CANNING: How to Can Fresh Bluegill, Perch, and Other Small Panfish
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CANNING: How to Can Fresh Bluegill, Perch, and Other Small Panfish

Catching little panfish like bluegill, perch, pumpkin-seeds, and other small panfish can be “reel” fun… but trying to clean and fillet them is just crappie! (Groan. Sorry. Not really, actually… because if you can’t make dad-jokes about fishing, what even are they…

DRINK: How to Make Homemade Creme de Violettes Liqueur
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DRINK: How to Make Homemade Creme de Violettes Liqueur

Me, feeling inspired on a gorgeous day in early May: “Hey, I should learn how to make homemade violet liqueur! That would be neat, right? What a pastoral past time for a sublimely beautiful day!” How that actually went: Pick a pretty…

FORAGE: Wild Blewits & Braised Chicken Thighs, White Wine Cream Sauce, and Kale Orzo
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FORAGE: Wild Blewits & Braised Chicken Thighs, White Wine Cream Sauce, and Kale Orzo

Did you luck into a treasure trove of wild purple-hued blewit mushrooms, and you’re looking for a special recipe to showcase them? This rich but simple dish combines sauteed mushrooms with braised chicken thighs (either fresh or home-canned whole or boneless thighs)…

BAKE: Pumpkin Spice Caramel Cheesecake Brownies for Samhain (or any other day)
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BAKE: Pumpkin Spice Caramel Cheesecake Brownies for Samhain (or any other day)

  Is there anything more perfect to warm a witch’s heart than waking up to a dense fog advisory for Halloween 🎃 morning? How about some pumpkin spice caramel cheesecake brownies to go with your breakfast brew? Yes, please… don’t mind if…

CAMP: Hiawatha National Forest – Free Primitive Dispersed Camping on Public Land
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CAMP: Hiawatha National Forest – Free Primitive Dispersed Camping on Public Land

We made a quick road trip up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last weekend which was long overdue for some free public land camping. This time, instead of backpacking, we did some boondock car camping and hiking in the national forest…