Thai basil wraps are comfort food in Thailand and a few other Asian countries. They are often sold in Thai restaurants as a cheap and quick meal. Many restaurants bring the ingredients to the table so the diner can assemble their own wraps while they eat. Rice wraps are generally found in the Asian section […]
Swiss Chard Baked and Sauteed Side Dishes
Swiss Chard is one of my favorite greens ever. How it is that I was in my 30s before discovering these amazing veggies is beyond me. Swiss Chard not only stands up against the heat better than many of the other lettuces and things I like to try each year, but they are like a […]
Chocolate Beet Cake for Healthier Dessert
Beets have been a long-time favorite and for good reason – easy to grow, sweeter than you would expect, and colorful making it a yummy kids treat. But beets in a cake? Can you do that? Apparently so! Caroline says, Remember how I’ve made chocolate things with black beans? Well, it’s like that. You hide them […]
Easy Roasted Asparagus Recipe for Fresh Foods
One of my favorite home-grown food is asparagus. I love that they are perennial, so grow year after year with minimal effort on the part of the gardener. And since asparagus is expensive in the store, it’s awesome to be able to pick your own. Snap them off when they are 7″ – 9″ tall […]
Eating Garden Fresh Recipe Submissions
So many times, I get the question, “OK I grew it, now what?” or “Can anyone tell me what this item in my CSA box is and what I’m supposed to do with it?” My goal with Untrained Housewife, as you know, is to gather all the lost little tidbits of wisdom from times past. […]
10 Herbs & Vegetables Perfect for Growing in a Shaded Garden
While many people consider the ideal garden location a flat area with 8 hours of sunlight per day minimum what we’ve discovered is that by planting the right plants you can grow some of your own food in a less than ideal location.
Tomato Varieties for a Container Garden
In Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) I talk about using container gardens as a way to garden intensively in small-spaces. But not just any vegetable can be planted in a container and expected to thrive. “Check the mature size of the plant for an idea of whether you can expect it to […]
Sweet Basil Steamed Carrots
Fall produce is some of my favorite and the recipes are warm, sweet, spicy and full of flavor. This recipe combines the zest of fresh basil, with the sweet carrots glazed with maple syrup. So good my kids asked for thirds. Ingredients: 12 medium carrots in 1/8″ slices 4 Tbl unsalted butter 3 Tbl pure […]
Get Prepared – Edible Weeds
Did you know nature has provided a grocery store in your own backyard? I suspect that most of the weeds you mow, spray, and pull can actually sustain you in a major crisis at worst, or supplement your fresh produce at best! A very common briar, commonly called Greenbriar, is something Brer Rabbit loved, but […]
How to Grow Tomatoes
I love speaking with new gardeners. Their first question tends to be “How hard is it to grow tomatoes?” For me personally, they are quite easy, but for a novice they can be intimidating. Planting is really the easy part. It is caring that takes a bit of time and a lot of patience. Getting […]
Canning Safety Tips for Low Acid Vegetables
With summer coming to a close, so many of us are working on preserving the last of the vegetables for winter. Many of these may be low acid foods. Low acid foods, when it comes to canning, include: Meats Poultry Vegetables Dairy The trick with canning low acid foods safely is to use a pressure […]
Fun Ways to Get Your Child to Eat Vegetables
Does the bowl of cooked vegetables you put on the table for supper elicit groans from your children? If given a choice, would they rather eat a serving of spinach or a pail of candy? (I think you know the answer.) If that’s the case, you’re not alone. While we know vegetables are packed with […]
