USDA Gardening Zones by Zip Code (and then what?)

Map of the contiguous United States shaded in temperature gradient colors from blue (cooler) in the north to orange (warmer) in the south. Insets of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico show similar temperature gradients.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Find Your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Enter ZIP Code: Search If you’ve ever picked up a packet of seeds or looked at plant tags at the nursery, you’ve likely seen a reference to the USDA Hardiness Zones Map, also called gardening zones or planting zones. Understanding the USDA Plant Hardiness … Read more

Easy Mulberry Muffins – Simple Seasonal Recipe

A bowl filled with freshly baked muffins, featuring visible blueberries, sits on a table. In the background, a muffin tray with more muffins is partially visible. The bowl is lined with a cloth decorated with a simple yellow star design.

These delicious mulberry muffins are soft, fluffy, and studded with juicy fruit in every bite. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, this easy mulberry muffin recipe lets the natural sweetness and tartness of mulberries shine. Whether you’re using fresh-picked berries or a stash from the freezer, these muffins are the perfect way to savor the season. … Read more

A Beginner’s Guide to Using Reusable Canning Lids

Six mason jars filled with homemade tomato sauce are arranged on a wooden surface. In front of the jars are several fresh red tomatoes. The background is a light wood.

Home canning is a fantastic way to preserve fresh food, but the cost of single-use lids can add up over time. That’s where reusable canning lids, like those from Harvest Guard, come in. If you’re looking for a sustainable and budget-friendly alternative to traditional canning lids, this guide will walk you through everything you need … Read more

Easy Mulberry Pie – A Classic Old-Fashion Recipe

A close-up of a blackberry pie with a slice removed, revealing juicy blackberries and dark filling. The golden-brown crust looks flaky and slightly crisp. The pie is in a clear glass dish.

Mulberry pie is one of the mulberry recipes we always try to make during mulberry season. With a little lemon juice to enhance the mild flavor of the mulberries, this mulberry pie recipe will remind you of the not-too-sweet fruit pies our Grandmothers used to make.  While mulberry season is quite long, 3-4 weeks in … Read more

Easy Mulberry Pancakes: A simple seasonal recipe

A stack of golden-brown pancakes is topped with a few berries and sits on a white plate. Additional berries are scattered on the plate's edge.

If you’ve never tried mulberry pancakes, you’re in for a treat! These juicy berries add a pop of tart sweetness to fluffy pancakes, making them the perfect way to start your Saturday morning. Whether you have fresh mulberries from your summer harvest or a bag of frozen ones from last year, this easy recipe will help … Read more

How to Freeze (and Reheat) Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of creamy mashed potatoes seasoned with pepper. In the background, a plate with what appears to be cooked sausages is slightly out of focus. The setting is a light-colored countertop with a cloth napkin nearby.

If you’re wondering if can you freeze mashed potatoes, the answer is a resounding YES! I’ve been making and freezing mashed potatoes for years, I’ve served them at regular meals, family holidays and even church potlucks. And everyone loves them. I’m going to share all the tricks and the secret ingredient for a no-fuss way of … Read more

Old Fashioned Cornbread

Overhead view of cornbread baked in a cast-iron skillet.

Cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to anything from beans and hearty soups to fried chicken. This old-fashioned cornbread recipe is the one my mom used to make and now I make when I need a quick bread side dish with simple ingredients. With crispy edges and a buttery corn flavor, this is the only cornbread … Read more

Homemade Fig Preserves (canning recipe with no pectin)

jar of whole fig preserves with fig on spoon

If you’re looking for authentic, southern fig preserves, this is the recipe you need. This spiced up version of the traditional preserved fig recipe turns fresh figs into a super flavorful treat that can be enjoyed all year long. I’ve included safe canning instructions but you can also make this recipe in a small batch … Read more

Easy Pickled Carrots – a canning or refrigerator recipe

pint jars of canned pickled carrots

Pickled carrots are a great addition to any meal. They have a tangy flavor but the sweet carrot flavor isn’t overpowered. With this easy pickled carrot recipe you can make a jar or two for the refrigerator or a full canner load for the pantry. Plus, I’ll show you how to safely change up the … Read more

Easy Pickled Cauliflower Recipe (canning or refrigerator)

three pint size mason jars of canned pickled cauliflower

Pickled cauliflower is a crunchy, tangy snack or addition to a relish tray. This pickled cauliflower recipe is safe for canning to make shelf-stable pickles or to make quick pickles for the refrigerator.  In winter when we’re harvesting head after head of cauliflower, I like to use one or two heads to make a batch … Read more

How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies and Baking

frozen banana pieces in a ziplock bag.

Freezing bananas is so very easy! No special equipment is necessary. Plus you can use the frozen bananas for so many things from baking to smoothies! Next time you buy bananas, buy extra and use these step-by-step instructions to freeze them.  Fresh bananas are some of the least expensive fruit you can buy and when … Read more

50+ Best Recipes that Use Lemon Curd

slices of lemon curd pie on brown parchment paper

Lemon curd is for more than just topping scones, although that’s delicious, too! Use homemade lemon curd to make all kinds of delicious desserts and savory foods. Using simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, this list of recipes that use lemon curd is all you need to please the lemon lovers … Read more

12 Easy Mexican Fideo Recipes (fideo de sopa)

fideo with ground beef and broccoli spears on white plate

Fideo is a traditional Mexican dish that is rarely found in Mexican restaurants. Fideo is something that most Mexican families make and, honestly, have their own variations of it. It’s something that is passed down from generation to generation. There’s no one “right way” to make Mexican fideo recipes. With that in mind, I’ve collected … Read more

Are Automatic Chicken Doors Worth It?

white rooster coming out of a hen house through an automatic chicken door

We’ve been keeping chickens for about 15 years and over the years I’ve thought about getting an automatic chicken coop door. But, honestly, it didn’t need like the right thing for us until recently. If you’re a backyard chicken keeper, you know that caring for your feathered friends can be both rewarding and time-consuming. One … Read more

Over 50 of the Best Venison Recipes

red dutch oven with venison stew in it

Venison is such versatile and healthy meat. It’s much leaner than beef and is a great alternative for red meat in any recipe. I’ve gathered 50 of the best venison recipes to inspire you to use this delicious meat.  Historically, “venison” meant any wild game meats, today it’s used mainly to mean the meat from … Read more

How to Freeze Fresh Figs

An open freezer bag with frozen figs spilling out

Can you freeze figs? Absolutely! In fact, freezing figs is a great way to preserve figs during their harvest season for using all year long.  Learn how to freeze figs three different ways to get the most out of your fig harvest. Because figs have a short season and a short shelf life, it’s hard … Read more

Easy Homemade Pickling Spice Recipe

Ingredients to make homemade pickling spice. Yellow mustard seed, coriander seed, and whole peppercorns in white bowls and dill weed in small mason jar. Full dill seed heads are laying on the wooden table.

Pickling is a great way to preserve the summer harvest, and not just cucumbers. If you’re a fan of homemade pickles, relishes, or chutneys, then you know that a good pickling spice blend is the secret ingredient that takes your preserves to the next level. Of course, you can buy little packets of pickling spice, … Read more

Crunchy Dill Pickle Recipe for Canning

jars of homemade canned dill pickles

This recipe for classic dill pickles is full of the flavors and crunchiness that you want from a dill pickle. This is a canning recipe, although you can make them and store them in the refrigerator instead of canning them. This recipe comes together very quickly and can be used to put up a bunch … Read more

Homemade Sweet and Spicy Pickles – a canning recipe

several jars of home canned sweet and spicy pickles. One is open and has a fork in it.

These sweet and spicy pickles are a family favorite as they have a perfect balance of tang, sweet, and spice. This is a canning recipe, although you can make them and store them in the refrigerator instead of canning them. We make several different pickles each year to be sure we have some of everyone’s … Read more