Homestead Mom Life ~ Spare Rib Recipe ~ Roasted Garlic Powder ~ Starting Tomato Seeds 

We also have a house full of boys that get excited about worms. The only difference is that my older boys will now find the worms and disappear to go fishing. 🤣🤣🤣

My husband is an amputee and in the VA Home Healthcare. All his medical needs they come to our house, we only have to go out to a doctor appointment for a specialist. Anyway we had tornado warnings Thursday also. Friday morning the VA called us to check that we were ok as well as our house. That really surprised me that they did that. We have been so blessed by our VA, they have taken care of just about everything including paying me to take care of him so he doesn’t have to go into a nursing home

Prayers for the communities that were damaged from the tornadoes.

Glad you have a freeze dryer. So many of my favorite channels are promoting them. At 70 I’ll never own one but can fast forward through that part of the video. I have been buying organic freeze dried veggies to keep on hand. My garlic is popping up also. Have a great week.

Still absolutely loving that beautiful hutch of pretty jars against the green of your kitchen walls. A visually soothing environment soothes our spirit more than we realize.

Watched that storm system on radar & just kept saying prayers! You’re not alone in having a hard time with housework & wanting to be out of doors gardening! I’ve had to have some very stern talks with myself😊

So thankful your family is safe and am praying for those hit hard this past week. Here in north texas thought I could set out vegetable starts today but found out we were having a freeze tonight! The worst time for gardening is waiting for the warm up of spring!

I needed that little game plan. Set amount of minutes cleaning THEN garden time.

Hello Jessica! Just finished watching this episode out out in Tucson! Have been binge watching the pantry challenge for three days! Your children look so happy! I do beef short ribs for two days in my crock pot. I don’t bother browning them! I do tomato paste and a splash of Marsala and the usual veg. I let it get cold overnight so I can scrape off the fat and the bones slip off. It is hugely popular!

Super Jessica, just before watching this video I had pulled out some of our garlic saying we needed to use it or lose it. So the individual cloves are now roasting in the oven.

Good morning Jessica! Awe, Hannah is getting so big. So happy to hear that your family is safe from the tornadoes.. I don't think any of those tornadoes made it up here in Michigan #grateful. I love eggs for breakfast, so healthy. We haven't planted yet, but hopefully soon I will get some greens planted. We have snow this morning, but I am not complaining, we've had an extremely unusual winter.

So glad y’all are safe!! We were praying for y’all watching those crazy storms!!

Just love the balanced nature of your videos. It’s a blessed example of intentional care of your family.

Just cut off the top of the garlic bulb and roast the whole thing. Then the garlic just squeezes right out once it's nice and soft. Super quick!

I know time is often a consideration when you're cooking but if you fry up some bacon, then brown the ribs in the bacon grease and add the chopped bacon to the ribs the flavor is amazing. So glad you're all safe.

The children outside and happy in the sun. Everyone looks healthy and strong. Your voice is happy talking about spending time with your baby plants. Sorry to hear about neighbors storm damages. Learn so much while listening to all your videos.😊

How fortunate to find nettle growing on your property. It’s an herb I’ve been buying dried because I couldn’t forage it nearby and I use it daily to help with my allergies and asthma among other things. I’ve both ground it into powder and capsulized it (along with alfalfa and golden rod if I can find any and dry it) and made tinctures out of it. I hear you can cook it like spinach and it takes the sting out of it but is super nutritious! Tea is also wonderful. I’ve actually acquired seed for it and am hoping it sprouts for me this year as I’d love to grow it myself in my herb garden. What a find! I’m like you though, let’s not injure ourselves in our pursuit of gardening lol. 😂 My husband jokes that he can’t leave me alone because I hurt myself in my zeal for playing out in the garden. I managed to cut my hand while planting garlic in the fall. I honestly don’t know how I do these things haha. 😂 I’m just so excited for all the new growth coming up out of the ground right now! So beautiful and fun to watch all the plants growing. ☺️ God’s creation and I get to be a part of it! What a privilege. ❤️

Great video, momma! Thankful your family was spared damage from the tornadoes. Sorry others around you had significant damage. I always find sitting back and observing your family life to be calming & enjoyable. The freeze drying you did was wonderful and such excellent food resources to have handy. All the different varieties of tomato seeds will surely provide lots of plants for tomato products you hope to grow. May you & yours remain healthy and safe. Blessings. Susan

Another great video. I'm in the UK and I'm sewing seeds and trying to get my spring cleaning done in-between working. Also got eggs in an incubator. First time so hopefully I have chick's. Keep well and thank you.

Glad that you were safe from the tornadoes. Enjoy watching your videos. All of your home cooked meals look so delicious and healthy. Such a beautiful family. Brenda from Kansas

We have nonstinging nettle all over our yard. The sea of purple flowers are beautiful!

Really liked that you are using up last years canned and dried foods and finding ways to incorporate them into meals like the spare ribs. Great idea for using cuts of meat that can be tough and turning them into attractive healthy meals. Sometimes a little different method and presentation is a game changer. You never seem to run out of the best ideas!

Hello! I heard you mention your page at my first pickup for Azure! I have been following and loving your experiences, since! I am convinced we live so so very close to one another! I am in NW Ohio. Findlay is 45 minutes away and Indian Lake is about 20 minutes away. I would love to meet one day! We spent the last two days assessing damage and seeing how we can assist at the Lake. We have disaster relief experience and our hearts are broken yet rewarded seeing all of the helpers! As a mom of all boys, I still might get excited (for them) when I see worms!!! Blessings to your family!!

Love when your little boys "ham" for the camera! Your family is so fun to watch.

Thank you for sharing your family with me!❤

Wonderful video this week, Jessica. I love seeing your children! So glad you are safe. I haven't had the tv on, so I wasn't even aware of the tornadoes, but happy they didn't effect you! Those spare ribs really looked yummy. Thank you for that idea. Have a great week :)

Always learn something new or a little bit different... thank you for sharing your week! Blessings on your journey kiddo!🌻🐛Carolyn in Ohio🌿

So much useful info today. ❤ You and your family start my week off with motivation and expectations. Thank you! Spring is slowly approaching. I too have to be strict with myself-housework first-then outside to set the stage. My vision of gardening has a strong pull. The longer day gives me a head start but boy, does morning come quickly. (Insert yawn) So glad to hear the tornadoes did not directly harm your homestead. Prayers being lifted to those families who were in harm’s way. I am praying for so many areas of the US and abroad that have been affected by storms, fires, and earthquakes. Prayer works. We will get through this with Divine guidance. Have a wonderful week; the children seem busy and happy. Little boys and bugs! And I see miss Hannah is sporting a little piggie! Very stylish! Love and light❤

Someday, maybe when the kiddos are older, you could run your own agricultural tourism business. Guest could stay at a local hotel , and during the day, they pay a fee to experience a working functioning homestead. Hands on experience and lessons. Canning, cleaning, gardening, homeschooling,food preservation…I think many of your fans would absolutely be interested.

Thank you for the update on you all. Will pray for your neighbors. Blessings

I love it when the babies pep around with that beautiful smile.

Good morning Jessica and family! I look forward to your videos every week! I watch these videos to soothe myself and learn! Much love, from Augusta Georgia, and GOD BLESS!

What a great week. Hannah’s little ponytail is too sweet!

I am a 77 year old man and am the oldest of 8 children. Therefore your family is very interesting to me. Meghan Holler mentioned you.

You had one peeping around the jar on the table. I love precious moments like that. I wish my teenage boys would've been worm adventurers.🐛 I do it for my chickens. I was that kid who turned over rocks (and continue to do so)! 😂 I hope that y'all continue to remain safe from bad weather. Like many of your followers, I was also keeping y'all in our prayers.

I loved when one of the little boys was peeping around the beef broth that was such a pretty picture

Thankful you fared well during the storms, so many are in need of our prayers. Blessings.

Good morning! I love having my morning coffee and watching you and your precious children! ❤️💕 Prayers are going up right now for anyone affected by the storms. God Bless you Jessica! 💕🙏🙏💕

I would be careful about putting the stinging nettle into the herb bed. It can be quite invasive. Thanks for the video!

I totally have to do the "do some housework then outside reward time" for myself too 😅

All of your meals always look so inviting and delicious! Thanks for showing the process on freeze drying the sweet potatoes, garlic, and the beef broth. I am still learning, but hope to get better. I was able to get outside several days in February and clear out all of my raised beds. They were a real mess due to me having a frozen shoulder. As I can I am working on compost and a few other amendments. I am very excited to be able to do some gardening. Praying for your family and those who were affected by the storms.

My husband has been starting plants inside already here in Idaho. We have a large hexagon shaped breakfast room with windows floor to ceiling and we have shelving we put up this time of year for all this plant starts. Our garlic is also coming up outside and my husband literally just came in the house this morning saying how fragrant it is! I’m looking forward to the planting season ahead and the harvest. We don’t have a freeze dryer so I do a lot of jarred salsa, luckily my husband and son love it. Last year my moms peach tree overflowed with peaches so I put up a dozen jars of peach salsa which only lasted a couple of weeks because the guys loved it so much. This year I will forgo the peach pies I made and froze (and still have 3 of the 6 I made in the freezer) and just do all peach salsa. Hopefully the peach bounty is as great this year! Last year we had hardly any apples so maybe this year we will get more apples too.

I love the solar flare tomatoes! Makes a great BLT. I do the same with housework. Do 45 mins in the house, then go out and play in the garden.

Hello Jessica, it’s so nice to spend time with you. It’s still cold here in the Adirondack mountains of NY but I’m planning to start my seeds soon. I just purchased a grow rack with lights. First time doing this, hope it goes well. ❤

Nettles are so delicious, especially in springtime! We use them as you would spinach, and make nettle soup and nettle pancakes. Dried into a powder is good also, to add to just about anything. I am soo looking forward to spring! I live in Finland and we just got about four inches of snow... but sping is just around the corner!

Love the three simple dehydrated things you did today. I was so excited for you when you mentioned Mayb making tea later this year with what you re-planted!

Looks good. I had not heard about the tornado's as I don't do much news listening. Glad you are safe. But prayers for the folks who lost so much, including loved ones.

It never stops does it?we are empty nesters, have the teenage grandson frequently. We both work full time i pull 12 hr shifts. My friends dont know how i work ft and do what we do. Microfarmers here. Itching to plant some garden soon, onions hopefully this weekend. Zone 6a ohio. Bless you for sharing your journey, having such an Godly family. Your voice is so soothing for me as i do "all the things" myself. Laundry is on the rack drying by the wood stove, newborn baby quail are chirping, chicken eggs hatch next week. Im prepping dinner, doing housework, nursing a still sick breeder doe. Will clean pens in afternoon. Need to unload 500 lbs pig feed...need to get my beef bones out and make stock. Put away homesmoked jowl and hamhocks yesterday. My canning should be done till fall...i hope!!

What I started doing with the cherry tomatoes is cutting them in force more less icing them up and then the little ones thought it was fun and they started eating them. Sometimes I might put a little bit of balsamic vinegar over or something like that or Italian dressing or whatever but most the time they just ate them, especially put them in their salads, my little ones so I do salad bar once a month

I’m not a real big cherry tomato fan myself BUT I have to say I absolutely love love love “ Sun Sugar”, it’s a yellow cherry and is sooo sweet. Yum Yum, you should try it. I tried it for first time last yr a friend grew it and shared them with me. I tried a new recipe I found online and it is a great pizza sauce/ dipping sauce for breadsticks. I had 3 other cherry tomato varieties growing and I combined all 4 to make this. All you do is cut the tomatoes in half and drizzle some oil on them and put them on a cookie sheet and roast in oven for 90 min. When cooled down put in the food processor or food mill ( hand grinder)with your fav seasonings you use to make your fav pizza sauce. The seeds are so small I really didn’t notice them but seeds in tomatoes don’t bother us. Then you just put in containers & freeze. This yr I’m going to can some in the small jelly jars for dipping breadsticks. Last yr I froze in 1 C containers for sm personal pizza I make with the flat bread. I must say that I think the yellow Sun Sugar cherry tomato was the star of the show that made this sauce so so good plus the mixing of 4 tomatoes( it also helped to give me a lot all at once to make it up). Home made breadsticks then this sauce will be a great pair also. Hope you try it!!!!

Hello... I came over from The Dollar homestead by their recommendation... I am so happy to find another family homestead !! I will enjoy getting to know all of you !!

I got a short from you last night that said there would be no video this week because you were dealing with nausea and it showed a sonogram of a baby….i was excited for you but bummed because I wouldn’t get a video. You are part of my Sunday morning routine that I look forward to all week. Then your video popped up, and obviously you’re not dealing with nausea, and then I was sad because you aren’t pregnant but happy to get your video. Whew, I am exhausted…lol😂 As a fellow Ohioan I am heartbroken at all the damage the storms here have caused. I can’t even imagine how it feels to lose everything you have. Yes, they are just things, but still devastating to lose it all. Many prayers for those families and communities.❤❤❤

My garden has been calling me to my husband reinforced an older flower bed and did some things to a couple new raised beds that I bought in the fall I'm excited can't wait and I'm glad your family is

My friend lives in the area that got hit - she had about 2 dozen trees and 1 tree was left standing and had to be cut down because it was about to fall over on her damaged house. Roof ruined, foundation is cracked open at all 4 corners - but every is ok; her family and her animals - so that is what matters. Everyone be safe.

You can grate garlic on a cheese grater (medium holes)Just grate the cloves without taking the skin off. Most of the skin falls completely off and the small portion mixed in doesn’t taste like anything and is so little you would never know. So much easier to handle that way!

Have you done a video that features your grow lights? It looks so convenient how easily you can adjust them.

Good morning I am glad you and your family are safe from the storms that went threw. The best part of my morning is starting coffee and waiting for your videos

Garden time coming soon. Enjoy. Happy kids.

It’s crazy how much Gabriel resembles you!!❤️

Too use up eggs in my house, I add a dozen eggs scrambled too my sausage gravy and use it on biscuits , or make meringue cookies, my husband's friend is gluten free so she enjoys them too. I add hard cooked eggs to tuna & chicken salad , as well as just cucumber salad or carrot salad..... or fry hard cooked eggs after egg washing and panko breading.... so fun& delicious for a treat... I have also made sweet potato "toast" by slicing them thin and baking with a little oil salt n pepper, bakingfor 20 minutesor so on 350° then colling a bit and spreadingwith egg salad for breakfastor a good lunch as well.......anyways im sure you have done all these too, but thought maybe you hadn't done it in a while. I enjoy all your videos😢

So glad to hear your all safe & ok.

Sis, you need a new broom. lol. I’m sure it’s low on the priority list but it would help make your chores easier. I’m excited for gardening season too!

Nice to see things growing. Here in MN, even though we had a much warmer than average winter, the ground is still frozen and will be for quite some time. I usually push the envelope, so I'll begin my seed starting after Easter, about two weeks earlier than most.

We used to harvest nettle in the spring and cook it like spinach. I haven’t had it since childhood but remember just loving it! Yum, that brought back such good memories! I’m going to have to find a patch. 😄

Glad you are all safe. My prayers go out to all affected.

Praise God you were all safe. Praying for all involved that they recover positively

I love stinging nettle. I drink it nearly every day, and use the spent herbs (after tea making) in my watering bots for plants. I like the idea of putting it in the middle of the herb bed! Smart. We put spare ribs in the crockpot overnight. There are only two people left in my household, myself and my adult daughter, so there's enough meat in a crockpot full to feed us once or twice, and we like to render some of the fat for tallow. We don't eat pork.

So glad you are safe. 🙏 for those in the path of the storm.

Glad you and your family are safe. Thinking of others.

The Hollar Homestead suggested I check you out and she was RIGHT!! You are amazing!

I am in Southern Indiana, the storms missed us too. We have started our plants. Love your videos❤

Thank you Jessica. You inspire me. I just started my seeds too for my little suburban raised beds. Those beef ribs looked delicious! I could almost smell them! I bet the dogs loved all the bones! So thankful you're all safe. Have a good week.

So glad to see you transplanting nettle! Nettle is an amazing herb, and I wish I could get it established here. The cows eat it as soon as it comes up,

Another busy week at the homestead! Thank you for taking the time to video too.

Such a lovely video, as always! Your family is just beautiful. Little wee Hannah is getting so big already 🥹 precious cherub. The ribs looked delicious! And I look forward to your garden taking shape. Sending love from Australia x PS thanks for sharing your tomato varieties, I might try some of them in my garden next summer

Glad you and your family came through the storms ok. Though of you and your family when I heard about the storms.

Gardening is a lovely time of year. 😃 I'm in MN so we're just starting our seeds now. Last year I started them way too early. 😂

Yeah was cleaning and waiting for your family's visit:)

I balance that way as well. I canned Pomonas pectin strawberry jalapeno jam as strawberries were on sale. Today I wiped the jars then I could sit with coffee. Next is wash the floors then I can go for a walk. Can't get in the garden yet. Isn't it amazing how dirty ceiling fans get so quickly?

Glad you’re all safe and well! You are definitely a calming voice and presence in my life as well as many others. Have you grown Grape Tomatoes? My family doesn’t care for Cherry Tom’s but they can’t get enough of the Grape Variety! Perfect for salads too because they don’t have as high if a juice content. Have a great week!

Hi Jessica... sending you much love. I can't believe how old Gabe is!!! He looks so mature. I watched an older video the other day and his transformation is astounding. All of your kids are just beautiful. Thanks for sharing another great video. Your Michigan Fan and Friend Araminta ❤❤❤❤

Great video Jessica. I too can't wait to get into the garden, but my time is nearer a month away here in Northern Michigan, so I thoroughly enjoy watching you in the early garden days.😊

Stinging nettle is great for hayfever free tea!

Stay safe in this awful weather. Love to see your starts for the garden. I wish I had a freeze drier. I would be over joyed. God bless you all. Have a wonderful day.

Praying for all the people in Ohio due to the tornados. Thankyou for a great video.

I was so worried about your family when I heard what happened. So glad your family is well and safe. I've been praying for that community and all those affected by the tornadoes in other states as well.

I learn so much from you! Thank you!

🇦🇺I love ribs covered in bbq sauce and cooked on the bbq. That way the fat melts off. No cutlery needed.

So glad you are all safe. God Bless you and your family ❤

I love nettle tea , and the spare ribs looks delicious!

Great idea roasting garlic for powdering! TY.

So enjoy sharing your family life, your very gifted with food, so glad you are safe, tornados take so much away

So thankful that you guys are okay ❤️❤️❤️ Happy Sunday, Three Rivers!!

Thank you Jessica!!! ❤❤❤❤ I'm getting excited to plant my garden this year .

Have a blessed week. I have been happy to see you and your family are ok & tremendously sad for all those who weren't so lucky.

I just watered my seedlings in the solo cups, checked on my fig cuttings , honey suckle, magnolia saplings, tomato, etc.

My Son-in-law Smoked the most wonderful Beef Ribs for the Family a few months ago; they were fall off the bone tender😋👍🏼

It's March! We will send you a bunch of more snow. -not super cold tho. I don't like raw garlic or onions. I at least lightly cook it for everything. Good hack about roasting it to peel. Have a great week!

Just wanted to share a helpful tip with you. If you need to peel garlic cloves quickly, try soaking them in water for at least half an hour. This will make them so much easier to peel : )

Thank you very interesting, god bless you and your family x