CLASSIC HOMEMADE VANILLA ICE CREAM (USING EGGS)

I’ve never been a big fan of store-bought ice cream in those cardboard cartons. If I’m going to indulge in ice cream, it has to be homemade. There’s just something special about the real thing — especially when it’s made from scratch. This old-fashioned, custard-style vanilla ice cream uses eggs to create an incredibly creamy texture and a rich, authentic flavor that you simply can’t get from the store.

CANNING PEACHES

There’s something magical about opening a jar of home-canned peaches in the middle of winter—it’s like a bite of sunshine straight from July. Canning peaches is a simple, satisfying way to preserve the flavor of summer and bring it to your table year-round. Whether you're a seasoned home canner or a curious beginner, this guide will walk you through the process.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 to 3 pounds of peaches
• Sugar 
• Water

CANNING PEACH JAM

 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups finely chopped pitted peeled peaches
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 package (1.75 oz) regular powdered fruit pectin
• 5 cups granulated sugar

PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING - HABANADA PEPPERS (NON-SPICY HABANERO)

 

One of the coolest peppers I have ever grown is an orange, wrinkled looking thing called a Habanada. I saw the seeds while browsing  Baker Creek's catalogue and the orange color intrigued me. I read that it was the world’s first heatless habanero so I immediately put the little packet of seeds in my cart. I do not like hot peppers so I was excited to try this one.

PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING - TOMATOES

 

Nothing says summer on the homestead quite like fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes. Whether you're slicing them for sandwiches, cooking up a batch of sauce, or canning them for the pantry, tomatoes are a rewarding crop that every homesteader should have in their garden.

Here’s everything you need to know about planting, growing, and harvesting tomatoes on your homestead.

PLANTING, GROWING, & HARVESTING - BLACKBERRIES

For many of us in the South, picking blackberries stirs up childhood memories—reaching into tangled thickets for those juicy, dark purple gems, braving the thorns just for a sweet taste. Standing in the warm sun, we often ate as many berries as we saved. Our hands turned violet, juice dripped down our chins, and we swapped stories about our scratched-up arms while swatting away relentless bugs.