Grid-down battery devices

By Jeff Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #163 • January/February, 2017 Most of my past articles and my just-released new book titled, Lights On, drive home the importance of having multiple battery-powered devices during an extended power...

Apples and sweet potatoes

Anne Westbrook Dominick Ingredients 3 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 cup apple juice, cider or vinegar 1 Tbsp. melted butter Method Mix apples and lemon juice. In a baking...

Canning 101 — Pickles, fruits, jams, jellies, etc.

By Jackie Clay Issue #53 • September/October, 1998 For some reason, (definitely unknown to me) canning, as a method of very long term food storage, fell into disuse. Maybe it's the hurry/rush syndrome many folks have...

Kick the credit card habit and learn to stash cash

By Claire Wolfe Issue #107 • September/October, 2007 My friend Jeanie, a professional woman, whips out her credit card at every spending opportunity. Wal-Mart expedition? Credit card. A week's worth of groceries? Credit card. DVD rental?...

Red flannel hash

Recipe of the Week  Red flannel hash  Courtesy of Rodney Merrill   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 2 cups chopped turkey, corned beef, or ham 2 cups diced leftover baked potatoes 1 cup diced...

The wonderful world of lavender

By Sharon Palmer, RD Issue #98 • March/April, 2006 I briefly brush past my favorite lavender bush and my skirt is fragranced for the entire day. Every time the fabric rustles, the aroma wafts up to...

Growing the Eternal Tomato

By Leonard Trebor Issue #57 • May/June, 1999 It's an old story to longtime gardeners (and a new story to novices): each spring you buy some superb tomato plants, set them out on May 1 (or...

Southern mint julep

Recipe of the Week  Southern mint julep  Courtesy of Alice Brantley Yeager   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 4 sprigs fresh peppermint 1 tsp. sugar cracked ice 1 1/2 jigger bourbon whiskey Method Crush mint leaves and...

How we found our remote backwoods home

By Jackie Clay Issue #65 • September/October, 2000 Right now I'm sitting in a south-facing huge, sunny window, looking through our own private valley to a larger mountain valley below and the pine covered mountains beyond....

Build a graceful footbridge

By Harrison Stone Issue #77 • September/October, 2002 Tap your heels together three times and repeat after me, "There is no place like home—There is no place like home—There is no place like home, especially when...

10 country do’s and don’ts

By Julie Crist Issue #96 • November/December, 2005 When we moved from the city to the mountains, I kept my eyes open and my mouth shut and and paid very close attention to other people's botchery....

Old-fashioned hot chocolate

Recipe of the Week  Old-fashioned hot chocolate  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 2 cups whole milk 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped into pieces 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1/8 tsp. kosher...

The MTHFR mutation and why it may matter to you

By John Silveira Issue #170 • March/April, 2018 This is an article with both anecdotal evidence and science. It is about me, anxiety and depression, a gene mutation, and a 17-cent-a-day “treatment” that works (for me). All...

Barmbrack

Recipe of the Week  Barmbrack  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature 1/4 cup whole milk 1/2 cup water 1/2 tsp. sugar 1 pkg. active dry...

Four Pepper Pheasant

Recipe of the Week  Four Pepper Pheasant  Courtesy of Danielle Nathanson  Ingredients 2 medium Pheasants (about 3-1/2 pounds each) 2 oranges, halved 8 to 10 thick slices fatty bacon Four-pepper mix: 1 tablespoon whole red peppercorns 1 tablespoon whole...

Saving Seeds

By Jackie Clay Issue #129 • May/June, 2011 I go through dozens of garden seed catalogs in preparation for each year's new (and better!) garden. I have a lot of "old reliable" varieties that I grow...