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This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Planting garlic in the fall is the last garden chores of the season. A small amount of preparation at planting time will give you an abundant garlic harvest without much effort. Garlic is one of the easiest crops you can grow in your garden. It is a long season crop with a unique growing pattern compared to other garden crops. Garlic is planted in fall in order to give it a head start and enough time to produce a larger bulb. How to Plant Garlic in the Fall Planting garlic in the fall allows the roots to begin growing. When winter arrives and the ground freezes, the plants go dormant. Once the soil warms up in the spring, the garlic will start growing again right where it left off. Prepare Your Growing Bed Garlic thrives in full sun and loose soil. Choose a garden bed that has not grown anything in the onion family in the past two years and one that receives an average of at least six hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds and spread some slow-release organic fertilizer according to the package direction. Add about 2-inches of finished compost and work it in the top 4-6 inches of soil. Plot out your growing bed 4-6 inches in all directions. Dig your holes about 4-inches deep. If you are using the square foot gardening method, plot 6 cloves per square. Divide Your Garlic Seed When you purchase garlic seed, you are actually getting heads of garlic. Garlic is grown from individual cloves. Each clove will grow into a bulb of garlic. Separate your cloves right before planting. Sort out your largest and healthiest looking cloves for planting. If you plant the largest cloves, you will grow larger heads of garlic for next year. Save the smaller and damaged cloves for cooking. Plant Your Garlic Cloves Plant a garlic clove into each hole, with the flat side down and the pointy end up. Cover and firm the soil. Mulch Your Garlic Bed Water the garlic bed well after planting and cover with a light layer of mulch, such as straw or shredded leaves. Aim for about 2-3 inches of mulch to keep the weeds down until the ground freezes. After the ground freezes, add another layer of 2-3 inches of mulch to insulate the soil. This helps prevent the garlic roots from being heaved out of the ground by alternate freezing and thawing. Once the soil warms in spring, you will see green garlic shoots growing through the mulch. If you used an all-purpose organic fertilizer at planting time, your garlic is off to a great start. Water the garlic bed during dry spells when the soil feels dry an inch beneath the surface. Feed with organic fish emulsion fertilizer if the foliage shows signs of stress (yellow tips). Follow the directions on the bottle. If you planted hardneck garlic, you will have an opportunity to harvest garlic scapes a few weeks before the garlic bulb is finished growing. These tender, mildly garlic flavored shoots are delicious.

I was talking to a friend about the soon to be released A Prepared Home food storage calculator and how it was going to be such a big help to figure out what you need in your food storage. She said that she and her daughter sat down and picked out their favorite recipes and started figuring out what food they needed to buy. After a while, she stopped because most everything she loved to cook and to feed her family involved large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. Obviously, she can’t store a years’ worth of fresh vegetables; sometimes you are lucky if you can store a week’s worth of fresh vegetables. We talked about alternative storage ideas for vegetables, and these were the best ideas. First, I would suggest buying frozen vegetables. I am a really big fan of frozen vegetables; it doesn’t matter to me if you freeze them yourself or if you buy them frozen. Of course, you will need to consider what you are buying to make sure that it is healthy. If you buy frozen vegetables that are slathered in a delectable, yet unhealthy, sauce you might want to reconsider. But for the most part, frozen vegetables are far superior to canned veggies. The frozen vegetables are processed and frozen within hours after they have been picked so they actually retain more of their nutrients than do the fresh vegetables that have been picked, processed, trucked, and sit on the shelves at the store – slowly deteriorating. I also like the idea that all of the work has already been done and all you have to do is open the bag and pour out the amount that you need, saving the rest in the freezer for a later date – never once worrying about them going bad. I buy my frozen vegetables at Sam’s Club or Costco because they sell them in very large bags. It makes it affordable and convenient. A second alternative is the canned vegetable. I really don’t like canned vegetables very much, but there are some acceptable things about storing canned veggies. Most canned vegetables taste okay and can be eaten without much preparation, except for peas – there should be a law against canned peas. The real upside to canned vegetables is that you can store them for a very long time; you don’t need refrigeration until after you have opened the can and you can transport them the easiest out of all of the alternatives. I especially like to store canned corn, beans, potatoes, mushrooms (I consider the mushrooms a vegetable when it is in a can) and I keep canned carrots on hand for times when I might be desperate enough to use them. A third alternative is sprouting. It is always a good idea to keep seeds on hand for sprouting or growing a garden. Don’t forget to rotate your seeds because they can get old and not work and make sure to always buy good quality seeds. Since it is important to eat fresh food for certain types of nutrients, sprouting can offer you a quick and easy way to get the fresh nutrients in literally days instead of weeks. You will also find that sprouts have more nutritious value than their full-grown counterparts. For example, the broccoli sprout is much more nutritious than the mature broccoli and that is pretty hard to do since broccoli is the most perfect vegetable on the face of the earth. It would be a good thing for you to try sprouting some seeds to see how it is done. There are a lot of instructions on the internet and plenty of books that explain the best way to do it. I will bet that you will fall in love with sprouting and incorporate it into your everyday eating. Remember that there are a whole lot of seeds that can be sprouted – not just alfalfa seeds! Here is a tip for sprouting – use a metal grease splatter shield to sprout your seeds. Just wet the seeds down and spread them on to the shield. Lay it on top of moist paper towels next to the sink. When they start to sprout and are clinging to the metal screen, you can just wet them down and let them drain all while perched over the sink. The sprouts are easy to detach and eat and the shield can be thrown into the dishwasher when you’re done. Too easy. Dried vegetables are also an acceptable way of storing vegetables, but before you go out and buy a bunch, try them out first. I found that some brands taste really good and some would be better used as fertilizer to grow the fresh stuff. Make sure that the money you spend to purchase and store your vegetables is money put to good use, that of buying high quality food for the good health of your family.

My daughter gave me a cookbook by Zonya Foco, of “Zonya’s Health Bites” on PBS, for Christmas and I have been reading it, yes reading it, and I have really enjoyed it. (I have to say that I haven’t really read my Better Homes and Garden cookbook – I mostly just leaf through it). The reason that I like this cookbook so much is that she likes to cook like me – only she does it healthier. She isn’t into slaving over the stove for hours, but she is into presenting well-balanced meals that are appealing, healthy and quick. But the most important thing about how she cooks is that it is food storage friendly, very food storage friendly. In fact, at the back of the book there is a shopping list of foods that she suggests you have on hand at all times so that you can cook her meals quickly. She has one minute meals, five minute meals, 30 minute meals and slow cooker feasts. Basically, she has done all of your work for you; she gives you a shopping list, point by point on how to cook each meal and she doesn’t make you slave over the stove day and night – I really like her! This is such a good time of year to evaluate (or re-evaluate) your food storage because there aren’t any major holidays looming ahead. You now have time to analyze what you need to do to bring your food storage up to standard – one year’s supply of food and dry good sundry – including clothes and such. If you are going to make this work, then you are going to have to make specific plans. There are several ways that you can decide to take this on. One really quick way is to take your top 15 favorite recipes, multiply all of the ingredients by two and then again by 12 – then go buy however much your calculations say to buy. Remember, you don’t have to purchase it all at once. Wait for sales or just pick up a case here and there, whenever you go grocery shopping, and let it add up – it will add up quicker than you expect. Make sure that you have your 15 favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes – unless you only want to eat one meal a day. Another way to decide on what to store is to get online and download a list of what different agencies have determined to be the items that you need to survive for a year. After you get those items stored, you can spice your storage up by purchasing additional foodstuffs (e.g., mushrooms, olives, spices, and more) to make the meals that you create a little more fun and inviting. Remember, you want to build your food storage in such a way that you and your family will enjoy it when you use it – which should be an ongoing everyday thing. This is a really good time to talk about rotation. Remember that you should be using what you buy and then replacing it, always making sure that your food storage will be fresh, usable, and palatable. Remember – R&R, rotate and replenish. We will soon have A Prepared Home food storage calculator that will be extremely useful in managing and maintaining your storage. Good luck with your re-assessing endeavor!

< Back Fresh Silk Pie Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 2 Minutes Serves: 8 Slices Level: Beginner Ingredients Fo r the Chocolate layer: ½ box refrigerated pie crust for one pie 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate 100% cacoa 1 cup unsalted butter 1 ½ cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 4 large eggs pasteurized For the garnish: 1 cup heavy whipping cream ⅔ cup powdered sugar 1 cup milk chocolate chips Preparation The Perfect Chocolate Pie Recipe Growing up we always had French Silk Pie at holiday get togethers. It usually came from Bakers Square (anyone remember this restaurant?)! That fudgy, creamy chocolate pie is still to this day one of my favorites! Most Thanksgivings we still serve a French Silk Pie along with the traditional pumpkin pie and pecan pie desserts! If you prefer a homemade pie crust, you can totally go that route! I did go the extra steps and make a homemade whipped cream to top this pie (but Cool Whip would work too if you prefer). How to make French Silk Pie There is one thing to remember when making this pie. All chocolate is NOT created equal. Do not lick your fingers after melting the baking chocolate…it’s very bitter, haha! STEP 1: Prepare a baked pie crust in a deep pie plate according to package directions (for a single baked pie shell). Allow the pie crust to cool completely. STEP 2: In a small microwave bowl, melt unsweetened baking chocolate on high heat for one minute. Stir and heat again in 15 second intervals until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. STEP 3: In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter with sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Slowly drizzle in the cooled chocolate and beat the mixture on medium speed. Add in vanilla extract. Because this recipe uses RAW EGGS, make sure you purchase the pasteurized eggs. These are found in most large grocery stores and safe for your family! STEP 4: Add eggs, one at a time, beating with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 5 minutes after each egg. DO NOT RUSH. This is what creates a light and fluffy texture to your pie! Once all the eggs have been added (about 20 minutes later, this is why you MUST have a KitchenAid stand mixer or handheld mixer), pour this into your prepared pie pan! STEP 5: For the garnish, beat the heavy cream for 3 minutes until it begins to form stiff peaks. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy! Spread over the top of the pie. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate pie for at least two hours (or overnight). How to make Chocolate Curls An easy trick for making chocolate curls (if you don’t want to scrape the curls into pretty pieces) is to spread your melted chocolate for the topping onto a piece of parchment paper, very thin! Then roll that parchment paper into a tight “tube” and place in refrigerator. When you are ready to garnish your pie, remove the chocolate from the refrigerator and unroll your parchment. The chocolate will break off into pieces, giving you the perfect chocolate chunk garnish without having to do any extra work! Want to skip it? Just add mini chocolate chips instead. For a creamy chocolate treat, without all the work, try a homemade chocolate pudding recipe! ENJOY! Instructions Prepare pie crust according to package directions (for a single crust pie). Allow pie crust to cool. In a small microwave bowl, melt baking chocolate on high heat for one minute. Stir and heat again in 15 second intervals until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Slowly drizzle in the cooled chocolate and continue beating on medium speed. Add in vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating for about 5 minutes after each egg. DO NOT RUSH. This is what creates a light and fluffy texture to your pie! Once all the eggs have been added (about 20 minutes later, this is why you MUST have a KitchenAid stand mixer ), pour this into your prepared pie crust shell! For the garnish, beat the heavy cream for 3 minutes until it begins to form stiff peaks. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy! Spread over the top of the pie. Refrigerate pie for at least two hours (or overnight). For the chocolate curls (or pieces), melt chocolate chips in a microwave dish for one minute. Stir until smooth, heating by additional 15 second increments until fully melted. Spread over a large piece of parchment paper, until very VERY thin. Roll parchment paper up into a tube shape (like a paper towel tube). Refrigerate until ready to add the garnish, at least 30 minutes. Unroll parchment paper and the pieces will break off into shards. Place on top of pie when ready to serve. ENJOY! Previous Next

< Back Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 8-10 Minutes Serves: 12 Level: Beginner Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips Preparation Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely Previous Next

< Back Homemade Chocolate Milk Prep Time: 2 Minutes Cook Time: N/A Serves: 6 Level: Beginner About the Recipe This recipe will have affiliate links, at no cost to you. I earn a commission if you purchase from the link! In order to save money, I decided to figure out how to make my own chocolate milk with cocoa powder. This DIY chocolate milk recipe ended up being a lot easier than I thought, and it might even be better than Nesquik! Ingredients 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder (I prefer the Hershey brand , but any brand will do!) 1/2 cup Sugar Pinch of Salt Jar (I really like the jam jars ) or another storage container Preparation How to Make Chocolate Milk with Cocoa Powder Chocolate milk is almost every young child’s favorite drink. I’ll admit it, it is still one of mine! However, the already made Nesquik powder at the store can get kind of pricey if you are having to buy it regularly. It also comes in such huge containers that my kids think they have an endless supply. In order to save money , I decided to figure out how to make my own chocolate milk with cocoa powder. This DIY chocolate milk recipe ended up being a lot easier than I thought, and it might even be better than Nesquik! What I really like about this recipe is that my kids don’t mind helping me make it. Even better, the ingredients include things I ALWAYS have on hand . This new DIY is great for everyone! Instructions Grab the 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and your 1/2 cup of sugar and mix them up. Add a pinch of salt and you’re ready for some cold chocolate milk. It’s that simple. TIP: To avoid the cloud of cocoa powder I just dumped the powder, sugar, and salt into the jar, shut the lid, and shook it up! That easy! I have tried making chocolate milk before with cocoa powder and it just did not work. Like at all. Big dust poofs of cocoa powder just floating around in my milk. It was gross. I know what you are thinking. “How on earth are you going to get the cocoa powder to dissolve in a cold cup of milk?” After a few trials and errors, I finally found the perfect solution: Mix 2 Tablespoons of warm water with 2 Tablespoons of your homemade chocolate milk Stir until the sugar and cocoa have dissolved. Add 1 cup of cold milk and you’re done! Enjoy Your Homemade Chocolate Milk! Grab some cookies, a good book, and enjoy the fruits of your super easy labor… er, I mean, pour the kids a glass. One more added bonus of this homemade chocolate milk is that it’s gluten-free! Can this get any better? Give this chocolate milk recipe a try and let me know what you think! If you think it’s better than Nesquik, I want to hear about it! INSTRUCTIONS Mix all items together in a storage container. Dissolve 2 Tablespoons of the mix into 2 Tablespoons of warm water. Add 1 Cup of cold milk. Enjoy. Previous Next