The Sparrow's Home

: Life is hard. God is good. We need each other.

  • Homeschool
    • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
    • Homeschooling High School
      • Earning College Credits in High School
    • Elementary, Middle School, & Littles
    • Homeschool Experiences (Tutoring/Study Groups)
    • Homeschool Consulting
  • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Vegetables & Sides
    • Breads
    • Desserts
    • Beverages
    • Freezer Recipes
    • Preserving
  • Faith
    • Resources for Living a Biblical Faith
  • Family
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
      • How to Break Porn Addiction: There is Hope!
    • Everything Disney
    • All the Board Games
    • Themed Entertaining
    • Home & Garden
      • Herbal Remedies
  • Contact
  • Home

Dehydrated Carrots: Save Time & Money

November 22, 2016 by Susan 2 Comments

Making dehydrated carrots is an easy way to preserve the harvest, and save time and money too!

The thing about fresh produce is that it grows when it grows and then it grows no more.  What that means is that when you get an abundance of apples or tomatoes or carrots, you need to figure out what to do with your stash, or it will spoil.  Carrots last a pretty long time, but even so, they get soft and bendy after awhile.

I made a delicious creamy chicken and rice soup this weekend.  It was my first time cooking with the carrots I had dehydrated this summer.  We belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and get boxes of freshly picked vegetables each week.  When the farm has an abundance, so do we.  And this summer, we got piles of carrots!

Continue Reading

The Lazy Person’s Guide to Canning Tomatoes

August 30, 2016 by Susan 18 Comments

If you are interested in canning tomatoes without all the fuss...this is perfect!

I admire people who put up summer produce by the bushel, stocking their pantry shelves with row upon row of the good stuff.  I’ve tried that.  My dad does pickles and relish each summer, and I’ve helped out.  One time I did get a giant box of tomatoes and canned spaghetti sauce myself.  It was delicious and wonderful, but it was an awful lot of work and mess for the amount I got.

I wouldn’t rule out doing a mega canning session again but it’s not really my style.

Here’s my style:  I take out my canning pot mid-August and leave it in my kitchen until mid-October.  I can two or three or six jars of excess produce as I have it.  It’s the same with freezing.  As I have extra peppers or corn or whatever, I fill Ziploc bags and stash them in the freezer.

Continue Reading

Cheesy, Grilled, Stuffed Jalapenos and Other Spicy Solutions

August 15, 2016 by Susan 10 Comments

What do you do with an abundance of jalapenos? You might not have thought of some of these ideas.

 

We are a drop site for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that we belong to.  It’s wonderful, because all summer and autumn long we get a box of produce, just picked that day, delivered to our doorstep.  Have you had corn that was just picked?  What about melon?  I’m pretty sure the cantaloupe that we got last week was the best melon I’ve ever eaten.

Another perk, which doesn’t happen very often, is that if someone else doesn’t pick up their box, we get to keep it!

That happened last week.  Double the tomatoes, double the carrots…and double the jalapenos.

Continue Reading

How to Preserve Basil

August 8, 2016 by Susan 12 Comments

Freezing basil to add to recipes year round is so easy! It's my favorite way to preserve summer.

There’s nothing like walking out onto your deck and picking fresh basil to add to a recipe.  But sadly, for much of the year in Minnesota, that is not an option.

I am a terrible gardener, but I’ve always been successful with basil.  It grows gangbusters for me, for some reason.

Several years ago, I looked into various ways to preserve my harvest.  To maintain freshness, I decided against drying.  I found a number of different methods of freezing herbs.  Some involved water as a base, some oil.  I tried both methods and have settled into what I like best.  Olive oil.

This is such an easy process, y’all.

Continue Reading

More than 100 Bible verses to ponder, inspire and encourage you this Christmas and New Year season.

Connect with Me:

About me…

Welcome! I'm Susan, and I'm so glad you're here. I am a former teacher turned homeschooler, married to my favorite person, blessed far more than I deserve, and certain that we don't have to do it all alone. Find Out More…

Get The Sparrow’s Home delivered right to your inbox. –Never miss a thing (including special news for subscribers only!)

Let's be friends! Send me new posts and updates. I'm good with one (sometimes two) emails per week.

What I’m Reading Now…

Recent Posts

  • When your child struggles with reading…finding a reading curriculum and resources that are easy to use is everything.
  • The Absolute Best Cinnamon Rolls
  • Make a porch snack basket to brighten the day of your delivery drivers this holiday season (7 free printable signs to choose from!)
  • Raise your hand if you’re thankful to be governed by lots of flawed individuals.
  • The new trend of simpler weddings is not only frugal, it’s so much more personal!

What’s Popular

  • Recipes That Use Up A Lot of Eggs (Bonus Pudding Recipe!)
    Recipes That Use Up A Lot of Eggs (Bonus Pudding Recipe!)
  • One Hour Bread: Fast & Easy Italian Bread Recipe
    One Hour Bread: Fast & Easy Italian Bread Recipe
  • Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
    Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
  • Easy Sausage Egg Bake
    Easy Sausage Egg Bake
  • Healthy Chocolate Mousse
    Healthy Chocolate Mousse
  • M&Ms Ice Breaker and Guided Prayer Activities
    M&Ms Ice Breaker and Guided Prayer Activities
  • A Quiche to Build a Dream On
    A Quiche to Build a Dream On
  • Need to make hot dogs for a crowd?  Use the crock pot!
    Need to make hot dogs for a crowd? Use the crock pot!
  • Take a Meal to a Friend in Need
    Take a Meal to a Friend in Need
  • Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
    Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake

All of our recipes are shared at:

Meal Plan Monday is just one of the Link Ups where I contribute.

Follow The Sparrow’s Home:

Contact

Privacy Policy

Disclosure Statement

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Susan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2021 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Homeschool
    • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
    • Homeschooling High School
      • Earning College Credits in High School
    • Elementary, Middle School, & Littles
    • Homeschool Experiences (Tutoring/Study Groups)
    • Homeschool Consulting
  • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Vegetables & Sides
    • Breads
    • Desserts
    • Beverages
    • Freezer Recipes
    • Preserving
  • Faith
    • Resources for Living a Biblical Faith
  • Family
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
      • How to Break Porn Addiction: There is Hope!
    • Everything Disney
    • All the Board Games
    • Themed Entertaining
    • Home & Garden
      • Herbal Remedies
  • Contact
  • Home