Siti on the homestead
this is kind of joke, but I fear it's not.
Homesteading is having her moment.
Or, had?
I don’t think I’m on the internet enough to know fully, but it’s been a term I keep hearing! It’s nothing new, quite the opposite.
Think of Little House on the Prairie. But. Modern.
Also at a time when groceries and restaurants are getting more expensive in my city, I’m trying to save money in any capacity.
Here’s what it’s looking like on the homestead; aka my little space in the loop of the fourth biggest city in the United States :’)
Dutch Oven Bread
Before you ask, no it’s not sourdough.
I can’t handle that kind of responsibility at the moment. Having a sourdough starter I’m told is like having a child.
But! Baking up bread in my Dutch oven (shoutout to my cousins Zach and Jesse) has been a fun pastime!
The workload is so light compared to the hour(s) it takes to make Syrian bread. I technically don’t even have to knead it which is a plus!
I’ve been slicing up my loaves and keeping them in the freezer. I’m not going to lie though and say this is the “best bread I’ve EVER had!” or plead you HAVE to make this would feel silly. It’s good! But not “the best bread you’ll ever have in your life” good.
Currently, in my stage of life, this bread is doing the trick! It’s your average loaf, but worth the (very little amount of) trouble!
Yogurt?
My Siti would laugh to hear me talk about being intimidated to make yogurt.
This woman could make Syrian cheese and Labne with her eyes closed.
She did use Rennet tablets (a fancy enzyme tablet for cheesemaking), while I’m doingthe “traditional” route of using old yogurt as my starter.
Siti also didn’t use any fancy thermometers and would just stick her fingers in the milk and knew when it was good and ready.
I think I still need some time (or just confidence) until I’m there.
Now writing this after one yogurt-batch, WOW I can confirm it is easy.
And honestly? It’s sooooooooo good.
Not as tangy as your regular greek yogurt (that’s on me). If Labne and Ricotta had a baby, this would be it!
Incredibly rich and deeply rewarding. Like what twenty-four-year-old makes yogurt?
This one I guess.
BIG NOTE,
if you can handle lactose, save the whey (the liquid that separates during the straining process) USE THIS! It’s basically protein-boosted water!
If you’re like me who cannot handle that….avoid it because there will be consequences.
The continuation of glass jars
This is known information, but I love to store all my stuff in jars.
Recently, I’ve gotten attached to this huge jar for my carrots. It fits two pounds of peeled and prepped carrots perfectly, what more can a girl ask for?!
I also was in the habit of “taking” (they would’ve been trashed, so really, I’m a hero) jars from work. Dijon and caper jars rescued and turned into semi-cute storage.
Coffee at Home
This isn’t new nor homestead-esque, but this has saved me lots of pennies.
My go-to method is french press cold brew.
The recipe I follow is 100 grams of coffee grounds to one liter of cold water, then I let that bad boy marinate for 20-24 hours in the fridge.
Again, not original, but making my coffee at home gives me the same fuzzy feeling as breadmaking. Call it endorphins, or just a stupid amount of caffeine, the world may never know.
Honestly? All the things I mentioned aren’t difficult, but they take quite a bit of time, which is the gift I have now, and thank God for that!
With Love,
Cara