Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Saucy Chicken and Broccoli

Many years ago, I came up with a recipe for Smothered Chicken that was a family, friend and read favorite, but it was made with a tradition roux (butter, flour, milk) and heavy on the dairy. Since several members of our family are sensitive to cow dairy, and many of our friends are gluten-free, it […]

Dehydrating Dried Beans

Are you storing raw dried beans? Try cooking them first, then dehydrating them. “Why should I bother to cook and dehydrate the beans? Aren’t they already dried?” Yes, they are dried, but they are raw, in other words, not cooked. They were simply dried from their raw state. Once the beans are completely cooked and […]

From Dehydrated to Dinner

It’s no secret that I love dehydrating foods and consider it my favorite method of food preservation. Whether it’s putting up an abundance of fresh food, planning food for storage, packing food for travel, backpacking or camping, dehydrating can be done off-grid as well as with dehydrators. Dehydrated foods take up less space for travel […]

Sylvia’s Homemade Hamburger Helper

People of my age may not admit it, but most of us grew up eating Hamburger Helper, to be known henceforth simply as “HH.”  In fact, before I could cook from scratch, I made HH weekly as part of my “home cooking” and I thought I was doing great and my hubby loved it! Fast […]

Review: Waffle Molds Plus a Recipe

Baked waffles?  Seriously? Yes you can bake waffles. I don’t like to use non-stick coatings (except for the non-stick which is naturally seasoned onto cast iron) so I have never bought a waffle iron. There are cast iron waffle irons that can be used over an open fire, but the handle is way too long for my […]

Homemade Real Ginger Ale

Ginger is an amazing root. Our family has the problem of motion sickness and almost all of our children have suffered with this malady. Organic ginger in powder, candied crystallized ginger, ginger tea and ginger drink has helped us tremendously. For me during my 5 pregnancies, ginger helped ease the constant not-only-morning sickness that otherwise crippled […]

Refreshing No-Sugar Summer Coolers

Hot days equal big thirsts! Intense perspiration can cause dehydration quickly, especially in little bodies. Natural, refreshing hydration is the goal. While cold, pure water is an excellent choice, sometimes the children like to drink something with some flavor and I prefer to provide some extra nutrients to replace what’s lost from the body in […]

Versatile Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Muffins

Muffins are wonderful gems for breakfast, dessert, snacks, covered dish suppers, packed lunches and more. They are quick to mix together and get baked and muffins can be sweet, savory, filled with yummy fillings, or just plain. Take a plain muffin recipe and add veggies or fruit or chocolate chips for different occasions. I love this […]

Dehydrating Ground Beef Safely

Dehydrating food is one the of oldest and safest forms of food preservation as long as simple, but important safety guidelines are followed. These guidelines are essential when dehydrating ground beef or other meats such as venison, bison or ground turkey. Dehydrated ground beef, also know as “Hamburger Rocks” can be stored in a vacuum-sealed […]

Chocolate Cinnamon Whole Wheat Yeast Bread

Enjoy this lovely, rich, fragrant and delicious bread for Fall, or anytime! My recipe is featured on Baking Whole Grains!   Get the recipe