What Is Vitamin C Powder Made From

One of the things I love MOST about homesteading is that it empowers us to become producers of goods rather than merely consumers.

It allows us to become less dependent on outside sources to provide for us because we can provide for ourselves.

But that doesn't mean we don't need any outside help or resources ever when we're striving to become more self-sufficient. In fact, it's even more important that we have the right tools, equipment and resources on hand so that we can be more self-sufficient and consume less overall.

Every year around this time, I compile a list of my favourite things: Things that I love and use on a regular basis, and things that I know other modern homesteaders will love too!

This year I've narrowed it down to my top 10 favourite things; Things I've been using for long enough now that I know they're a great investment and I can feel confident recommending them to others.

For the most part, these are things you're going to buy once and never have to replace.

I put a lot of thought into this year's list, made some ruthless cuts to last year's list and added a couple new things I've come to love over the past 12 months.

If you're looking to invest your money rather than waste it this holiday season –whether you're taking advantage of sales for yourself or looking to buy for others on your list– you have my personal guarantee that the items on this year's favourite things list are well worth the money.

Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/favourite-things/ to check out the full list if you're looking for the perfect gift for yourself or for another homesteader on your list, or if you're just curious to see what we use around our place:)

What are some of your favourite homestead-y things??

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🥧 Wanna know the secret to a perfect, flaky pie crust EVERY TIME??

It all comes down to 3 simple rules…

Rule # 1 - Keep your butter (or lard) as cold as possible.

Freeze it even!

The colder the better when it comes to the fat source in a pie crust because you want the fat to stay solid until it melts in the oven. Then when it does melt, little air pockets will remain in the crust which is what makes it flaky and light (instead of everybody's least favourite alternative: chewy and dense).

Rule # 2 - Keep the fat content as high as possible.

Fat equals flavour, and also helps keep the crust light and flaky.

Consider using whole fat milk instead of water, along with your butter or lard.

Rule # 3 - Don't overwork your dough.

Unlike bread, pie crust should not be kneaded and should actually be handled as little as possible.

The more you work your dough, the more gluten strands will form, and which is what makes bread (and sadly some pie crusts) chewy.

Work your dough only as much as necessary to form a dough ball before you put it in the fridge to chill. The less you touch it, the lighter, flakier and more delicious your pie crust will be!

At the end of the day, homemade pie crust is almost always better than store-bought, but you've gotta follow a few simple rules to knock it outta the park.

I've spent a lot of time perfecting my own flaky pie crust recipe, which I use for sweet and savoury pies alike.

Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead for more tips and to get the full printable recipe or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/flaky-pie-crust/

What's your favourite kind of pie? Answer with an emoji below!

(Mine's 🍒;)

#pie #homemadepie #thanksgivingrecipes #homesteadkitchen #piefromscratch #fromscratch

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The worst part about every holiday dinner is being stuck in the kitchen cooking while everyone else is just enjoying each other's company.

The second worst part is store-bought cranberry sauce —You know, the kind that makes that oh-so appetizing slurping noise as it slides out of the tin and into the bowl, still shaped like the can it came out of.

Homemade cranberry sauce is stupidly easy to make and tastes SO much better than store-bought. Plus you can add spices to put your own delicious spin on this holiday classic.

While it takes just a few minutes to whip together homemade cranberry sauce on the big day, you can make it ahead of time and either refrigerate it (up to 3 days), freeze it or even can it to enjoy later!

Canning is my favourite method of preservation when it comes to homemade cranberry sauce because I can make it well in advance and I don't have to worry about remembering to defrost it ahead of time.

Canning it means you've always got a jar of made-from-scratch cranberry sauce ready to go in your pantry long before you're ready to set the table (and trust me, it's a lot prettier coming out of a Mason jar!)

Plus you can make enough for both Thanksgiving AND Christmas, all in one go, and even keep enough on hand to enjoy mixed into yogurt, oatmeal or over ice cream whenever you like!

Now is the time to start your holiday dinner preparations to ensure you don't spend all day in the kitchen and get to soak up as much valuable family time as possible.

Yesterday I shared my family recipe for homemade Perogies, which you can make ahead snd freeze. Here's just one more recipe you can make ahead of time and preserve to make your life easier this holiday season.

Recipe link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/spiced-homemade-cranberry-sauce/

Have you ever made your own cranberry sauce from scratch, or will this be your first time??

#cranberrysauce #fromscratch #homesteading #homesteadkitchen #canning #preserving #thanksgivingdinner #christmasdinner

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I'm Ukrainian-Canadian. It's an important part of my identity that my family never lets me forget.

I grew up doing traditional Ukrainian folk dancing, beginning at age 3 and performing and competing until I was 19 years old.

My mom danced too, longer than I did, and she even studied dance in Kiev for a year when she was 21: in the 1970s when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union.

I'm Ukrainian on both sides of my family, but the music and dancing comes from my mother's mother's lineage. My mother's mother even used to dance around the house, dusting and vacuuming to traditional Ukrainian music!

And it was my grandma's mother -my great grandmother who I called Baba Sophie- who passed down the real cultural gem in my family: Her traditional Ukrainian perogies recipe that we still get together to make every year.

If you've never heard of perogies before, they're essentially dumplings filled with mashed potatoes that are then boiled or fried and topped with loads of fried onions and sour cream. At least, that's the traditional way to eat them.

There are, however, many varieties of perogies, including meat-filled ones, fruit-filled ones and sauerkraut-filled ones. But traditionally they are made with potatoes, and they're a crowd pleaser, I tell you what!

This traditional Ukrainian perogies recipe has been passed down through generations in my family. It uses simple, frugal ingredients, and makes enough to feed a small village, just like back in the old country:)

Whether you're Ukrainian or not, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser and is always a welcome addition to holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

Plus you can make a big batch now and put them in the freezer and have enough for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! (And maybe even extra leftover for when you need a quick meal).

They go great with roast meats, sausages, pickled beets and sauerkraut, and are always best served with a lot of fried onions and sour cream.

Get your friends and family together and make a day of making pirogies!

Recipe link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/ukrainian-perogies-recipe/

Have you ever tried perogies before??

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Did you know that the fragrance industry has a stockpile of over 3,100 synthetic chemicals that they use to concoct their signature fragrances?😬

And get this: Because of trade secrets, they're not even legally required to disclose the list of chemical ingredients in their products! 😱

Luckily, there's an easy, affordable synthetic-chemical-free alternative…. Make your own DIY home and body sprays with essential oils and all-natural ingredients!

If you wanna learn how, you can check out my DIY Home & Body sprays Masterclass for FREE today only by joining me and a whole bunch of other simple living bloggers for the last day of A Cozy Gathering.

Learn how to create your own all-natural sprays, craft handmade rope coil baskets, cook delicious and nourishing winter soups, make herbal honey infusions and more!

If you've already signed up, be sure to check your email for the links to all of today's presentations!

And if you haven't signed up yet, there's not much time left, so click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://bit.ly/307P0cT to sign up and watch for free before it ends tonight!

You also have the option of purchasing lifetime access if you miss it:)

I'll be making more of these for Christmas gifts this year, along with candles and baskets of goodies from our pantry 😊

Let me know if you'll be making some too!

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Up until the 1800s, lard was commonly used much like butter is today.

It's a natural source of fat that's been used in cooking and baking for millennia.

But about a century ago, Procter & Gamble launched a very successful –as well as deceptive– marketing campaign that convinced people to switch from traditional and natural sources of fat like butter and lard to what they called the "altogether new and better fat" - hydrogenated vegetable oil (aka. Crisco).

Lard began to fall out of fashion as Crisco rose to popularity, and that's pretty much how it stayed for 100 years or so. But as people are becoming more aware of the dangers of highly processed foods like hydrogenated vegetable oils, traditional foods like butter and lard are regaining popularity.

While you could technically just buy lard from the grocery store, much of the lard that you'll find on grocery store shelves contains added preservatives including BHA and BHT, both of which are on the EWG's Dirty Dozen list of food additives.

Homemade lard is made from 100% pure pig fat, plain and simple.

If you raise your own pigs, making your own lard is a no-brainer!

If you're not raising your own pigs, you can still get your hands on some pork fat by asking for it at your local butcher or by making friends with a local pig farmer.

There are 2 types of pork fat (leaf fat and fatback). For pure, white, odourless, flavourless lard that's prized for cooking and baking, always choose leaf fat.

How to render lard at home:

Step 1: Cut the fat into cubes and add to a slow cooker or stockpot along with 1/4 cup of water. Cook on low heat for several hours, checking on it every hour or so.

Step 2: Once the leftover bits of meat and fatty bits rise to the top, strain the lard through a fine mesh sieve, reserving the liquid fat. Store the liquid fat in a glass jar. The liquid lard will be yellow at first, but as it cools it will turn solid white.

Step 3: Store lard in the fridge or freezer for months!

Get the full recipe plus bonus tips by clicking the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/how-to-render-lard/

Have you ever rendered your own lard before??

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I woke up this morning and it was still dark as night.

The rain was pelting down on our roof and the wind was howling.

Outside it was cold and dreary, but inside I lit my morning candle, turned on the soft white fairy lights we have strung in our kitchen, put a few drops of oil in the diffuser and snuggled back under the blankets with a hot cup of coffee before it was time to "officially" start the day.

I just love this time of year!

I talk a lot about seasonal living, mostly because as a homesteader, you have no choice but to live with the seasons.

You're either starting seeds and planting in the spring, tending your garden in the summer, preserving in the fall or sitting by the fire in the winter as you eat from the larder full of food you worked so hard to put up the rest of the year, and dreaming about starting all over again in the spring.

Our success as homesteaders really does depend on us changing up our routines and making the most of each season, though this can sometimes feel easier said than done when the weather outside is dark and miserable.

But there's something magical and deeply nourishing about this time of year, should we choose to embrace it for all it has to offer.

If you're looking for a little help or inspiration to help you approach the winter months with intention and make this season as cozy, joyous and restful as it can be, I'm so excited to invite you to A Cozy Gathering: a 3-day virtual summit featuring 16 expert speakers, giveaways, and a lifetime's access to a wealth of information and actionable ideas for simple-living during all four seasons (but especially fall and winter!)

The summit starts on Monday, November 8th and is completely FREE to attend.
OR you can upgrade and get instant, lifetime access to the entire summit, including all of the presentations and exclusive bonuses for just $47 (until Sunday only).

Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to register for free and save your seat, or purchase instant, lifetime access to A Cozy Gathering!

Tell me, what's your favourite thing about this time of year??

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We woke up to a killing frost the other day. If you're a farmer, gardener or homesteader, you know what that means…

It means our days to get everything done outdoors are numbered.

It means we need to make sure the chickens and rabbits have fresh, warm bedding.

It means we need to finish putting the garden to bed, which includes adding a layer of compost and mulch to feed and protect the soil until we're ready to plant again next spring.

It means tidying up our tools, putting away our hoses and making sure the water's turned off so it doesn't freeze.

So much of life as a homesteader is dictated by the weather and the seasons, and while that can often mean a mad scramble to get everything planted, harvested and/or put to bed, there's something invigorating about every seasonal transition and shift. It gets my adrenaline going!

But it's still work. Nobody said that the "simple" life would be easy!

But it's precisely that hard work that makes falling into bed each night so gratifying. It's the feeling of a day well spent and a job well done.

If you're looking for some tips on what to do now before the ground freezes solid to make sure you're ready for winter AND ready to start all over again in the garden next spring, be sure to check out the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, which is full of tips and advice to help you wrap up the growing season and get a head start on the coming months.

As always, a little bit (more) hard work right now will definitely make life easier down the line.

Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to subscribe and read the latest issue if you haven't yet, or go to www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com

#homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #simplelife #selfsufficiency #winteriscoming

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Fact: You can use a cast iron skillet to cook your food, get extra iron in your diet and even to ward off criminals!

These are just a few of the benefits of cooking with cast iron. Wanna know more??

Click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/7-benefits-of-cooking-with-cast-iron

Do you cook with cast iron? If so, what do you like most about it? Let me know down below!👇

#castiron #castironcooking #homesteadkitchen

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Our winter squash failed miserably this year.

As a gardener, it's always disheartening when a crop fails. You put so much time and effort into starting seeds, nurturing seedlings, planting them out, weeding and controlling pests, and waiting months for your plants to mature before you harvest them.

But you also come to learn that no year in the garden is the same. There's almost always something that doesn't do so well, but on the flip side there's usually at least one crop that exceeds expectations. It all balances out in the end.

Despite having a measly handful of tiny squash to show for our efforts this year, we're blessed to have many amazing local farms in our area run by farmers and gardeners who are much more talented and experienced than us. I'm so grateful to these farmers for supplying our community with local food, especially when the global supply chain is faltering.

One of my favourite local farms for pumpkins and squash is @shamrockfarm. We're planning on visiting this weekend and we'll be getting most of our squash from them this year. When we do, spaghetti squash is definitely on the list!

Many people don't know what to do with spaghetti squash. Due to its "stringy" nature, it's not like other types of winter squash.

A great way to enjoy it is to use it in place of pasta noodles. Not only is it healthier and much lower in carbs, it's also tastier in certain dishes in my humble opinion.

This recipe for Spaghetti Squash with Brown Butter and Sage is one of my favourite ways to enjoy it, and I'm pretty confident that if you try it it'll become one of your favourites too!

Recipe link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/spaghetti-squash-brown-butter-sage/

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What's your favourite food preservation method??

For Angi Schneider of @schneiderpeeps, the answer is pressure canning, hands-down.

The fact is, there are many ways to preserve food, and each of them has its place and serves its purpose. But the only preservation method that allows you to preserve full meals that are ready to eat straight out of the jar is pressure canning.

Water bath canning allows you to preserve high acid foods like fruits, pickles, jams and jellies.

Fermenting adds beneficial bacteria, increases the nutritional value and adds a distinct (and acquired) flavour to foods.

Dehydrating and freeze drying are great long term storage preservation methods, and are a great option for preppers, hunters or anyone who needs to carry their food preps with them.

Pressure canning, on the other hand, allows you to have jars of food ready to serve and eat at a moment's notice. It's great to hand on hand during an emergency, but it also serves as practical, every day food that you and your family will actually eat.

Whether it's a busy weeknight and you have no time to cook, you've got unexpected company or you find yourself in the middle of an emergency or power outage, having jars of healthy, homemade food –including full meals– on hand always comes in handy.

Angi and I sat down to chat about the many benefits of pressure canning, and about her brand new book Pressure Canning For Beginners And Beyond in an interview for the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine (out now).

To read the full interview and/or to check out Angi's new cookbook (which includes some seriously drool-worthy canning recipes like Chicken Marsala, Beef Street Tacos, Maple Ginger Glazed Carrots and French Onion Soup), click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com to subscribe and get your first issue free!

For a limited time, you can also become a member and get full access to our entire library of issues for just $7.99/year. Link in bio to get all the goods:)

Seriously though… What's your favourite food preservation method and why? (There are no wrong answers!)

Let me know in the comments below!👇

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For the past week or so, I've been sharing a new morning routine I've been committing to...

It's the simple act of lighting a candle to start each day.

In this age of unnatural blue light emanating from our screens, fluorescent and even LED lighting from overhead lights and lamps, it can be quite a shock to the system to go from sleeping in complete darkness to flipping on the bright lights and checking email on your smartphone first thing in the a.m.

By simply lighting a candle and allowing your eyes a minute or two to adjust before turning on the lights or checking a screen, you have the power to create a much calmer and more peaceful start to your day, and that has lasting effects that can and will stay with you all day long.

I know I'm not the only one who can benefit from this simple but powerful morning ritual, so I decided to start a challenge to encourage others to do the same.

If you'd like to participate, grab a candle and a pack of matches (or a lighter) and commit to lighting a candle to start your day for as many days as you can during the month of October.

Every time you share a photo of your candle/morning ritual on Instagram posts or stories and tag me @thehouseandhomestead and use the hashtag #candlelitmorning, you'll be entered to win a naturally-scented candle of your choice from Plant Therapy!

This being said, I know that good quality candles aren't exactly cheap, but you can save a tone of money by learning how to make your own!

If you're interested in learning how to make your own all-natural soy candles with essential oils at home, I'm currently offering my DIY Scented Soy Candles Masterclass for FREE as part of the Handmade Holiday Giveaway, hosted by my friend and fellow Vancouver Islander Diana Bouchard of @wanderinghoofranch

Other limited-time freebies include:

* Exclusive homestead holiday recipes
* Free knitting and crochet patterns
* Free homemade cocktail mixers course
* Cute printable gift tags and more!

Click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead to check out everything that's included in the Handmade Holiday Giveaway.

And don't forget to join in the #candlelitmorning challenge right here on Instagram!

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What Is Vitamin C Powder Made From

Source: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/homemade-vitamin-c-powder/

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