by Texas Homesteader ~
This Wild Plum Jelly recipe is easy and delicious. And there’s a secret to using plums natural pectin content so this recipe requires no added pectin. Optional water-bath canning instructions are included too.
by Texas Homesteader ~
I really want a few shade trees in our yard. And serious bonus points are added if I can get those shade trees for FREE, #amiright??!!
After spending way too much money trying to get shade trees that would actually live in our yard, a lightbulb went off. Hummmmmm… What if…
by Texas Homesteader ~
Did you know you can make a sweet gummy-style chewy candy using excess garden squash? It’s TRUE! Making the candy is simple & we loved the cherry flavor.
by Texas Homesteader ~
When I asked RancherMan what veggies he wanted me to plant in this year’s garden he emphatically said “SPAGHETTI SQUASH!!” I must admit I was a little surprised at his enthusiasm. LOL
Spaghetti squash cooks into strands that visually resemble strands of spaghetti. Now to me it doesn’t taste like pasta at all. Its taste is of a mild squash that lends itself well to the other flavors you add to the dish. And it’s certainly low-carb way to get a dish that at least looks like pasta!
But we love spaghetti squash and although there are many ways to prepare it, I make a sort of vegetarian lasagna that’s always been his fave. It’s served right in the shell so it has a beautiful presentation as well. Recently I was able to harvest our spaghetti squash and whip up his favorite cheesy spaghetti squash dish. It was easy, delicious, healthy and quick to prepare.
by Texas Homesteader ~
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This recipe for lightly sweet and crisp sweet pickles can be made one quart at a time. Perfect since the garden doesn’t always crank out those fresh cucumbers at the same rate. And this sweet pickle recipe is so simple anyone can do it!
by Texas Homesteader ~
Summer is hot & humid in our part of NE Texas & I’m doing all I can to keep my plants watered. A cistern mishap involving a split hose drained all the rainwater from my 18′ deep cistern. WOW! So I’m trying to conserve water as much as possible.
I came across a large-mouth bottle with a built-in grip on the handle and a metal-center lid. Then the thought occurred to me – maybe I can use this to keep my container garden of spinach watered.
You remember my battle cry, “Use WhatCha Got!”. Check out this homestead hack.
by Texas Homesteader ~
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I tested a plant watering system that uses a porous terracotta stake & a repurposed water bottle or empty glass wine bottle to hold the water.
Well color me intrigued! But how did it work? 
by Texas Homesteader ~
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Well, garden season is in full swing in NE Texas. It’s the season all gardeners have been dreaming about for weeks. Much work has gone into planning, seed-buying and dreaming.
One of the things I still needed for my garden was plant markers. I’d love to have an easy way to identify plants in their teeny-tiny stage as I’m strolling through the garden. But you know how strong my #UseWhatchaGot drive is!
Thankfully I’ve found an easy way to repurpose items I already have in my home to use for the actual plant markers. Using these markers helps me to remember what I planted where without having to come inside & look it up. Check it out!