Cast iron skillets are something you see hanging in old antique shops and steakhouses, but no one actually cooks with them anymore, right? Not so! Plenty of individuals still utilize (and prefer) cast iron in their kitchens. Here on the blog we've discussed Cast Iron Cooking Tips, The Dos & Don’ts of Cleaning Cast Iron,... Continue Reading →
How to Properly Watering the Garden
The line between under-watering, over-watering, and supplying just enough water to the garden is a very fine one. It can be difficult to know if you're doing it right before the effects become detrimental to your plants. Keeping a garden is one of my favorite summer pastimes, but it's more than just a hobby for... Continue Reading →
My Herb Garden
Spring is in the air here on the Hilltop! I can feel it in my lungs. The sun shines more frequently, flowers emerge from their winter hiding places, calves fill the pastures, and a newness spreads all around us. Oh, how refreshing springtime is for the soul! One of my goals for this year is... Continue Reading →
Cast Iron Pizza
I created a Sourdough Pizza Crust recipe a few months ago and it is our family's 'go-to' for Friday night pizzas! I wanted to give it a try in the cast iron skillet just out of curiosity. The process was just as easy as making a homemade pizza in a regular baking pan or sheet!... Continue Reading →
Homemade Eggshell Powder
We own a small flock of backyard chickens for laying eggs. And boy, are we ever getting an abundance of eggs during this early spring season! As we learn the in and outs of raising chickens, we also strive to utilize every aspect of them as possible. From Letting Chickens Till Our Garden, to saving... Continue Reading →
All About Storing Fresh Chicken Eggs
The most exciting part about keeping backyard chickens is collecting the eggs. I still enjoy filling my pockets or basket with handfuls of colorful eggs that my family can enjoy! And once you've tasted fresh eggs, you'll never want to go back to the bland options from the grocery store. They are so much better... Continue Reading →
Knowing When to Plant a Garden
Spring will be here very soon! As I am writing this, the sun is shining and the next two days will be near 70 degrees F! Times such as these are a breath of fresh air in the midst of many, many gloomy and cold winter days. As spring approaches, it is time to begin... Continue Reading →
Maintaining Cast Iron Seasoning
Cast iron is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I've learned quite a bit about utilizing this type of metal in cooking as it truly is a new skill to learn as you go. Many mistakes have been made along my cast iron journey, so I've shared them all here: Cast Iron Mistakes to Avoid,... Continue Reading →
How to Keep Chicken Eggs from Freezing
Frozen chicken eggs...it's that time of year. We've learned a lot thus far about just how much egg production decreases in the winter and just how easy it is for those few, valuable eggs to freeze solid before we can get to them! There are so many new things to learn when one becomes a... Continue Reading →
Do Chickens Need a Heat Lamp?
We added Chickens to our Homestead this past spring, so this is our very first winter with them around. We Built an A Frame Chicken Tractor for them to stay cozy in throughout the year, and learned a lot about The Basics Needs for Bringing Chicks Home, as well as experimenting with letting them Naturally... Continue Reading →