Free article Archives - Backwoods Home Magazine

Who were the best…and worst U.S. Presidents?

By John Silveira Issue #49 • January/February, 1998 It was one of those days I love. We were between deadlines and Dave, Bill, Mac, and I had gone fishing on the lake. Dave, of course, is...

The coffee mug knife sharpener

By Michael Cantrell Issue #105 • May/June, 2007 Not too long ago, I watched a man open his pocket knife by pulling it partway open to a wide L-shape with his hands, and then push it...

Everybody talks about lightning and yes, there are things you can do about it

By Albert H. Carlson Issue #37 • January/February, 1996 What was a beautiful sunny day with large white billowing clouds low on the horizon has turned progressively darker. The clouds are now almost black, and the...

Justice Breyer is wrong about the 2nd Amendment

By John Silveira Issue #128 • March/April, 2011 December 12, 2010, on Fox News Sunday, Justice Stephen Breyer said the Founding Fathers never intended for guns to go unregulated. His reasoning was that James Madison, often...

Grouse Hunting — The Ultimate Joy of Autumn

By Linda Gabris Issue #83 • September/October, 2003 Nothing instills such excitement or makes my heart flutter louder than the sudden whir of a flushed out grouse. No matter how many times I've heard it, the...

Choosing a chain saw

By Steven Gregersen Issue #119 •September/October, 2009 Winter will be here soon and along with winter comes cold weather and high heating bills. Obviously there's nothing new about any of this but with the current economic...

Lessons for My Children Chapter 1

By Dave Duffy Issue #136 • July/August, 2012 I've been working for several years on a small book for my kids called Lessons for My Children that will attempt to give them advice about how to...

Chicken Enchiladas

Recipe of the Week Chicken Enchiladas Courtesy of Mari Susan Bell Two large pans (double recipe) can feed quite a crowd when accompanied by refried beans or Spanish Rice and a green/citrus/sweet onion salad. Delicioso! Enjoy! Chicken Enchiladas Ingredients 3...

Sweet Potato Greens

By Tim Scullen Issue #168 • November/December, 2017 By now, you’ve no doubt figured out how good chard, spinach, and kale are for you. But did you know that sweet potato leaves are loaded with vitamins...

Sweet & Sour Cabbage

Recipe of the Week Sweet and Sour Cabbage Courtesy of Roxanne Milius Ingredients 1 small onion, sliced 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup water 4 cups red cabbage, shredded 2 tart apples, cored, peeled, and diced 3 tablespoons white vinegar...

Teaching the joy of reading

By Amy E. Peare Issue #96 • November/December, 2005 Most parents want to see their children well equipped to succeed in life, and homesteaders are no different in that regard. Many homesteaders choose this lifestyle to...

An American dollar worth two cents

By John Silveira Issue #129 • May/June, 2011 Most Americans are unaware that today's dollar has the purchasing power that roughly four cents had back in 1913. That was the year the Federal Reserve (the Fed)...

Earth’s greatest cookies

Recipe of the Week Earth’s greatest cookies Courtesy of Darlene Campbell You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 2 sticks margarine (1 cup) 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup vegetable oil 1 cup...

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...

Lamb and black bean tamale pie

Recipe of the Week Lamb and black bean tamale pie Courtesy of Richard Blunt You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1-1/2 lb. ground lamb 1 tsp. olive oil 2 cups onion, diced medium 1 large...

Just for Kids: Visit the great prairies

By Lucy Shober Issue #35 • September/October, 1995 Did you ever get an urge to just take off and go someplace exotic? Maybe the North Pole or the Amazon river basin? If you would care to...