Rebekah Pierce

You've bought all the gear - the Mason jars, the lids, even the jar lifter. You're decked out with your oven mitts and your apron, and you've got your dish towels ready to go - just waiting for steaming hot jars of vegetables, pickles, fruits, and meats to be placed on them. You're ready to start canning. But you may have wondered how exactly - or when, exactly - we first got started with canning. Believe it or not, this [...]

Sweet potatoes are not just a tasty ingredient; they're a nutrient-packed powerhouse that can liven up any meal. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, sweet potatoes are delicious, nutritious, and incredibly versatile.  Whether you're a home cook, a food preservation advocate, or someone passionate about sustainable living, learning how to can sweet potatoes is a fantastic way to make sure you have this wonderful [...]

Home-canned food is packed to the brim with all the good stuff. Lots of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and of course, lots of flavor.  One thing we don't want our home-canned food to include, however, is bacteria. Botulism is one dangerous pathogen that you just don't need hanging around your food. Silent and invisible, this bacteria can be deadly. The good news is that it's fairly easy to prevent it from setting [...]

If you want to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle (and perhaps start saving more money on groceries), canning just might be your ticket to success. The best part about canning is that there isn't a steep learning curve. Even better? You don't need to spend a fortune on costly equipment. You do need to make sure you have the right gear, however, to get started safely. In this post, we'll tell you all about the canning [...]

Is there anything better than taco night? Unless you're a vegetarian, probably not. Unfortunately, many of us have had the unpleasant experience of opening up the freezer or refrigerator to discover, with all the other taco ingredients spread out before us, that we're out of ground beef. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep a steady supply of ground beef on hand at all times - and if you're short on [...]

As the crisp breezes of fall begin to whisper through the apple orchards, you may find yourself wondering if there's a way that you can extend the flavors of fall long into the winter, spring, and summer months. There's nothing quite as delicious - or as versatile - as canned applesauce, but buying it from the store can be expensive. Not to mention the fact that it's often laden with added sugar and [...]