If you had to run a kitchen with only 5 cooking tools for an entire year, no upgrades, no swaps, what would you choose and why? I’m talking real life cooking busy days, family meals, flavor, efficiency, and sanity 😅 Curious to see how different everyone’s list is… and which tool people would never give up.

Butchering day on our homestead. I chose to include my toddler in the process, not to expose her to harshness, but to ground her in reality. Food doesn’t magically appear wrapped in plastic. Life feeds life. And when we honor that truth early, we raise children who are grateful, not entitled. Before anything else, she said her goodbyes. This was the hardest part for my Mama heart as she once held these hens as babies, but this is how we build a foundation of understanding. Here’s how we utilized the entire bird: ~The whole hen → simmered low and slow into rich, mineral dense broth ~The meat → nourishing meals for our family ~The livers → cooked for a simple, protein rich breakfast (my personal favorite!) ~The feet → given to the dogs (excellent for joints and teeth) ~The feathers → saved for a future crafts and learning projects This is about stewardship. Homestead skills are best passed down through observation and hands on experience.When children see this from the beginning, they learn that provision comes with responsibility. This is what it looks like to raise children with the land instead of apart from it. To teach them where nourishment comes from. To let them see the full circle of life. This is slow living. This is intentional parenthood on a homestead.

Turning $5 finds into food storage freedom. Don’t overlook your local Marketplace, it’s one of the easiest ways to build a homestead tool stockpile on a budget! What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored? One thing I love about vintage mason jars is that they were built for real, hardworking homes. The older glass is often thicker and holds up beautifully for canning, pantry storage, and fermenting, as long as the rim is smooth and you’re using a proper canning lid. After a good wash, vinegar rinse, and rim check, these jars get a second life in our home. That’s sovereignty in the small things: stewarding what we have, stretching every dollar, and honoring the homemakers who used these jars long before we did.

From our ingredient only home to yours: a clean “Danimals” dupe that keeps our little buckaroo nourished. God’s good fruit, simple staples, and a quick blend—toddler tested, mama approved. Make a batch for the trail of your week!

Even though the garden is sleeping, winter is one of my favorite times to slow down, simmer something on the stove, and fill the pantry with jars that feel like comfort in a season. December canning is cozy canning~ simple, small-batch, and full of flavor! Here are a few winter-friendly options if you’re itching to pull out your jars this week: 🫙Cranberry Sauce or Cranberry Juice Cranberries are in peak season, inexpensive, and perfect for water bath canning. A few bags can turn into a year’s worth of sauce, or the prettiest ruby-red juice you’ll ever sip. 🍓 Christmas Jam A festive blend of strawberries + cranberries + cinnamon. Makes the BEST last minute neighbor gifts and tastes like a holiday candle in jam form. 🍗 Bone Broth (Pressure Canned) If you’re roasting a chicken or turkey this month, don’t toss the bones! Pressure canned broth is pure gold and makes winter cooking so much easier. 🍲 Winter Soups Vegetable soup, chicken soup, or taco soup can be safely pressure-canned (as long as everything is low-acid and broth-based). Perfect for quick meals on cold nights. 🧄 Garlic, Onion, and Herb Bases Winter is when many homemakers stock up their “cooking starters”: minced garlic, herb infused broths, mirepoix mixes. Some need freezing, but a few versions are canning-safe with the right method. Why I love winter canning… No garden pressure = no rush. Just slow, cozy homemaking with my little one underfoot, learning alongside me. Cranberries being on sale after thanksgiving is also a huge perk! Plus there’s something magical about hearing jars ping while the world outside is cold and quiet. What’s simmering in your kitchen this month? I am attaching a Christmas Jam recipe, I love this for my homemade gift baskets! Let me know if you try it!