Build a simple solar-powered outdoor light

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #92 • March/April, 2005 Figure 1. Pole-mounted street light showing a front view of the solar light In our last issue, I discussed how to use solar energy to power a...

The meltdown and the bailout: why, how, and what they mean

By John Silveira Issue #115 • January/February, 2009 To understand how the recent meltdown and bailout came about, you have to know what brought them on. According to some, there are PhDs who have problems grasping...

Black Beans & Rice

Recipe of the Week  Black Beans & Rice  Courtesy of Betty Marx  It won't be exactly the same, but you can save a considerable amount of time by using canned black beans. Ingredients 1 lb. dried Black Beans (3 cups),...

Pistachio-Mocha Chicken

Recipe of the Week  Pistachio-Mocha Chicken  Courtesy of Minnie Gottfried  Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 cup coffee liquor Sauce 3 cups chicken stock 1 Tablespoon coffee liquor 3/4 cup pistachio meats 1 chile pepper, chopped 1/2 cup chopped onion 3 Tablespoons chopped...

Pears in Caramel Syrup

Recipe of the Week  Pears in Caramel Syrup  Courtesy of Louise Boudreau  Ingredients 8 firm, unblemished, ripe Pears, preferably Anjou or Comice 3 cups Water 2 cups Sugar 1/3 cup Coffee Liqueur juice of 1 Lemon Water Whipped cream (optional) Method Three-quarters fill a pot or bowl...

Baking Bread

By Linda Gabris Issue #168 • November/December, 2017 Growing up in the rural woods miles away from the nearest country store, store-bought bread was seldom seen in Grandma’s house. So to keep up with demand, she...

Bean Salad With Fresh Herbs

Recipe of the Week  Bean Salad With Fresh Herbs  Courtesy of Alicia Abbott  Ingredients 1/2 pound string beans 2-1/2 cups cooked or canned navy beans 1 medium pickling cucumber, thinly sliced 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced 2 tablespoons...

Hummingbird Cake

Recipe of the Week  Hummingbird Cake  Courtesy of Beverly Rossman  Ingredients Cake: 3 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup unsalted butter 3 eggs 2 cups mashed ripe banannas (3-4...

Homemade baking extracts

By Linda Zimnick Issue #157 • January/February, 2016 Every cook or baker has a secret or two they keep tucked in their apron pocket. My secret? Homemade flavoring extracts. They are simple to make and the...

Tetsukabuto squash pie

Recipe of the Week  Tetsukabuto squash pie  Courtesy of Alice Brantley Yeager   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 9-inch unbaked pie shell 2 cups mashed or pureed cooked pulp of Tetsukabuto squash 1/2...

If you don’t like it here, why don’t you move to another country?

By John Silveira Issue #99 • May/June, 2006 That's a question I've been confronted with, more than once, when I've complained about the PATRIOT Act, the RICO Act, creeping gun control, the empowerment of the bureaucracy,...

Add solar power to your truck camper

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #93 • May/June, 2005 The recreational vehicle (RV) world is having a major comeback with the influx of baby-boomers. Today's travel trailers, 5th wheels, and motor coaches now include everything...

Fly it proudly and properly

By Roger Meyer Issue #130 • July/August, 2011 Since September 11, 2001, more Americans are displaying the national flag. Our flag gives us a sense of unity and purpose as a nation. Old Glory represents our...

Why bureaucracy will likely destroy America

By John Silveira Issue #50 • March/April, 1998 "Civilizations rise and fall," Dave said and I turned around to see if he was talking to me, but he was still staring at his monitor. I looked...

Building and using wattle fences

By Kathryn Wingrove Issue #139 • January/February, 2013 Wattle fences are made by weaving material in and out of posts in the ground. They were often used on the small farms of Victorian England. In fact,...

Build a Composter

By Charles Sanders Issue #170 • March/April, 2018 As with most of the other facets of homesteading, composting can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish to make it. One of the easiest ways...