All blog posts

As you can probably guess, in this category you’ll find every single post from The Nourishing Hearthfire, from the very latest recipes and reflections, to my earliest blog posts, all in one simple category, sorted by date.
  • Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Cheese
    , ,

    Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Cheese

    ·

    I’ve never successfully made a hard cheese with a natural rind before. On a biodynamic fruit day, back when we still had Buttercup the cow, I mixed some of her milk with some of our goats milk, cultured it, sort-of followed an asiago recipe (I am not so good with all the continuous stirring), pressed it, salted it, and put it in the makeshift cheese cave to age. Roughly once a week, mostly on other biodynamic fruit days, I would…

  • How to Move to the Country with Market Gardening – Homestead Income on 1/5 acre
    ,

    How to Move to the Country with Market Gardening – Homestead Income on 1/5 acre

    ·

    Photo credit: here Market gardening as a way to escape the rat race and move to the country One of the things many folks struggle with when wanting to get away from the city and move to the country is income. Since the increased mechanisation of farming less people are needed to work in mainstream farming operations, and there aren’t many jobs available in these areas. People in cities often feel trapped in them, under the assumption that they need…

  • Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie (grain-free)
    , ,

    Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie (grain-free)

    ·

    There’s not much else that needs to be said when there’s salted caramel and cheesecake in the title. I will say that you could make this even more special by adding a drizzle of melted chocolate to the top after it’s cooled, or you could use chocolate instead of caramel. I made my own cheese for the one in the photos out of some Greek sheeps yoghurt, but it will work well with all kinds of soft cheeses (such as…

  • Mason Jar Chèvre (easy 1 minute soft cheese)
    , , ,

    Mason Jar Chèvre (easy 1 minute soft cheese)

    ·

    An easier way to make soft cheese Chèvre and other soft cheeses are pretty easy to make to begin with, but they usually begin with boiling water and sterilising everything in the boiling water, which adds extra time and hassle to the process. I’ve been getting massive cravings for chèvre, so much that I even looked at soft goats cheese in the shop (before quickly moving away, knowing that I can make better stuff at home) and knew I had…

  • Simple Wonderful Lamb Burgers
    ,

    Simple Wonderful Lamb Burgers

    ·

    These are the perfect burger. They’re juicy and full of flavour yet they hold their shape. Minimally seasoned with garlic and herbs to let the taste of lamb shine through these lamb burgers can be served in a variety of ways; with tzatziki and greek salad, with gyros or kebab toppings, with traditional burger accompaniments like fried eggs, salads, and sauces, or with any vegetable side dish…even Swedish braised red cabbage. Simple Wonderful Lamb Burgers Ingredients 2 cloves garlic, finely…

  • We bought a cow.
    ,

    We bought a cow.

    ·

    For a while I thought it was the wrong decision. I committed to buying this cow assuming that hay prices were the same as the last time I looked. I asked all the questions that I thought I needed to ask, about her personality, udder and teat size, when she’d last calved, and so on. I forgot to ask whether she likes to eat grass. She stands in various places in the paddock, looking around with her big Jersey cow…

  • Superkraut (Fermented Salad)
    , ,

    Superkraut (Fermented Salad)

    ·

    Why this homemade sauerkraut recipe is so good This kraut is super for a number of reasons: Special superfood ingredient While these vegetables (especially fermented ones) are superfoods in their own right, I like to add iodine-rich sea vegetables to my ferments, to give added nutrition. Fermenting for beginners If you’re new to ferments, or have never successfully fermented before, or aren’t sure why I am recommending the ingredients and techniques that I do, I recommend you read my article…

  • 7 Secrets to Making Successful Sauerkraut Every Time
    , ,

    7 Secrets to Making Successful Sauerkraut Every Time

    ·

    This will help you to make perfect sauerkraut every time.

  • Autumn Leaves and Hearth Fires
    ,

    Autumn Leaves and Hearth Fires

    ·

    The leaves are falling off the trees today. The wind isn’t particularly strong, the day not much different from the last few, it’s just a combination of things that tell the trees it’s time to go to bed. My oldest son climbs up the apple tree to harvest apples, I never see him happier than when he’s harvesting fruit and vegetables, he used to harvest potatoes with me and would jump up and down with excitement whenever one was unearthed.…

  • Perfect Pulled Pork
    ,

    Perfect Pulled Pork

    ·

    This pulled pork ecipe is perfect for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s just two ingredients, thrown in the oven and left in there for several hours to slowly cook. Secondly the taste is great (you need to use good pork though). Thirdly, the leftovers reheat well, just bake the amount that you want for one meal on a low heat until it’s heated through. This recipe can even be made with frozen pork without needing to thaw it in…