Love country gravy? Looking for a simple vegetarian country gravy recipe? Whether you eat meat or not, you're going to love how simple this gravy is to make…No giblets required.     Simple Vegetarian Country Gravy Recipe This is one of the best gravy recipes I have every had. It's vegetarian because there's no chicken or turkey drippings required. You can also easily make it 100% vegan by using vegetable oil instead of butter, and almond milk instead of milk. The flavors will be slightly different, but you can indulge in gravy guilt-free! (You can also easily make this simple gravy recipe 100% vegan by using vegetable oil instead of butter, and unsweetened almond or soy milk instead of cow's milk. The flavors will be slightly different, but you can indulge in gravy guilt-free!) Whatever your dietary style is, enjoy this simple homemade vegetarian gravy recipe! Ingredients 2 Tbsp butter, margarine, or vegetable oil 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour 1 to 2 cups milk 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 tsp paprika (optional) 1/4 tsp garlic salt (optional)   Step 1. Melt the butter in a small to medium saucepan over medium heat.   Step 2. Add in the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic salt to the melted butter. Whisk until the mixture forms a smooth paste.   Step 3. Cook mixture for 10 minutes or until brown. Stir frequently to prevent burning the flour.   Step 4. Slowly add the milk, whisking thoroughly the entire time so that lumps do not form.   Here's a trick: Only add about 1/4 cup of milk at a time. Dumping your milk at once will make it almost impossible to break down the lumps. Step 5. Continue to cook the gravy until it bubbles and thickens. Make sure to stir mixture frequently.     That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you love it! Share your photos and experience in the comments below! Don't Forget: You can't have gravy without Grandma's Homemade Biscuits Recipe     This post was made possible because of the cool people from Wikihow.

Learn how to make your own homemade granola. Making granola is better than buying granola for many reasons, such as you have control of what goes into it, it's cheaper, and it's healthier and fresher. Keep reading to learn how to make your own! Homemade Granola Recipe For A Healthier Homestead We all get the munchies from time to time, and when that time comes, we should be prepared with healthy recipes for all our snacking needs. That’s why I’m sharing this recipe from The Casual Craflete on how to make homemade granola from scratch. Use this simple granola recipe to make a nutritious filling snack the whole family can enjoy.   Ingredients: 18 oz container of old fashion oats ½ cup chopped almonds ½ cup chopped pecans ½ cup chopped walnuts ½ cup chopped pine nuts ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut ¼ cup flax seed ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp cinnamon ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 cup dried blueberries   How To Make Homemade Granola:   Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients Combine, oats, nuts, coconut, flax seed, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir until well-combined.   #FARMTOTABLE DISH: Alisha's (@folkessentials) brunch, featuring fresh eggs from her backyard chickens! | Do you want us to feature your farm-to-table dishes? Go ahead and use the hashtag #HappyHomesteading! A post shared by Homesteading (@homesteadingusa) on Mar 24, 2017 at 7:42pm PDT   Step 2: Whisk Liquid Ingredients In another bowl, whisk together syrup and oil. Pour the mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients. Combine thoroughly.   Step 3: Bake It Pour the mixture into two baking sheets with sides and spread evenly in a single layer. Bake granola mixture at 300 degrees for 30 to 45 mins or until the granola is golden brown. Stir every 10 mins.   Step 4: Remove From Oven Remove granola from the oven and let it cool completely. Add the blueberries and store in an air-tight container.   Want more homemade granola recipes for a healthy breakfast? Check out this video from a Wildflower Life – Healthy Food & Lifestyle: That’s all, fellow homesteaders! A quick and easy to prepare homemade granola recipe for the whole family to enjoy. This recipe is guaranteed to give your family a healthy snack to savor any time of the day. So, forget everything about store-bought snacks! Did you enjoy our tutorial on how to make homemade granola? Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of our homemade granola recipe. Want another healthy snack for your homestead kitchen? Check out here Healthy Blueberry Muffin Recipe! Follow us on facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter! This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Learn how to install solar panels for your homestead. The process is a bit tricky, but once you do it you'll save tons of money, and you'll be making the most of earth's natural resources (the sun). What a win! Follow along for the play by play. DIY Solar Panel Installation Here's what you'll need to do. Follow along carefully, and start saving money with solar energy in no time! Like Solar Panels? Check out our other Solar Panel related articles: Cool solar powered inventions! 12 Best DIY Solar Panel Tutorials Solar Powered Tents Materials concrete electrical cable 40-watt solar panel 1/2″ galvanized electrical conduit 4×4 posts 1/2″ copper rod copper grounding wire 5500-watt power inverter 40-amp charge controller angle brackets nylon rope   Step 1. Pick out a spot for your solar panel | For most people, the roof is the best location for solar panel installation. It usually already has the structural specifications that the solar panels require. All that is needed is mounting hardware and appropriate flashings. Other than the roof, you can also opt for other mounting options like shade awnings or ground-mount options.   Step 2. Bury conduit | Bury conduit from the house or building that will receive the power to the area where the solar panel array will be located. Right above the conuit, build a platform consisting of concrete pillars and 4x4s that will support your solar array.   Step 3. Mount the panels | Place mounts four feet apart. Mount the panel to the platform using angle brackets at the mounting points, and mount the front feet first. The feet should be squared and centered before being secured into place. Secure the mounts with steel bolts. Make sure to seal the area around the bolts in order to keep your thermal envelope air tight. Fasten the solar panels to the mounts.   Step 4. Connect the solar modules | Connect the solar modules together and join them at a junction connector or fuse combiner box. The modules should be stripped and wired in pairs before being connected to the fuse box mounted at the platform and connected to underground conduit output cables. Connect the stripped wires properly in the terminal box. Once connected, shoot the wires up through the bottom of the junction box and connect to its corresponding positive and negative terminal blocks.   Step 5. Connect the  exterior wiring to the interior control panels |   The solar breaker will first be connected to a circuit breaker disconnect. The energy will flow from the disconnect to a charge controller and then to a battery bank to be stored. When needed, energy flows from the batteries back to the circuit breaker disconnect and from the disconnect to a power inverter (thus change the power from DC to AC). Finally, this converted power will flow into an electric panel — where it will provide electrical power for the home. All of the components included in your solar array must be connected to your home's main electrical system to function.   Step 6. Connect the cables to the control panels | Run the electrical cable from the solar array into the house through the underground conduit. Connect the cables to nylon rope for easy threading, then pull through the conduit to inverter panels. Connect the cables at the fuse combiner box located at the base of the solar array. The green cables are first connected to the grounding strip. The red cables are connected to the PV out positive terminal block; and the black cables are connected to the PV out negative terminal block. (Refer to image above for example)   Step 7. Ground the solar power system | To prevent shock, always connect a ground wire from the mounting hardware to earth. To do this, tap a grounding rod into the earth near the array. Leave the long rod extending above the ground about 6″. Then, run copper grounding wire from the rod to the fuse box and from the solar panels to the fuse box.   Step 8. Make the proper electrical connections inside | Make the proper electrical connections inside for the solar array to work properly. Run the cables from the array to the inverter panel disconnect. Again the red wire is connected to the positive terminal; the green grounding wire is connected to the grounding terminal; and the black wire is connected to the negative terminal. You can have a battery bank installed your loft area or anywhere above the new control panels. Run conduit through the ceiling into the inverter panel. Next, feed two heavy-duty battery cables into the panel disconnect. The other ends of the cables will be connected to the battery pack. Install the battery system in a series — alternating positive and negatives — and secure them into place. Perform a test on your newly installed solar array for voltage. The voltage will vary depending on the amount of sunlight. Lastly, attach the component covers.   That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you find our DIY solar panel installation helpful? Let us know in the comments section below what troubles you had or what you did differently with your solar panel installation. Do you have a solar power installation method that’s a staple on your homestead? Share it with us and we’ll give it a shot. We love doing DIY homesteading projects and becoming more self-reliant by learning more about how everything works around the homestead. That’s why Homesteading was created. We want all folks looking to lead a self-sufficient life, either on a homestead or in an urban environment, to come together and learn from each other! Of course, we welcome your help in creating a community of homesteaders.  Come and share your homesteading tips and ideas, recipes and expect the best advice on self-reliance and homesteading trials from our team of long-time homesteaders, self-reliant wilderness, and preparedness experts. Want to write for Homesteading? Shoot us an e mail and make sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! Do you have Instagram? Don’t forget to join us @HomesteadingUSA. Click here to Like Us on Facebook. Click here to Follow Homesteading on Pinterest.   Click here to check out the original post.

Make this healthy banana bread recipe and enjoy a slice or two of the best banana bread you've ever had. This easy banana bread recipe will be a family fav! Melanie from Happy Being Healthy has generously shared her delicious recipe with us so we can pass it on to you all. So, put on your chef’s hat and make this easy banana bread recipe. It's a delicious treat with none of the guilt! Big thanks to the lovely Melanie from Happy Being Healthy for sharing this recipe. Check out the original article here. Easy-To-Bake Banana Bread Recipe   Ingredients for Banana Bread Recipe: 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup applesauce 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 3 medium bananas; mashed 2 tablespoons honey 2 eggs 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)   Step 1: Preheat Your Oven Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray, then set aside. Sale Krusteaz Banana Quick Bread 15 OZ (Pack of 3) Krusteaz Banana Quick Bread 15 OZ Boxes (Pack of 3)Pertfect for Holiday Baking $16.36 Buy Now Step 2: Whisk and Combine Ingredients Whisk butter, applesauce, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add in mashed bananas, vanilla, baking soda, and salt, beating until completely mixed. What you will get is a smooth mixture with some chunks of bananas. Beat in the eggs and honey to the mixture. Note: Bananas can go bad pretty quickly, so before they completely do, try these banana recipes to save your bananas. Step 3: Add the Flour Pour the flour into the mixture and stir again until smooth. You can throw in some chocolate chips to make a chocolate chip banana bread recipe. If you want a moist banana bread recipe, chocolate chips will also take care of that for you. Step 4: Pour the Batter Pour batter into greased loaf pan and smooth out the top. You can gently place a piece of aluminum foil across the top to prevent over-browning. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 50 minutes to an hour. Check bread by doing the toothpick test. Banana Bread Recipes: The Ultimate Mouthwatering Recipe Guide to Banana Bread (The Essential Kitchen Series Book 69) Amazon Kindle EditionHope, Heather (Author) $2.99 Buy Now Step 5: Banana Bread Recipe All Done! You can now remove your freshly-baked banana bread from the pan. You can let it cool on a rack or you can dig down while it's warm. Enjoy! You might also want to try these: 25 Mouthwatering Banana Bread Recipes   Want to try something quick and easy? How about this 1-minute banana bread mug cake from The Diet Chef: Isn't that quick and easy, my fellow homesteading cooks? Here in my homestead, I love cooking from scratch, and I love everything homemade. So, this award-winning banana bread recipe will be filling my kitchen soon! You too can bake your own banana bread recipe from scratch. You'll love the smell of bread baking around your home just as everyone in my family does. Happy Homesteading! Concord Foods Banana Bread Mix: Easy Homemade Delight - Just Add Bananas, Egg, and Water! 13.7 Oz (Pack of 12) Homemade Delight: Enjoy the wholesome goodness of Concord...Simple Preparation: Just add fresh bananas, egg, and water... $53.99 Buy Now Will you give this homemade banana bread recipe a try? Let us know about it in the comments section below! Up Next: How To Make Homemade Rolls From Scratch Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook!   Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 26, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Want to know how to make pancakes from scratch? If you want to stop making pancakes from a box, then this is the breakfast recipe for you. Cooks of all levels can make these pancakes taste delicious. Read through the tips on how to make the best pancakes, and then continue scrolling for the perfect pancake recipe! 6 Tips On How To Make Pancakes From Scratch In This Article: Delicious Breakfast From An Expert Make Pancakes From Scratch With This Easy Recipe   Delicious Breakfast From An Expert Like pancakes? You're going to love them even more once you read these tips and tricks from pancake expert, Therese Heckenkamp. They'll transform you into an expert on how to make pancakes from scratch! Learn all about ingredients, mixing, cooking, flipping, presentation, storing, reheating, and more! 1. Flour Fresh flour makes a difference in pancake flavor and texture, and the simpler the recipe, the more vital high-quality ingredients are. So get flour from a health food store, local mill, or the natural foods section of the grocery store. Try using cake flour for super light, fluffy pancakes. 2. Griddle Test if the griddle is hot enough by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If the drops dance and sizzle, it's ready. If your pancakes are browning on the bottom before bubbles appear on top, the griddle is too hot; whereas if the tops become dry before the bottoms are golden brown, the griddle is not hot enough. 3. Batter Do not over-mix pancake batter because this overdevelops the gluten, resulting in rubbery pancakes. Over-mixing also bursts the batter air bubbles, which are important for light pancakes. Pancake batter that is too runny equals thin, flat pancakes. Pancake batter that is too thick means it won't spread, and this results in thick pancakes with doughy centers. 4. Pouring Pancakes A ladle works for pouring pancake batter, but if you use one, realize that the higher you hold it, the more you risk breaking the air bubbles in the batter. Therefore, hold the ladle near the surface of the griddle. 5. Spatula Use Resist the urge to move pancakes while the first side is cooking, as this will break the seal between the pancake and cooking surface, meaning the pancake will not cook as evenly. Similarly, turn pancakes only once. The second side never cooks as evenly as the first, and takes only about half the time to cook as the first. 6. Leftover Pancakes and Reheating Want to learn how to make pancakes from scratch taste just as good even the next day? Freeze leftover pancakes in airtight plastic bags. Reheat pancakes in a toaster, toaster oven, or regular oven at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes. If using the oven, first place the pancakes in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Make Pancakes From Scratch With This Easy Recipe These pancakes are sure to be a family favorite for breakfast, and this easy delicious pancake recipe is so quick to make you can even get away with making homemade pancakes on weekdays. The batter can be pre-made and keeps well in the fridge. Simply whisk it up a little when you take it out, and perhaps add a touch more milk if you feel that it needs it. Then, it’s ready to go. Makes 6 servings for a hungry family. Supplies: Large mixing bowl Small pan for melting butter Measuring cups Whisk Griddle Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg 1 1/4 cups milk (you may need to add a touch more if you keep it overnight in the fridge, just to bring it to the right consistency) 3 tbsp. melted butter Step One: Sift the flour and baking powder — don’t skip this step, it’s important for nice fluffy pancakes. Step Two: Make a well in the middle of the flour, and crack an egg into it. Step Three: Melt the butter in the pan, but don’t let it bubble or burn. Step Four: Add the milk and the vanilla extract to the melted butter and stir to combine. Step Five: Whisk the milk and butter mixture into the egg, scooping flour from the outside gradually as you go. You should have a “just” pourable batter. Step Six: Heat a skillet or cast iron pan, and add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil. If you are using a regular Teflon non-stick pan, use your butter/oil sparingly. When it is almost smoking hot, pour in approximately 1/4 cup of the batter and coax into a round shape. Don’t beat yourself up if it’s not perfectly round because that’s the beauty of homemade pancakes! Step Seven: When the pancake is lightly browned underneath and the top side has set slightly (look for bubbles), then use a spatula to gently flip it. Step Eight: Serve stacked with your favorite toppings! In our house, we love homemade apple butter spread on each pancake before it’s stacked and then topped with fruit. When local honey is in season, they are delicious with a dollop and some steamed apples. Watch this guide on making homemade pancakes from scratch MonkeySee for more tips: That’s it, fellow homesteaders! Did you enjoy our homemade pancake recipe? Can you recreate this pancake recipe for breakfast tomorrow? Share your experience in the comments section below! Let us know what troubles you had or what you did differently when you learned how to make pancakes from scratch. Up Next: Pancake Fun Facts    Follow us on instagram, twitter, pinterest, and facebook! Bio: Katy Light has a 44-acre homestead in North GA, where she raises goats, rabbits, sheep, and chickens. She is passionate about self-sufficiency, natural ways to live, and fiber. Find her blog at www.poppycreekfarm.com. She can be reached at katy@poppycreekfarm.com.   Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on January 18, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.