I love daikon radishes. They seem to be sweeter than other radish varieties, and they improve the soil where they are grown. The long taproots can grow to be huge, and when they are pulled, they look like little people. Daikons are also very versatile in the kitchen. They are delicious in stir-fry, incorporated into…
The Evolution Of Butter
Butter is something I’m passionate about. I’ve always loved butter. Even when I was trying to be vegan in high school, I liked fake butter. Then, when I returned to the real thing, it was like being reunited with Truth, an experience of tasteful clarity that lightening-bolted Earth Balance off my grocery list for good….
Making Thick, Creamy Yogurt
For years I struggled to make my ideal yogurt – one my children would actually eat. They would down yogurt by the carton, and it always seemed so unprofitable to have so many dairy animals and be buying yogurt, just for the sake of the picky, picky little ones. Their ideal yogurt must be mild,…
Making Butter
Once I was travelling outside of Carcassonne in Southwestern France. I was passing through a small, small town, the kind they have there with the cobbled medieval streets that are made for foot traffic only, and trap foolish American tourists who think every road should be worthy of large vehicles. There was a small market…
Kefir, An Immortal Ally
I have bought and tried out many different milk cultures over the years – piima, viili, fil mjolk, heirloom buttermilk culture, Flora danica….there were more, but those were the ones I remember clearly. While all of these cultures made different and interesting forms of sour milk, there was one problem – they were incredibly…
Imbolc/Candlemas
Imbolc or Candlemas, the ancient celebration of mid-winter, approaches on February 2nd. It marks the middle of the time between the solstice and the equinox, between the time of long darkness and time of the day outlasting the night. Imbolc meant “in the belly,” as the sheep were about to begin their lambing season, and…
LANGUE DE BOEUF EN SAUCE: Beef Tongue in Sauce
We recently culled some beef, and this time we managed to salvage the tongues. Tongue isn’t often eaten any more, although not so long ago it was an economical cut of meat at the grocery store. The first time I tried cooking a beef tongue, I was a little bit horrified at the graphic nature…
10 Tips For Amazing Broth
Broth is one of those amazing ingredients that makes everything taste good. With some broth on hand, you can make soups, sauces, gravies or cook beans, grains and vegetables in it. Everything you add it to will be rich and flavorful. Well-made broth not only tastes good, but also is a powerful healer…
Yarn Along: Crocheted Rag Rug Tutorial
It has been awhile since I’ve had anything other than lace yarn to work with, but now I am jumping over to crocheting a few more rag rugs. There are several reasons for this drastic shift in handwork – 1) Lace requires WAY too much concentration for me right now. It is so sad to…
Forgetful Mothering
Over the years I have witnessed so many different mothering styles among the animals. Just like people, there’s a big difference between mothers, from over-bearing mothers, to those who take things easy. They can range from: Psychotic Killer Mother: We’ve never had any like this on our farm, but a friend of mine with expensive…
Grain-free Calamondin and Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rose and I created this recipe together one day when she was inspired to bake and a glowing bowl of calamondins was taking up all the space on the kitchen table. Rich, and chewy, these cookies have the perfect orange/chocolate flavor balance. Grain-free Calamondin Cookies 4 cups almond flour 1 cup coconut sugar 3 eggs…
Pork, Daikon, and Pak Choi Stir-fry
Wandering through the garden, I pulled this recipe together to do something interesting with a large left-over fresh ham we had roasted. It’s quick, easy to prepare, and delicious served over rice or noodles. Pork, Daikon, and Pak Choi Stir-Fry 1 daikon radish, sliced into rounds (these radishes can grow to be enormous. About 1…
Toadstools And Fairy Rings 