Have you ever preserved a bucket of water-glassed eggs for a year and wondered if you might die if you ate them? (No? Just me?) Or have you ever found an old, misplaced egg in the corner of your chicken coop and asked yourself if it might still be edible? Or maybe you just have an old carton of eggs in the back of your fridge and you’re wondering how to tell if an egg is bad? Well, no matter what kind of old egg problem you have, this post will help you decide whether to fry that egg or simply throw it out. How to tell if an egg is bad? After 10 years of keeping chickens and preserving hundre ..read more

I spent a year learning how to ferment vegetables as part of a 12-month fermentation challenge. From mushy vegetables and foul-smelling ferments to exploding glass bottles, I made many mistakes, Today, I’m going to share my top 10 fermentation tips and tricks so you can begin your fermentation journey on the right probiotic path. How to ferment vegetables like a pro 1. Be like NIKE and just “ferment” it. What is the number one lesson I learned after spending a year preparing countless ferments? You learn by doing. Sure, you’re going to have some failures. My fermented eggs were so disgusting ..read more

12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE: Month #12 – HONEY FERMENTED GINGERBREAD COOKIES Jump to Recipe I wanted to end this fermentation challenge with a decadent dessert ferment – honey fermented gingerbread covered in a generous swirling layer of dark chocolate. Instead, I almost ended it with my death. This centuries-old, fermented, Danish treat calls for some peculiar ingredients such as ammonium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate, which gives these delicate spicy cookies their unique lightness in texture and flavor. But instead of ordering potassium BIcarbonate, I accidentally ordered pot ..read more

Did you know a male honeybee’s ejaculation is so strong, humans can hear it? Or that a drone bee (male honeybee) can’t sting? Or how about that male bees are fatherless…but yet they have a grandfather? Read on for the top 10 weird and utterly fascinating facts about male honeybees. #1. Drones bee livin’ their best life Male honeybees don’t clean. Male honeybees don’t build honeycomb. Male honeybees don’t forage for food. Male honeybees don’t look after the baby bees. Male honeybees don’t protect the hive from intruders. Oh no. These incredibly idle insects spend their days buzzing lazily ar ..read more

12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE: Month #10 – FERMENTED TOMATOES RECIPE / HOW TO FERMENT TOMATOES / TOMATO FERMENTATION If you’ve ever spent hours canning tomatoes, you’re going to be completely blown away by this “oh-so-incredibly-easy”, “I can’t believe it’s true” Lacto-fermented tomatoes recipe. Did you know you are able to can quarts and quarts of fresh tomatoes in just minutes – maybe even seconds? That’s because the tomatoes actually do the work themselves. It’s almost like magic. Now, if only I could find a way to make my tomatoes pick themselves from their vines and march int ..read more

12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE: Month #9 – LACTO-FERMENTED APPLESAUCE RECIPE / HOW TO FERMENT APPLES Searching for the fastest and healthiest homemade applesauce recipe ever? I’ve got it! Flavored with raw honey and pumpkin pie spice, this 5-ingredient fermented applesauce is my new favorite fall snack! Not only is it lip-smacking delicious but it is so much quicker and easier to prepare than traditional homemade applesauce. Instead of cooking your apples, you simply blend them with the flavors of fall – pure honey and pumpkin spice. And voila! A fresh, probiotic-rich applesauce fi ..read more

I’m not sure why I haven’t been fired from homesteading. This was my ENTIRE apple harvest from our five apple trees (that actually survived the vole devastation and our sheep who occasionally nibble on their leaves). Not only did I harvest just ONE apple, but it must be the tiniest apple ever to grow. I thought I had accidentally planted a crab apple tree, but the fruit was, in fact, sugary sweet. But then again…when you’ve been waiting this long to sample an apple, it tastes reeeeaaaallly good. Here’s hoping next year I get at least 3 more (and preferably larger ones) so maybe everyone in ou ..read more

12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE: Month #8 – LACTO–FERMENTED BELL PEPPERS RECIPE / HOW TO FERMENT BELL PEPPERS Tomato leaves in salsa? Kimberlee, are you trying to poison me?” asked my husband accusingly. I had just revealed the secret ingredient in this delicious fermented bell pepper “salsa” and although I was experiencing slightly murderous feelings after he woke me the previous night with his loud, sonorous snoring, I assure you this recipe is not toxic. But before I get into the details as to why this fermented salsa won’t kill you, you may be wondering why I’m making bell peppe ..read more

12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE: Month #7 – SPICY FERMENTED GREEN BEANS RECIPE / HOW TO FERMENT GREEN BEANS You may have eaten dilly beans, but have you tasted fermented CURRIED green beans? With a touch of curry powder, a tablespoon of ginger, and a dash of red pepper, this spicy fermented green bean recipe will have your taste buds tap dancing to its lively Asian flavor. If you’ve ever canned beans the traditional way — ie slaving over a hot stove for hours upon hours, you’ll also find this recipe incredibly simple and easy to prepare. You won’t have to spend your whole day p ..read more

I spent a year learning how to ferment vegetables as part of a 12-month fermentation challenge. From mushy vegetables and foul-smelling ferments to exploding glass bottles, I made many mistakes, Today, I’m going to share my top 10 fermentation tips and tricks so you can begin your fermentation journey on the right probiotic path. How to ferment vegetables like a pro 1. Be like NIKE and just “ferment” it. What is the number one lesson I learned after spending a year preparing countless ferments? You learn by doing. Sure, you’re going to have some failures. My fermented eggs were so disgusting ..read more