Whenever I click on A Cassandra video I feel like I am being sat down by my favorite teacher or Auntie that is going to school me on things but in the best way possible and I always leave feeling smarter, more well equipped and confident. Love this stuff!
I really appreciate how much effort she puts into these videos ,I always look forward to them ,I also really appreciate her longer videos! She is definitely a gem
Add bay leaf or something with tannins....like mustard seed and grape leaves....to your ferments and canning. This helps keep your veggies crispy. I add bay leaf to everything.
You make everything look so easy and hassle free! I love watching you! I'm a frugal, stay at home mom with 5 teens/preteens= big eaters! I have tried doing a fraction of what you are doing and it really does help! Homemade is always better. My kids are beginning to taste and appreciate the difference!
Hi Mae! Girl this hack works great. They just need to defrost before you use them (sit em on the counter at room temp). Totally get as many eggs as you can right now! Egg prices have been crazy!
Not me thinking you were going to freeze the eggs in the shell. 🤣🤣 I’m new to all of this but learn something mind blowing everyday! Thanks for sharing.
HI Katie! This month I was extra chatty but I realized April really kick starts a lot of change in a preservation kitchen. Hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by my kitchen!
Living in a NOVA condo with 2 adult children, a husband, and no land makes your videos very relevant to my circumstances. I appreciate your content. I also admire your coffee mug collection. I love beautiful coffee mugs. It elevates a simple pleasure.
You’ve done it again, I’m energized and ready to tackle a project or two after watching your video! Today my husband and I are celebrating 42 years of marriage. We don’t do elaborate gifts but I always try to do something special for him. After watching this video I think I’ll put together a meal that will remind him how much he is loved and appreciated. Thank you for the inspiration! Happy Easter! ✝️
Cheryl! Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS on your 42nd wedding anniversary! Honey, that is truly an accomplishment and may God bless you with many more. Food is absolutely a love language and what a thoughtful gift and memory to create and experience together in your home. Same here, my husband and I don't always do "gifts" and I take that as a sign that he and you meet each other needs outside of "marked dates. What did you end up making? And yes, Happy Easter to you too!
@@BecomingaFarmGirl Thank you, Cassandra. ☺️ My husband first had mentioned going out to dinner at Black Angus. For our entire dating and marriage lives, Black Angus has been a restaurant we frequented often with friends and family. As we talked about the idea of going out, the reality of how expensive things have gotten really weighed on us. So I reminded him that we still have a lot of beef in the freezer and I knew there was a nice rib roast amongst the options. He smiled and said, “that sounds good”. In the end I found a much smaller New York roast which not only fed us last night but will for at least two additional meals. I did baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, and fresh asparagus for the veggie. I’m really not much of a cook, so I made sure to monitor that roast so that he wouldn’t be disappointed that we didn’t go out lol 😆. The meal was simple but delicious.
Girl, you are hilarious!! I love watching you and I don’t even can or preserve anything! Haha I love your tips for cutting costs and creative recipes. But it’s your humor that keeps me watching!!! 😂❤
Hi Gail! I'm so happy to pass this tip along. It'll be a life changer and one your feet, legs and back will appreciate. I love having inside shoes for those long days in the kitchen. When I'm finally off of my feet, I switch to my slippers or warm socks.
Skechers slip-ons are awesome! Otherwise inexpensive slip on shoes with some relatively inexpensive insoles you can cut to fit inside your shoes works great too!
I began being very mindful of our carbon footprint of our farm three years ago. Very very careful to make a zero waste kitchen. It’s not always easy but I have learned from the best on utube. Thank you for the encouragement you give us. My daughter in law is a school teacher and I am an early retired nurse so we all get the foot support issue. Our entire family is following you now Cassandra.
My fermented asparagus is still good from 2022! So it’s 10-11 months old. Fermented foods SHOULD last more than 2 months in the fridge. I used 3 quarts and have 3 more. I read to put some tea leaves (I emptied tea bags) in fermented veggies to help keep crisp. A few stalks have been softer, but most are still great! Delicious fermented with garlic!
You are one of the BEST channels! So interesting, Fun and I LEARN SO MUCH! But sadly in Canada our strawberries aren’t in season til mid-June! 😢 you’re lucky!!
Wow, you are an absolute delight! So engaging and passionate, I love it! Was initially just browsing YT for a recipe and found one of your videos by chance, now I'm hooked! Been binging all your videos since last night, ha ha. But honestly, I love your magnetic personality, and your videos are so compelling because they're helpful to those of us who may live in small apartments but have the desire to be more self-sufficient and sustainable on a day-to-day basis. I recently moved from London to rural Denmark and my budget as well as produce availability is a polar opposite to what I am used to, so I feel like I have two relearn a lot of basic things, and in doing so, I realised how consumerism has been the norm for me and everyone around me for far too long. Thanks for all your tips and tricks and helping people like me do better, without judgment. Regards, from Denmark.
Omgoodness! Where have you been all of my life? I was raised in France, eating my grandmother's delicious food. My grandparents owned a restaurant, and my grandmother was an outstanding French Chef. Those are big food feet to fill, lol! Anyway, my taste buds are spoiled, and I like good food and can taste the tiniest bit of what I call "fake foods" It's both a blessing and a curse! I'm now living in two cities in lock-and-go condos. AKA - no yards, only small outdoor patios. I dream of having a garden, fruit trees, chickens (fresh eggs), and the like! None of which is possible living in a condo. I just found your channel and am so excited to watch more of your videos. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
Thank you for being you and for being real! You are an inspiration to this old bird who needs a pick-me-up and you are just what I need when I get the chance to watch YT!!!! I wish I had had the opportunity to see someone like you when I was much younger and in better health. I wish you and your family the best with your dreams on your future homestead. Blessings!!!!!
Love the idea of canning and freezing in season. This was amazingly helpful. It was so packed with information. You put a lot of work into these videos. Thank you, Cassandra. I totally appreciate your super packed videos.
Hello 👋🏾 Alice! I’m just so tickled to hear you say this because so few “get” the joy and utility a preservation kitchen can give. I’m so glad you find the format helpful! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Whew, I was super chatty this month, y'all! LINK TO GET CANNING JOURNAL: marvelous-thinker-7971.ck.page/products/mycanningjournal LINK to AUTOMATICALLY GET canning recipes (w/ video) directly to your inbox each time I post on YT: tinyurl.com/4nadvnrd. Anna's AMAZING Meat Tea/Canning Chicken Feet Video: th-cam.com/video/ZsEW5Saypzw/w-d-xo.html
I have signed up for your emails twice and I can't get any downloads to work. I tried emailing you from your website and that didn't work either. Help! Would love to access your content. Thank you
Hi Staci! Thanks for the encouragement, my dear. And yes, I am 'stuck on stubborn' when it comes to making sure what I spent my money on gets used. Admittedly, I used to be pretty bad at this, which is why I know cooking with scraps and preserving your food really makes a difference in your budget (and even how delicious eat). I know not everything is a recipe, but I want to feature a real, regular kitchen and truly promote how we all can cook in our own ways with what we have. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Carol! Canning is a timeless kitchen skill and yes, whether they hear it from me or someone else my hope is that more folks see it as a useful skill.
I am so glad I found you!!! I have been binge watching your videos. I’m in the northern Virginia area and I have been praying to “find someone” like me in the area. Soooo in my head, you’re my new best friend 😊. Hey friend! I love your videos and I can’t wait to start learning to can some produce.
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE ! YOU ARE INDEED AN INSPIRATION IN SO MANY WAYS🦋 YOUR KNOWEDGE IS PRICELESS! AND I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU THRIFT YOIR CLOTHING FROM - I LOVE LINEN CLOTHING, IT IS SO COMFORTABLE AND DURABLE. YOU ARE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY🌻
When I found your channel and you said you were a teacher I knew I found my channel. My daughter in Law is a teacher. I was a nurse. So we sympathize with you about being on your feet . Thank you for the wonderful content
Look at your subscriber count skyrocket!!! So glad to see your amazing and well-deserved success. Thanks for the awesome tips that make all this look achievable.
I have in-door only shoes too and love them for two reasons, 1. not bringing germs/dirt into the house 2. we have concrete floors and oh my word, my old feet can't handle it, lol. This was another wonderful video with so many fantastic ideas with all the cooking and ways to keep plastic out of the landfills. And the strawberry/pretzel dessert, I could almost taste it all the way down here in Texas! Love you girlfriend and blessings to you and your husband and always to your awesome parents! ❤
I just found your channel and I am glad I did. I am redoing my apothecary and you have given me so many great ideas to add to my healthy list. Blessings to you.
I so enjoy your videos because I learn so much. I was planning my grocery list for the week and I had so many items listed and I knew that I was over my budget for the week. I started watching this video and I realized I could switch up and use different ingredients in the meals I had planned. Just let me say that now I am under my budget thanks to you. You are the best. Have a blessed week.
I love how you are so instinctive in your cooking. You look at what you have and make it all magically work together, like a conductor putting a dozen different instruments together to make the most beautiful symphony. As one who has a well stocked panty, I cook very much like you so I get it. What you did with the tater tots and spinach was inspired and made my mouth water. I so love watching your videos and how you remind me to pay attention to what is in season and plan ahead all at the same time. I wish you lived next door for sure! Love and prayers that you had a relaxing, amazing time at the cabin with your husband. Time is precious. Thanks for all you share. Please don't stop. Lea-Grammy from IL 63 and still a farm girl in the making.
Hi Lea! Firstly, you showered me with so many compliments you've made this brown gal blush! I'm so happy you don't mind that every meal I show doesn't have a recipe. Truly, what I make is based off of some "formal" recipe but you don't need every ingredient a 'recipe' calls for and you can often substitute and you'll still get a meal that turns out just as delish! Honey that tater tot dish was sooo good and it just feels good knowing that even at the start of the day I could get so many veggies in. I too wish I had some canning friends close by, I wouldn't know what to do with myself! My husband and I are at the cabin as I type this and its been good to get away. I work in a school so I'm on spring break for the week. We're spending two days in VA and then headed back home to ramp up gardening, house chores, taxes, and all the other business of life. I've gotten into a good groove of posting videos every 8-10 days and I don't plan to stop because I finally have friends, like you, to share my kitchen excitement with! Keep becoming a farm girl!
Hey Sis! As always great video! You are doing God's work over there 💕. Thank you for the time and energy put into these videos. I am learning so much from you. You are my big sis! Peace and blessings to your family.
Good to see you again!. And congrats on the Greenstalk magazine article!!. Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration. I so enjoy all your videos Cassandra.
Sandra! Hello sweet friend! Always good to see you. You know how much I love my Greenstalks and I was so appreciative that they reached out. Hope your week is off to a great start!
I LOVE what you do. I subsccribed. Ir is so deep down soul satisfying to see young person so clever, savvy, sensible. It gives me hope for the future. (I'm 75.) Thanks so much and God bless all the work of your hands. (Proverbs woman).
The souper cube things are great! I use them a lot for small portions of stock - sometimes a recipe only calls for a cup or even 1/2 cup, and I don't want to open a whole jar and worry about wasting the rest. This way I just grab a cube of what I need out of the freezer.
Hey 👋🏾 Nikki! Girl it’s always good to see you. I like to pack them for snacks at work and sometimes I’ll even cook my fermented ones just because they do retain their crunch. There are plenty of brine recipes that lend to being in the sweet side or more of the savory and herb flavor like what I shared. What’s going on in your kitchen this month.
Great video. Interested in the jams/jellies with stevia Re Stasher bags, if you sign up for their online store, they run specials and sales every so often. I caught some good sales around Memorial Day, Black Friday, etc. hoping they will run a great Earth Day sale.
Wait, what?! Aisha THANK YOU for sharing this helpful tip! I will certainly try the online store option. These bags are great and I want more. If there’s any way I can save money on them I sure will! What a blessing!
Just be aware that alternative sweeteners have been tested by the Center for Home Food Preservation and they recommend that you freeze them, other than a few in the fridge that you are using. This was asked multiple times when our extension agent was demonstrating jams and jellies.
Yes! That's the name I was searching for that I completely drew a blank on. Thank you! Those mats are great, but I think house shoes are even better! I'm glad to hear you took away some ideas!
Oooh I’m excited for the ferment asparagus idea!🙌🏻 That strawberry dessert looks so yummy!🍓🍓🍓 Just finished up strawberry mango jam/strawberry peach jam/strawberry lemonade concentrate-French onion soup-apple butter-still have carrots to do and a ton of sweet potatoes to preserve and tomatoes in freezer(made pizza sauce last week-but I found more tomatoes yesterday 🤦🏻♀️ Oooh and you just reminded me I’ve got a few cabbages to deal with and I want to try canning slaw🙌🏻 Hubs brought me free box of reusable bags last yr and I sorta organize my freezers grouping things in the bags and label the handle- really helps with my 3 chest freezers! It’s till a mess at times but it’s organized mess😜 TRUST ME-support shoes is so important! 30 yrs as a hairdresser and yrs of canning barefoot-about a yr ago my feet caved big time! Dr -injections -physical therapy -then retired from behind the chair from severe foot pain-get you some great shoes!!!
Hello friend! Fermented Asparagus is so crunchy and good! And, the strawberry dessert was delicious (and quick). Goodness honey, your jam combinations sound like bliss! I feel the same excitement and overwhelm you named as you listed what's on your preservation list! Whew, the craziness of canning season, right?!
Hello 👋🏾 Caren! I’m so glad! I’m a few weeks I’ll show how I made my main stay lunches and dinners with these ingredients. Shopping in season, preserving and a bit of advanced meal prep really helps!
Hello Maribeth! Always good to see you. Honey, I get it. My freezer was so out of sorts, but I'm glad I took a few hours to declutter so that I can pack it full again, lol! It's a never ending cycle. The cardboard boxes are really working out well for me. Happy Canning!
Honey I am so EXCITED to hear this! Learning to can was one of the BEST decisions of my life. I've got food on the shelf, a way to stockpile without needing multiple freezers and a skill that most folks don't realize can save you tons of money in the kitchen. Heck, its even relaxing to busy my hands with food and utensils as a way to unwind from work. Keep at it!
@@BecomingaFarmGirl oh I definitely will ☺️ I’m so excited to see the jars in my cabinet, lol. Course I need to organize my kitchen better…it’s a hot mess, lol 😂
Thanks Cassandra! I'm having a big canning weekend in a week and half. Thanks for reminding me of the carrot soup. One of the things I'm stocking up on are soups so gardening season I can have quick meals when I'm busy.
FERN! Yay for a big canning weekend! You're gonna love that carrot soup (yes, fennel makes all the difference). I've come to appreciate soup for the reason you just named-its fast and filling!
I’m really enjoying these pantry chats! And a good reminder to be on the lookout for the reusable products. I’ve been enjoying my small recent stash of silicone bags, though I can’t bring myself to freeze raw meat in them. And that strawberry pretzel dessert looks so good! My Greenstalk strawberries are starting to flower already, so I’ll have to see if I can scrounge up some GF pretzels before the month is over.
You're brilliant. I'm seriously so inspired. I've started getting into cooking and have been trying to figure out how to efficiently meal prep and store food, and you are setting me up for success here. THANK YOU 🙏🏼
Hi Brittany! Honey, I'm so excited to hear this! Keep at it and in time you'll be a meal planning, kitchen waste warrior in no time! Getting ahold of your food /grocery budget makes a huge difference in your wallet and expenditures which is why, even when I'm tired, I know its worth it to be diligent about cooking. I'm truly just a regular gal that happens to have a camera in her kitchen so I'm so glad to hear that, in some small way, my kitchen ramblings are helpful to you!!!
Fresh fruits & veges--clean BEFORE putting in your fridge! Pesticide, bug &bird dirt, transport dirt, etc. Bits going off. Get rid of all that, I use a 50/50 wash of H2O&vinegar, even spritz the container I use in fridge. I also portion cut fruits for lunches
😂 I had to go back and rewatch your intro twice! Girl you talk so quick I couldn’t catch what you said in full 😂 your videos are refreshing to watch, I like your style! Greetings from Australia
I save my bread sacks, i use them storing processed meat cuts from the homestead or prepped frozen vegetables from the garden.The heavy ziplock ones that cheese and lunch meat come in are great for storing prepped pizza or bread dough. I have some of the reusable ziplocks from Amazon but they are not the best and after a few uses they zippers don't want to come together so I think I will look at investing in some more better quality ones. Definitely going put ACV and canning lids on my April stock up list since my garden harvest have already started rolling in.
I have finally found it. A homemaking/homesteading channel that fits my style! I have been combing through TH-cam for a while now and have found a lot of fluff. Question, what's your method for thawing and reheating your freezer meals? Pan, oven, or microwave?
👋🏾Greetings Cassandra! I don't always comment but I enjoy your content (it's everything that I teach), delivery, and I always thumbs-up the video before I even view it! You always have me laughing. I so agree with you as far as the silicone bags are concerned. I saw some at Ikea (FILFISK) that are three of them for under $18. Not sure of the quality however when I am ready to purchase more I may try theirs. 👩🏾🌾👩🏾🍳🌱🌷
I’ve tried reusable bags but I find after a little while they stop working so instead I just reuse the plastic bags. We even reuse our food saver bags except for the ones with raw meat. I even reuse the plastic containers that lunch meat comes in for leftovers or as Tupperware. I have plenty of glass jars.
I have found some of the stores in my state (Oregon) have canning lids/ rings on clearance! Not all the stores, but several that I’ve been in over the last week or two. So your tip of shopping around is right on!
It's nuts, Madeln. Even if I don't have any planned purchases at a certain grocery store, I've started to 'pop in' just to poke around and see what they have. Now that inventory is all over the place you really have to look in multiple places.
You've accidently brought to light my single GREATEST problem with home canning/preserving . . . 1. You need the right Equipment . . . The only way to make your time and energy commitment worth the investment is to have the right Equipment . . . . 2. But in order to have space to store my product. I end up with No Space for my Equipment. ... ... ... HELP
Hello 👋🏾 Dana! I hear ya friend and I totally get what you’re saying. Since it sounds like you’re in a small(er) space like me, I’ve done work around like turning a closer under my steps into my canning pantry and pairing down other items to prioritize my canning, pantry storage. Here’s how I see it: 1. Food is one of the top expenses after your home, insurance and a car payment if you have one so finding ways take advantage of sales that don’t require refrigeration is an investment that pays off over time. 2. I do plan to have a humble homestead one day and I see canning as a way to learn preservation skills now. 3. Call me a homebody but there’s nothing I’d rather do after a long workweek than just be in my kitchen canning and keeping company with my TH-cam friends. We all spend our time doing one thing or another and for me, it’s this! I certainly don’t have a house that’ll be on HGtV, it looks lived in, and I’m surrounded by what I love. At the end of the day you’ll have to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze. I say it is! 🥰
You can store A LOT under your bed/s. Put your bed up on cheap corner risers (seems luxurious, like princess & the pea!), get a bed skirt (thrift store!) to hide your loot, & cut down sturdy cardboard boxes (from Aldi!) to slide in & out so you can rotate the cans by date. Other ideas would be under & behind the couch, above the kitchen cupboards (if they don’t go to the ceiling, instead of a bunch of decor), & in with linens in the hall closet (consolidate those towels & sheets!). Once you get used to looking for wasted space, you’ll see it everywhere. You must do this!
Remember you can use your water and pressure canners to store other parts of the canning instruments. Also you can add other less used items inside them also. Plus when it is canning time nothing says you need to have the stove top canner anywhere but the stovetop.
Have been using silicone freezer trays for a few years now (a different brand, but they all seem pretty comparable). They are an economic, convenient, organized way to freeze food. So SO great.
Awww, thank you Heidi!! 🥰 Honey you named exactly what I pretty much do; go to work, plan what to preserve and u wind on the weekends canning “all the things” 🤭
Hi! I’m new to your channel and SO blessed to have found you!! Thank you for all you do for your subscribers! I esp appreciated reusable talk with your budget and shopping what is in season for April! Both were incredible for this old timer! I’m in FL & we are lucky to live close to farms but your tips are SOLID!! Thank you, again!!❤
Thanks for that egg hack. Love it. I do something similar to tomato paste. I never need all the tomato paste in the can so I freeze them in my silicone candy forms. Besides being able to save them they are cute!
You can also smear tomato sauce and paste on a parchment covered sheet pan and dehydrate, like fruit rollups. If you get them good and dry, you can powder them.
I LOVE my Stasher bags. I actually purchased a ton (for myself and my daughter) when Bed Bath and Beyond was in business. I would wait for them to go on sale and then use the 20% coupons.
I've been switching to reusable silicone for a lot of non-meat products, saving the freezer plastic bags for meat marinades and the like. I've been using the ZipTop brand containers - sandwich size for shredded cheese portions, storing homemade pie cruts, and chopped onions. Then for large things like stir fry mix I've started using the large dish size. I have a total of 5, and I need Mooore!! 😂
Hey lady! It’s always good to see you! Sounds like you and I are in the same boat with expanding our inventory! But by bit does it! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Whenever I click on A Cassandra video I feel like I am being sat down by my favorite teacher or Auntie that is going to school me on things but in the best way possible and I always leave feeling smarter, more well equipped and confident. Love this stuff!
I really appreciate how much effort she puts into these videos ,I always look forward to them ,I also really appreciate her longer videos! She is definitely a gem
Add bay leaf or something with tannins....like mustard seed and grape leaves....to your ferments and canning. This helps keep your veggies crispy. I add bay leaf to everything.
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You make everything look so easy and hassle free! I love watching you! I'm a frugal, stay at home mom with 5 teens/preteens= big eaters! I have tried doing a fraction of what you are doing and it really does help! Homemade is always better. My kids are beginning to taste and appreciate the difference!
You are so cool. Why did you not pop into my feed til today? Subscribed!
😲 I didn’t know you can freeze eggs!!!!!!! And they’re on sale right now!!!! 😃 Girl you keep up the great work ❤
Hi Mae! Girl this hack works great. They just need to defrost before you use them (sit em on the counter at room temp). Totally get as many eggs as you can right now! Egg prices have been crazy!
I love wegmans
@@BecomingaFarmGirl or, take them out a few days in advance, and thaw in your fridge.
Not me thinking you were going to freeze the eggs in the shell. 🤣🤣 I’m new to all of this but learn something mind blowing everyday! Thanks for sharing.
I love how inspiring, creative and passionate you are 🙃 and you always pack so much into one video. Thank you for another great video!
HI Katie! This month I was extra chatty but I realized April really kick starts a lot of change in a preservation kitchen. Hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by my kitchen!
Living in a NOVA condo with 2 adult children, a husband, and no land makes your videos very relevant to my circumstances. I appreciate your content. I also admire your coffee mug collection. I love beautiful coffee mugs. It elevates a simple pleasure.
You’ve done it again, I’m energized and ready to tackle a project or two after watching your video! Today my husband and I are celebrating 42 years of marriage. We don’t do elaborate gifts but I always try to do something special for him. After watching this video I think I’ll put together a meal that will remind him how much he is loved and appreciated. Thank you for the inspiration!
Happy Easter! ✝️
Congratulations on your marriage of 42 years!!
@@MennoniteFarmhouse How sweet of you, thank you so much.
Wow, congratulations! ❤
Cheryl! Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS on your 42nd wedding anniversary! Honey, that is truly an accomplishment and may God bless you with many more. Food is absolutely a love language and what a thoughtful gift and memory to create and experience together in your home. Same here, my husband and I don't always do "gifts" and I take that as a sign that he and you meet each other needs outside of "marked dates. What did you end up making? And yes, Happy Easter to you too!
@@BecomingaFarmGirl Thank you, Cassandra. ☺️ My husband first had mentioned going out to dinner at Black Angus. For our entire dating and marriage lives, Black Angus has been a restaurant we frequented often with friends and family. As we talked about the idea of going out, the reality of how expensive things have gotten really weighed on us. So I reminded him that we still have a lot of beef in the freezer and I knew there was a nice rib roast amongst the options. He smiled and said, “that sounds good”. In the end I found a much smaller New York roast which not only fed us last night but will for at least two additional meals. I did baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, and fresh asparagus for the veggie. I’m really not much of a cook, so I made sure to monitor that roast so that he wouldn’t be disappointed that we didn’t go out lol 😆. The meal was simple but delicious.
As a fellow canner, I love your canning recipes! They are so different than what other TH-camrs do. Very creative.
Girl, you are hilarious!! I love watching you and I don’t even can or preserve anything! Haha I love your tips for cutting costs and creative recipes. But it’s your humor that keeps me watching!!! 😂❤
I am 65 years old and I never thought of buying inside shoes. All these years I’ve been barefoot in the kitchen. This is brilliant, thank-you!
Hi Gail! I'm so happy to pass this tip along. It'll be a life changer and one your feet, legs and back will appreciate. I love having inside shoes for those long days in the kitchen. When I'm finally off of my feet, I switch to my slippers or warm socks.
Skechers slip-ons are awesome! Otherwise inexpensive slip on shoes with some relatively inexpensive insoles you can cut to fit inside your shoes works great too!
I began being very mindful of our carbon footprint of our farm three years ago. Very very careful to make a zero waste kitchen. It’s not always easy but I have learned from the best on utube. Thank you for the encouragement you give us. My daughter in law is a school teacher and I am an early retired nurse so we all get the foot support issue. Our entire family is following you now Cassandra.
Your channel is a beacon of hope. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
I so love your attitudes. No waste, no recipes, no worries 😉
You've done a great job is going more "green" . I think this is something that my family and I need to work much harder to achieve.
I stumbled upon your videos and I’m obsessed. If you some one watching your videos on repeat, it’s me. ❤❤❤
My fermented asparagus is still good from 2022! So it’s 10-11 months old. Fermented foods SHOULD last more than 2 months in the fridge. I used 3 quarts and have 3 more. I read to put some tea leaves (I emptied tea bags) in fermented veggies to help keep crisp. A few stalks have been softer, but most are still great! Delicious fermented with garlic!
Does it change the taste? How much do you add? Love this idea because I hate soggy vegetables.
You are one of the BEST channels! So interesting, Fun and I LEARN SO MUCH! But sadly in Canada our strawberries aren’t in season til mid-June! 😢 you’re lucky!!
Wow, you are an absolute delight! So engaging and passionate, I love it! Was initially just browsing YT for a recipe and found one of your videos by chance, now I'm hooked! Been binging all your videos since last night, ha ha. But honestly, I love your magnetic personality, and your videos are so compelling because they're helpful to those of us who may live in small apartments but have the desire to be more self-sufficient and sustainable on a day-to-day basis. I recently moved from London to rural Denmark and my budget as well as produce availability is a polar opposite to what I am used to, so I feel like I have two relearn a lot of basic things, and in doing so, I realised how consumerism has been the norm for me and everyone around me for far too long. Thanks for all your tips and tricks and helping people like me do better, without judgment. Regards, from Denmark.
Omgoodness! Where have you been all of my life? I was raised in France, eating my grandmother's delicious food. My grandparents owned a restaurant, and my grandmother was an outstanding French Chef. Those are big food feet to fill, lol! Anyway, my taste buds are spoiled, and I like good food and can taste the tiniest bit of what I call "fake foods" It's both a blessing and a curse! I'm now living in two cities in lock-and-go condos. AKA - no yards, only small outdoor patios. I dream of having a garden, fruit trees, chickens (fresh eggs), and the like! None of which is possible living in a condo. I just found your channel and am so excited to watch more of your videos. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
"And that you includes me" 😂😂😂❤ I have always loved the vibe you give off in your videos but this made my day
Thank you for being you and for being real! You are an inspiration to this old bird who needs a pick-me-up and you are just what I need when I get the chance to watch YT!!!! I wish I had had the opportunity to see someone like you when I was much younger and in better health. I wish you and your family the best with your dreams on your future homestead. Blessings!!!!!
Love the idea of canning and freezing in season. This was amazingly helpful. It was so packed with information. You put a lot of work into these videos. Thank you, Cassandra. I totally appreciate your super packed videos.
Hello 👋🏾 Alice! I’m just so tickled to hear you say this because so few “get” the joy and utility a preservation kitchen can give. I’m so glad you find the format helpful! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Yes, I am thankful as well. Love your channel, you make them do fun and exciting. ❤ ❤❤ God bless
Whew, I was super chatty this month, y'all! LINK TO GET CANNING JOURNAL: marvelous-thinker-7971.ck.page/products/mycanningjournal
LINK to AUTOMATICALLY GET canning recipes (w/ video) directly to your inbox each time I post on YT: tinyurl.com/4nadvnrd.
Anna's AMAZING Meat Tea/Canning Chicken Feet Video: th-cam.com/video/ZsEW5Saypzw/w-d-xo.html
The link for the canning journals doesnt appear to work.
I can never get your links to work for me either. Please let us know what else to do for recipes, etc. Thanks.
I’d love to download your journal, but the link brings me to a newsletter signup (which I did a few weeks ago). Please help! 🙂
Hmmm the link to the canning journal is not working... says page not found or His site can't be reached... help!!
Blessings
I have signed up for your emails twice and I can't get any downloads to work. I tried emailing you from your website and that didn't work either. Help! Would love to access your content. Thank you
I absolutely ADORE you!!! I love the freezer shopping and making something out of it!!!! You make me think outside of the box!!!
Hi Staci! Thanks for the encouragement, my dear. And yes, I am 'stuck on stubborn' when it comes to making sure what I spent my money on gets used. Admittedly, I used to be pretty bad at this, which is why I know cooking with scraps and preserving your food really makes a difference in your budget (and even how delicious eat). I know not everything is a recipe, but I want to feature a real, regular kitchen and truly promote how we all can cook in our own ways with what we have. Thanks for stopping by!
I'm so glad for you being so young and canning i hope people are hearing you.
Hello Carol! Canning is a timeless kitchen skill and yes, whether they hear it from me or someone else my hope is that more folks see it as a useful skill.
I am so glad I found you!!! I have been binge watching your videos. I’m in the northern Virginia area and I have been praying to “find someone” like me in the area. Soooo in my head, you’re my new best friend 😊. Hey friend! I love your videos and I can’t wait to start learning to can some produce.
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE !
YOU ARE INDEED AN INSPIRATION IN SO MANY WAYS🦋
YOUR KNOWEDGE IS PRICELESS! AND I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU THRIFT YOIR CLOTHING FROM - I LOVE LINEN CLOTHING, IT IS SO COMFORTABLE AND DURABLE.
YOU ARE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY🌻
When I found your channel and you said you were a teacher I knew I found my channel. My daughter in Law is a teacher. I was a nurse. So we sympathize with you about being on your feet . Thank you for the wonderful content
This women is phenomenal! Just found your channel, new sub!
Look at your subscriber count skyrocket!!! So glad to see your amazing and well-deserved success. Thanks for the awesome tips that make all this look achievable.
I just want to tell you I love your personality and videos. You make me want to try canning and fermenting.Thank you
I’m so glad I found your channel.
I have in-door only shoes too and love them for two reasons, 1. not bringing germs/dirt into the house 2. we have concrete floors and oh my word, my old feet can't handle it, lol. This was another wonderful video with so many fantastic ideas with all the cooking and ways to keep plastic out of the landfills. And the strawberry/pretzel dessert, I could almost taste it all the way down here in Texas! Love you girlfriend and blessings to you and your husband and always to your awesome parents! ❤
I just found your channel and I am glad I did. I am redoing my apothecary and you have given me so many great ideas to add to my healthy list. Blessings to you.
I so enjoy your videos because I learn so much. I was planning my grocery list for the week and I had so many items listed and I knew that I was over my budget for the week. I started watching this video and I realized I could switch up and use different ingredients in the meals I had planned. Just let me say that now I am under my budget thanks to you. You are the best. Have a blessed week.
You're adorable. I love watching your vlog. You're enthusiastic and informative. ❤
Love all your videos. Can't get enough. I learn so much. Thank you.
I love how you are so instinctive in your cooking. You look at what you have and make it all magically work together, like a conductor putting a dozen different instruments together to make the most beautiful symphony. As one who has a well stocked panty, I cook very much like you so I get it. What you did with the tater tots and spinach was inspired and made my mouth water. I so love watching your videos and how you remind me to pay attention to what is in season and plan ahead all at the same time. I wish you lived next door for sure! Love and prayers that you had a relaxing, amazing time at the cabin with your husband. Time is precious. Thanks for all you share. Please don't stop.
Lea-Grammy from IL 63 and still a farm girl in the making.
Hi Lea! Firstly, you showered me with so many compliments you've made this brown gal blush! I'm so happy you don't mind that every meal I show doesn't have a recipe. Truly, what I make is based off of some "formal" recipe but you don't need every ingredient a 'recipe' calls for and you can often substitute and you'll still get a meal that turns out just as delish! Honey that tater tot dish was sooo good and it just feels good knowing that even at the start of the day I could get so many veggies in. I too wish I had some canning friends close by, I wouldn't know what to do with myself! My husband and I are at the cabin as I type this and its been good to get away. I work in a school so I'm on spring break for the week. We're spending two days in VA and then headed back home to ramp up gardening, house chores, taxes, and all the other business of life. I've gotten into a good groove of posting videos every 8-10 days and I don't plan to stop because I finally have friends, like you, to share my kitchen excitement with! Keep becoming a farm girl!
You never disappoint. Great content as per usual!!❤
This is too kind of you to say, Kimberly. I was extra chatty, but I'm glad that you still gleaned some tips! Always good to see you!
Your mug game is strong. I would love a mug collection video. Ok back to binging yiur channel
Just found your channel- love it!! We are very like minded. 🌷💕🌷
So funny. I used to save turkey tails for my grandma. She just loved them!!!
I have been watching from yesterday from Jamaica
Hey Sis! As always great video! You are doing God's work over there 💕. Thank you for the time and energy put into these videos. I am learning so much from you. You are my big sis! Peace and blessings to your family.
Good to see you again!. And congrats on the Greenstalk magazine article!!. Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration. I so enjoy all your videos Cassandra.
Sandra! Hello sweet friend! Always good to see you. You know how much I love my Greenstalks and I was so appreciative that they reached out. Hope your week is off to a great start!
So far so good. I have 2 Greenstalks filled with tomatoes,broccoli,spinach,herbs and peppers. The tomatoes are all blooming! So exciting.
I LOVE what you do. I subsccribed. Ir is so deep down soul satisfying to see young person so clever, savvy, sensible. It gives me hope for the future. (I'm 75.) Thanks so much and God bless all the work of your hands. (Proverbs woman).
That frozen egg tip was awesome thank you!!!!
Girl! I love your energy!!! Great videos!
this is my freezer as well !
Wow! I am blown away at the treasure chest of valuable information in this video! Thank you. 😊
The souper cube things are great! I use them a lot for small portions of stock - sometimes a recipe only calls for a cup or even 1/2 cup, and I don't want to open a whole jar and worry about wasting the rest. This way I just grab a cube of what I need out of the freezer.
Wow! Lots of GREAT information in this one. I think I'll have to watch more than once!
I usually only eat asparagus fresh but I will give a ferment a try. You’ve never steered me wrong.
Hey 👋🏾 Nikki! Girl it’s always good to see you. I like to pack them for snacks at work and sometimes I’ll even cook my fermented ones just because they do retain their crunch. There are plenty of brine recipes that lend to being in the sweet side or more of the savory and herb flavor like what I shared. What’s going on in your kitchen this month.
You are great for showing what you make
Great video. Interested in the jams/jellies with stevia
Re Stasher bags, if you sign up for their online store, they run specials and sales every so often. I caught some good sales around Memorial Day, Black Friday, etc. hoping they will run a great Earth Day sale.
Wait, what?! Aisha THANK YOU for sharing this helpful tip! I will certainly try the online store option. These bags are great and I want more. If there’s any way I can save money on them I sure will! What a blessing!
Just be aware that alternative sweeteners have been tested by the Center for Home Food Preservation and they recommend that you freeze them, other than a few in the fridge that you are using. This was asked multiple times when our extension agent was demonstrating jams and jellies.
Love those tips n canning recipes. So simple!
The mat you are thinking of is an anti-fatigue mat. Great video with some wonderful ideas!
Yes! That's the name I was searching for that I completely drew a blank on. Thank you! Those mats are great, but I think house shoes are even better! I'm glad to hear you took away some ideas!
Oooh I’m excited for the ferment asparagus idea!🙌🏻 That strawberry dessert looks so yummy!🍓🍓🍓
Just finished up strawberry mango jam/strawberry peach jam/strawberry lemonade concentrate-French onion soup-apple butter-still have carrots to do and a ton of sweet potatoes to preserve and tomatoes in freezer(made pizza sauce last week-but I found more tomatoes yesterday 🤦🏻♀️
Oooh and you just reminded me I’ve got a few cabbages to deal with and I want to try canning slaw🙌🏻
Hubs brought me free box of reusable bags last yr and I sorta organize my freezers grouping things in the bags and label the handle- really helps with my 3 chest freezers! It’s till a mess at times but it’s organized mess😜
TRUST ME-support shoes is so important! 30 yrs as a hairdresser and yrs of canning barefoot-about a yr ago my feet caved big time! Dr -injections -physical therapy -then retired from behind the chair from severe foot pain-get you some great shoes!!!
Hello friend! Fermented Asparagus is so crunchy and good! And, the strawberry dessert was delicious (and quick). Goodness honey, your jam combinations sound like bliss! I feel the same excitement and overwhelm you named as you listed what's on your preservation list! Whew, the craziness of canning season, right?!
I really love your channel! These tips are especially helpful to me 😊
Hello 👋🏾 Caren! I’m so glad! I’m a few weeks I’ll show how I made my main stay lunches and dinners with these ingredients. Shopping in season, preserving and a bit of advanced meal prep really helps!
Love all of your helpful hints!!! Thank you for doing these pantry chats! I need to clean out my freezer and can what’s in there! Love your channel!
Hello Maribeth! Always good to see you. Honey, I get it. My freezer was so out of sorts, but I'm glad I took a few hours to declutter so that I can pack it full again, lol! It's a never ending cycle. The cardboard boxes are really working out well for me. Happy Canning!
I have the same plan
Ah! I love this so much…THANK YOU for taking all time to make this video to make it easier for us! 💗✨☺️
Everything you shared was awesome. Thank you so much
Your channel inspires me so much 😊 Thanks to you I’ve started my own canning journey 🤞🏼
Honey I am so EXCITED to hear this! Learning to can was one of the BEST decisions of my life. I've got food on the shelf, a way to stockpile without needing multiple freezers and a skill that most folks don't realize can save you tons of money in the kitchen. Heck, its even relaxing to busy my hands with food and utensils as a way to unwind from work. Keep at it!
@@BecomingaFarmGirl oh I definitely will ☺️ I’m so excited to see the jars in my cabinet, lol. Course I need to organize my kitchen better…it’s a hot mess, lol 😂
So there with you. Just cleaned out the freezer last week and made a list of what I had so that I can make meals with what I have.
Thanks Cassandra! I'm having a big canning weekend in a week and half. Thanks for reminding me of the carrot soup. One of the things I'm stocking up on are soups so gardening season I can have quick meals when I'm busy.
FERN! Yay for a big canning weekend! You're gonna love that carrot soup (yes, fennel makes all the difference). I've come to appreciate soup for the reason you just named-its fast and filling!
Amazing I didn’t know I could freeze eggs. I will be doing that this weekend.
Yup, I LOVE THIS CHANNEL . New subbie❤
I’m really enjoying these pantry chats! And a good reminder to be on the lookout for the reusable products. I’ve been enjoying my small recent stash of silicone bags, though I can’t bring myself to freeze raw meat in them. And that strawberry pretzel dessert looks so good! My Greenstalk strawberries are starting to flower already, so I’ll have to see if I can scrounge up some GF pretzels before the month is over.
Just want to say, I absolutely adore your content when I get a chance to watch it. Thank you so much!
You're brilliant. I'm seriously so inspired. I've started getting into cooking and have been trying to figure out how to efficiently meal prep and store food, and you are setting me up for success here. THANK YOU 🙏🏼
Hi Brittany! Honey, I'm so excited to hear this! Keep at it and in time you'll be a meal planning, kitchen waste warrior in no time! Getting ahold of your food /grocery budget makes a huge difference in your wallet and expenditures which is why, even when I'm tired, I know its worth it to be diligent about cooking. I'm truly just a regular gal that happens to have a camera in her kitchen so I'm so glad to hear that, in some small way, my kitchen ramblings are helpful to you!!!
Fresh fruits & veges--clean BEFORE putting in your fridge!
Pesticide, bug &bird dirt, transport dirt, etc. Bits going off.
Get rid of all that, I use a 50/50 wash of H2O&vinegar, even spritz the container I use in fridge.
I also portion cut fruits for lunches
Yes I love the silicone bags as u inspired me . Saw u using & so happy that I needed try. Yes I’m
weaning off disposables
That mustard top looks fantastic! Such a great color! Great video, love the recipe ideas!
Your videos are so helpful and entertaining. Useful, and instructions. Good job. Thank you for sharing ⚘️
Glad you like them!
Love your videos! Thank you for sharing--especially liked the tip on freezing eggs :)
Just discovered yr channel…love it, …. Your so personable , refreshingly insightful! You give it to us….can’t wait to try some of yr tips!
😂 I had to go back and rewatch your intro twice! Girl you talk so quick I couldn’t catch what you said in full 😂 your videos are refreshing to watch, I like your style! Greetings from Australia
Loved this video. So helpful! Appreciate all the hard work you do. I have been canning for nearly 40 years and I am still learning. Thanks again.
I save my bread sacks, i use them storing processed meat cuts from the homestead or prepped frozen vegetables from the garden.The heavy ziplock ones that cheese and lunch meat come in are great for storing prepped pizza or bread dough. I have some of the reusable ziplocks from Amazon but they are not the best and after a few uses they zippers don't want to come together so I think I will look at investing in some more better quality ones. Definitely going put ACV and canning lids on my April stock up list since my garden harvest have already started rolling in.
I got so much creative inspiration and ideas with the meals you made. I’m working on getting better at cooking with what’s on hand but I get in a rut.
I have finally found it. A homemaking/homesteading channel that fits my style! I have been combing through TH-cam for a while now and have found a lot of fluff. Question, what's your method for thawing and reheating your freezer meals? Pan, oven, or microwave?
👋🏾Greetings Cassandra! I don't always comment but I enjoy your content (it's everything that I teach), delivery, and I always thumbs-up the video before I even view it! You always have me laughing. I so agree with you as far as the silicone bags are concerned. I saw some at Ikea (FILFISK) that are three of them for under $18. Not sure of the quality however when I am ready to purchase more I may try theirs. 👩🏾🌾👩🏾🍳🌱🌷
Hi , I'm loving your videos sweetie they are very helpful
I’ve tried reusable bags but I find after a little while they stop working so instead I just reuse the plastic bags. We even reuse our food saver bags except for the ones with raw meat. I even reuse the plastic containers that lunch meat comes in for leftovers or as Tupperware. I have plenty of glass jars.
Just found your Channel and this is right up my alley. Love your content! 👍🏼👍🏼
From,
A New subscriber in Idaho
I have found some of the stores in my state (Oregon) have canning lids/ rings on clearance! Not all the stores, but several that I’ve been in over the last week or two. So your tip of shopping around is right on!
It's nuts, Madeln. Even if I don't have any planned purchases at a certain grocery store, I've started to 'pop in' just to poke around and see what they have. Now that inventory is all over the place you really have to look in multiple places.
Always love, love your expertise, your experiments, your sharing all the good stuff! TY :)
You've accidently brought to light my single GREATEST problem with home canning/preserving . . . 1. You need the right Equipment . . . The only way to make your time and energy commitment worth the investment is to have the right Equipment . . . . 2. But in order to have space to store my product. I end up with No Space for my Equipment. ... ... ... HELP
Hello 👋🏾 Dana! I hear ya friend and I totally get what you’re saying. Since it sounds like you’re in a small(er) space like me, I’ve done work around like turning a closer under my steps into my canning pantry and pairing down other items to prioritize my canning, pantry storage. Here’s how I see it: 1. Food is one of the top expenses after your home, insurance and a car payment if you have one so finding ways take advantage of sales that don’t require refrigeration is an investment that pays off over time. 2. I do plan to have a humble homestead one day and I see canning as a way to learn preservation skills now. 3. Call me a homebody but there’s nothing I’d rather do after a long workweek than just be in my kitchen canning and keeping company with my TH-cam friends. We all spend our time doing one thing or another and for me, it’s this! I certainly don’t have a house that’ll be on HGtV, it looks lived in, and I’m surrounded by what I love. At the end of the day you’ll have to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze. I say it is! 🥰
I hear you. I’ve got canning stuff stored under stairs, tucked into nooks and out in my garden shed. It’s not pretty.
You can store A LOT under your bed/s. Put your bed up on cheap corner risers (seems luxurious, like princess & the pea!), get a bed skirt (thrift store!) to hide your loot, & cut down sturdy cardboard boxes (from Aldi!) to slide in & out so you can rotate the cans by date.
Other ideas would be under & behind the couch, above the kitchen cupboards (if they don’t go to the ceiling, instead of a bunch of decor), & in with linens in the hall closet (consolidate those towels & sheets!). Once you get used to looking for wasted space, you’ll see it everywhere.
You must do this!
Remember you can use your water and pressure canners to store other parts of the canning instruments. Also you can add other less used items inside them also. Plus when it is canning time nothing says you need to have the stove top canner anywhere but the stovetop.
I keep some of my canning stuff on top of my kitchen cabinets for "decor" when on not using it.
Wow again!😃
Have been using silicone freezer trays for a few years now (a different brand, but they all seem pretty comparable). They are an economic, convenient, organized way to freeze food. So SO great.
Hello! You always inspire. I want to go home from work and can, can, can!! Stay wonderful!!
Awww, thank you Heidi!! 🥰 Honey you named exactly what I pretty much do; go to work, plan what to preserve and u wind on the weekends canning “all the things” 🤭
Love the freezer organization, I’m always with free or cheap solutions!
I love that you give us may less known sale items depending on the season. I had no idea about pretzel sales in April! I feel so enlightened. :)
Love Love your happy attitude!
Enjoyed the info - especially the humor - thanks. 😊
Hi! I’m new to your channel and SO blessed to have found you!! Thank you for all you do for your subscribers! I esp appreciated reusable talk with your budget and shopping what is in season for April! Both were incredible for this old timer! I’m in FL & we are lucky to live close to farms but your tips are SOLID!! Thank you, again!!❤
Thanks for that egg hack. Love it. I do something similar to tomato paste. I never need all the tomato paste in the can so I freeze them in my silicone candy forms. Besides being able to save them they are cute!
Jenn, I LOVE this tip. Makes so much sense. Those little extra ice cube trays really come in handy!
You can also smear tomato sauce and paste on a parchment covered sheet pan and dehydrate, like fruit rollups. If you get them good and dry, you can powder them.
I LOVE my Stasher bags. I actually purchased a ton (for myself and my daughter) when Bed Bath and Beyond was in business. I would wait for them to go on sale and then use the 20% coupons.
I've been switching to reusable silicone for a lot of non-meat products, saving the freezer plastic bags for meat marinades and the like. I've been using the ZipTop brand containers - sandwich size for shredded cheese portions, storing homemade pie cruts, and chopped onions. Then for large things like stir fry mix I've started using the large dish size.
I have a total of 5, and I need Mooore!! 😂
Hey lady! It’s always good to see you! Sounds like you and I are in the same boat with expanding our inventory! But by bit does it! Hope your week is off to a great start!