way…
How to Save Okra Seeds for Next Year’s Garden Okra is one of the easiest vegetables to grow here in Louisiana. It loves full sun, warm weather, and well-drained soil, and it rewards you with lots of pods all summer long. If you’ve ever grown a variety of okra you love, saving your own okra…
How to Make Fresh Roselle Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica) Here in Louisiana, I’m lucky enough to be able to grow Roselle Hibiscus, a beautiful and delicious flowering hibiscus plant. The fresh hibiscus flowers are stunning—and they’re also incredibly useful. One of my favorite ways to use them is to make a flavorful, tangy, and…
What could be more cozy than pulling a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls out of the oven—golden brown on top, fluffy on the inside, and filling the house with that warm, sweet cinnamon aroma. These fresh milled flour cinnamon rolls have been a family favorite for over ten years, and they just might become yours…
Making Homemade Watercolor Pigments with Natural Dyes I have included some Amazon Affiliate links below. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This year, I started experimenting with making my own watercolors using plants and natural dyes from my homestead. I’ve been dyeing yarn and fabric for a long time, and I always…
How I Make and Can Tomato Sauce with the Water Bath Method There are few things more satisfying than opening a jar of tomatoes in the middle of winter, spooning out their rich, sweet flavor, and tasting the sunshine of summer all over again. For me, canning tomatoes has become one of those seasonal rhythms…
Over the years, I’ve sewn on both traditional sewing machines and serger machines, and I’ve learned a lot about when to use each one. If you’ve been confused about what makes them different—or whether you need one in your sewing room—I want to give you a clear, honest explanation. The Regular Sewing Machine Most people…