In My Kitchen September, looking back on August 2025

Hello September, and good-bye to an active August! If I thought July went fast, August beat that by a landslide...between the garden, a couple of homestead ideas/crafts I wanted to try and cooking, I managed to add 10 new posts to the archives...along with a few cookbook reviews and generally having some blogger fun. Because if it isn't fun, why are we here? Without further ado, let's join Sherry for In My Kitchen!

I usually don't get too personal here on Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household, except about food. 

Because food is personal. It is comfort, nourishment, and how we keep the family (and friends, do not discount friendships!) together, plus food is a central part of everyday life. Yes it is always fun to take a vacation and go see the world, but home is where our hearts and our families live. It is where I live. However with that said, I am working to improve my overall health, due to a series of small but stacking up conditions, that were recently were brought to my attention. Some food sensitivities, some related to digestion, and by golly some just due to my own family heredity. Ironically that information got me moving more than I usually do, and I already keep fairly busy! You will see all the additional activity reflected in what I accomplished this month. 

Did I buy anything for the house? Yes, new water filters. 

Did I buy anything for fun? Yes, a fish and a few supplies!

Did I buy anything for the garden? Yes, composted steer manure fertilizer!  

Nothing glamourous for sure! My stainless steel bakeware conversion is complete. And honestly living in a 40 foot RV Tiny Home does not leave much room for collections of any type! But I do, still love to browse! 

Our tiny home!

What do we need to buy? 

Turns out a new stove/oven combo for our tiny home! I have been baking in the canning shed, and thankful I have that stove to turn to, with my RV kitchen stove out of commission. And I mean totally out of commission, first the oven and now the burners. And wouldn't you know it, the needed parts are no longer available for the one in our Tiny Home. 

Homestead life is interesting, you don't need much, but the basics are sorely missed when they need replaced! And now on to the new posts for the month of August 2025. 

New posts review:

This delicious chocolate dessert is from our own Grandma Jean! It was the dessert of choice in that household for 50+ years! So easy, but I did make it a bit easier by using my own Whole Wheat Self-Rising Flour. You may want to take a quick look at Grandma Jean's Baked Fudge Pudding...

When I ripped out the spent tomato plants, I collected all the little green tomatoes and pickled them! One of the simplest pickles out there and they are delicious in potato salad! Pickled Green Tomatoes.

I realized when we were out driving around and stopped at a crowded convenience store (and for those unfamiliar with the Buc-ee's chain, there were probably 500 to 600 folks in that store, it is huge!) and I came down with a cold. I realized that I am too sequestered on our property.  I immediately made plans to get out more and be around other folks to keep my immunity up! Build Your Immunity, and build your strength. Came out of that experience. 

Until we have a cold room or root cellar, I took a look back in time, and centuries ago folks made a Cold Storage Pot. While the original pots were pottery, this one using what I had on hand actually helps to keep the produce from the garden fresh for a few more days. It is intended for hard squash and root vegetables. Making a Cold Storage Pot. 

Oven Braised Beef and Pork is from my All in the Oven Cookbook. I have been using that cookbook (especially when we were traveling for the National Parks System) for decades. But until this dish, nothing had been posted on the blog. Problem solved!

Sweet Potatoes from the Garden, growing styles and recipes. Wow I have learned a lot about growing sweet potatoes. And yes, we even tried sweet potato vines in our quinoa...while we don't normally eat them in the US, many other countries do. They are eaten much like spinach. 

Even living on a Homestead like we do, I had forgotten, we all need a bit of fun from time to time! (and a betta fish on your dining room table!) Don't Forget to Have Some Fun, for Homestead Sunday #12.

And I completed the final version of my Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread!

After experimenting with sweet potato vine, I made it again with greens of choice from our fridge! I was glad I took it on, to make it again, as we have been slow to eat much quinoa. But this turned out so tasty, it will be on our table often! You can mix it up with the greens, cheese and the seeds or nuts! Homestead Quinoa. 

Family Favorite Cole Slaw. Because cabbage is so good for you! And this is the best Cole Slaw dressing ever...

And this final post, What's In Your Crisper Drawer, let's talk cabbage...because cabbage is so good for us all! Raw, cooked and even fermented!

And because I decided to put more fun into my blogging routine, 

I have been having a great time supporting a book review linky with my co-host Estelle. I simply review the cookbooks I already own, and have been using for years. These are not new books by any means, some are vintage and others because I enjoy the subject matter. All for fun, and I thought I would also include the reviews for the cookbooks that I have reviewed in August...

72 Market Street Café.  The café of the stars in Venice CA. But don't let that stop you from enjoying the meatloaf!

One Bite Won't Kill You.  Recipes that (most) children will eat and adults will like! Plus Ann has a great comedic personality regarding food. 

All in the Oven Cookbook  Exactly as the name implies! 

And although it was in July, My Grandmother's Cookbook.  This book has been in my kitchen for over 50 years. My grandmother goes with me each time I step into the kitchen to cook! 

How about you? What has been happening in your kitchen?

You might also enjoy: 

In my Kitchen August, looking back on July 2025. 

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#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily

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