From Pig Fat to Lard: The Art of Traditional Cooking Liz Hayes 2023-06-18 | Leaf fat, back fat, lard … what is it and what's the difference between it all? Today I am going to show you. Lard is a staple in our household and all you need to make it is pig fat. Lard is just pig fat that has been slowly cooked on the stove until there is no moisture left in it and then put into jars. There is many different ways to render lard and in todays video I will be showing you step by step my favorite way to do that. There is no special tools that you need. I do not process my lard once its rendered down. Yep, that's right! I do not pressure can it to keep it for long term storage. By rendering it down, it becomes a beautiful, great tasting, shelf stable, good quality cooking oil. Once its rendered down, I just put it into a cool storage area until its ready to be used. This oil is perfect for using in your recipes and will give them that unique traditional flavor!
A Week on the Farm - Harvest Season is CHAOS! Liz Hayes 2025-08-28 | Welcome back to the farm! 🌾 It’s harvest season, which means long days, full hands, and grateful hearts. From gathering up the bounty of the garden to welcoming a brand new calf to the pasture, there’s never a dull moment during this busy season of homesteading.After the work is done, we slow down with a home-cooked dinner and end the night together as a family — the perfect reminder of why we chose this simple life.If you love farm life, self-sufficiency, and the beauty of living close to the land, you’ll feel right at home here. 💛✨ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join us on this journey of family, living life and farming.
Simple Living - Spend A Week on the Homestead With the Hayes Family Liz Hayes 2025-08-07 | In this week’s video, we are in full summer mode and we’re inviting you to spend the week with us. This week we are tending to the bees and the ducks, feeding the cows and finding a way to preserve all extra eggs that we have coming in. The high tunnel is in full swing and producing beyond anything that I had expected. The tomatoes need to be picked and the leeks need to be pulled as do all the weeds. We also find ourselves in a precarious position of having to decide what to do with an abandoned nest of baby bunnies. Another thing on this week’s list of chores is fence building and during this particular week, we find ourselves extra busy because it’s time to process our meat chickens. On any given day, we are each busy doing our own thing, but we always come back together in the evenings as a family where we usually are treated to a variety of music played by Coye. So, join us and take a look at what a typical week looks like on the Hayes homestead.
Our Biggest HOMESTEADING purchase yet - Were Buying a Dairy Cow Liz Hayes 2025-05-25 | A family milk cow, I would say, is probably the biggest asset to the homestead and probably the most expensive purchase too. They provide the milk for all the dairy products that we need. They provide future beef for our table and they provide feed for our animals. Their temperament can make owning one a blessing or a curse and I can say this from experience. Some cows just weren't meant to be a family milk cows and in this weeks video, Fen and I are driving all over north Idaho in search of the perfect cow for our family. Having had a bad experience with the last one we owned, I'm making sure that we find the perfect one. Join us in the weeks video as we get the farm ready to bring her home.
What is HOMESTEADING Really Like? Heres a typical Day on the FARM! Liz Hayes 2025-05-04 | With rising costs of basic items, uncertainty about whether or not those items will even be available, and general mistrust of "the system", interest in homesteading has been steadily rising. People are looking for ways to increase their self reliance, and homesteading is it. But what is homesteading really like? For Liz and Clay Hayes, homesteading and growing food isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life. In this video we'll show a typical spring day on the farm, and it starts with an early morning with Bloom, our milk cow. Spring is a busy, and muddy, time on the farm. Gardens must be tilled and planted, the high tunnel prepped, and garden irrigation system laid, the chickens are laying eggs, chicks are hatching, the farm animals are happy with the new grass, and birds are singing. Being a homesteading family and growing your own food is a lot of work, but it's meaningful work, and it brings us closer to the earth and each other.
Flour & Water are all you need - How to make a SOURDOUGH STARTER from Scratch - STEP BY STEP GUIDE Liz Hayes 2024-05-31 | Before you can make great delicious sourdough bread, you have to have a starter. While there are a few ways to get a starter, today I'm going to show you how to make one from scratch. Starting your own sourdough starter is oh so EASY! It just takes a little time to get it to be a good healthy starter. All you need for it is some flour and water and a container to put it in. In this video, I'm going to walk you step by step, day by day to make your sourdough starter.
Pressure Canned Fish the EASY Way - Step By Step Guide Liz Hayes 2024-05-14 | Learn how to pressure can fresh mullet for long-term food storage! 🐟 In this video, we’ll take you from cast net fishing to the canning jar, showing step-by-step how to preserve fish so it’s shelf-stable, delicious, and packed with protein.Whether you’re focused on self-reliance, emergency preparedness, or simply enjoying easy homemade meals, pressure canning fish is a powerful skill to add to your food storage toolkit. This method ensures you’ll always have a healthy source of protein ready to go — no freezer required.If you’re interested in homesteading, prepping, or self-sufficient living, this is a must-try food preservation technique.Don’t forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and share for more videos on food storage, canning, and self-reliance!
FAMILY ADVENTURE - Island Style - St. Croix USVI 2024 Liz Hayes 2024-04-27 | This week were heading down to the USVI for a little R&R. Just Kidding... we don't know anything about R&R. We spent a good 10 days together, fishing, hunting and foraging, trying to find enough local fare for our dinners. Coye spent his time with the turtles and the sharks. He was free diving down exploring the ocean floor. Fens' mind was on spearing fish for our dinner, hunting goats and playing and I'm pretty sure that he caught the majority of the fish that we ate while we were there. Clay made some pretty cool primitive weapons to fish and hunt with and I found myself pretty comfortable in the water this year. I was even able to dive down to take a closer look at the reef and a really cool fish that we saw. We spent alot of quality time together and got to catch up with some of our friends that live on the island. Connect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: https://www.amazon.com/shop/lifelikel... Harvest Right Freeze Dryer: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1... Bulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=...Fen's Channel: youtube.com/@UCttxBnh6_XUFl1t5PReleIA Fen's Instagram: instagram.com/fenhayesClay's Channel: youtube.com/@UC-eicAkiRdGLguiS1dS_N9Q Coye's Channel will be coming soon!
Girls gone CAMPING - Cheaha National Park - 30 Mile Hike Liz Hayes 2024-04-01 | On this week's video I'm joined by my sister-in-law, Kelly, for a hike in Talladega National Forest. We are heading out on a 3 day, 30 mile hike through Cheaha National Park. I have done a total overhaul on my hiking gear and I've been itching to get out on the trail and try it all out. Kelly and I are planning a big hike this summer that's going to keep us hiking together for weeks on end so we thought it was time to head out for a hike together to see how we did. As soon as we hit the trail, I felt myself starting to relax. The trail was beautiful! The weather was mostly perfect,(except for being cold at night), plants were starting to bud out on the trail, there were streams everywhere, there plenty of scenery to look at and I got to see some of the highest peaks in Alabama. We walked the miles, some talking and some in total silence, we pitched our tents, made our dinners, and tried to get some sleep. I was serenaded by the Whip-poor-wills on night one and the howling wind on night two.Links for the equipment that I used on this hike:Backpack: ula-equipment.com/product/catalystShoes: amzn.to/3VFFDM1Trekking poles: amzn.to/3xiu3fGTent: amzn.to/3J1oLYuSleeping Pad: amzn.to/3TIvP1hYou can find all of the gear I used in this video at my Amazon link:amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy/list/3HR75H3YQSS6Y?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsflifelikelizzy_6DWZ04WYNP7Y5JQ95ZVTConnect with me: Instagram: / lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: https://www.amazon.com/shop/lifelikel... Harvest Right Freeze Dryer: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1... Bulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=...
Whats in My First Aid Kit? What to Carry With You on Trail. Liz Hayes 2024-02-22 | A first aid kit is hopefully the piece of hiking gear that you will never need. Do you carry a first aid kit when you hike? I always have a first aid kit with us. I have one at home, in the car and we take on with us when we go to hunting camp or when we go hiking. Today, I’m going over what I’m going to be carrying in my first aid kit for my hiking pack. I’m going to be doing some longer hikes this summer and I decided to build a kit that would have everything that I might need. When you are on trail, its very important to be able to doctor yourself if need be and if you are going to be out in the wilderness, sometimes you need to carry a bit more to make sure that you can take care of yourself until you can get somewhere to receive care. I’ve listed all the supplies that I will be including in my pack at the link below. You can find all of my first aid supplies at my Amazon Store (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy/list/3QM3OWSFH8T1G?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsflifelikelizzy_23GK96Y7RRCVCCVRR04YSmall red First aid bag: spacebearbags.com/products/dyneema-hiker-first-aid-pouchConnect with me: Instagram: / lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: https://www.amazon.com/shop/lifelikel... Harvest Right Freeze Dryer: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1... Bulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=...
Are We CRAZY? A HUGE Addition to the Homestead - Pantry Tour & Life Updates Liz Hayes 2024-02-15 | Todays video is a little bit pantry tour and a little bit life. We have a CRAZY year planned and I’m going to fill you in about all of our travel plans and homestead projects that we have planned for 2024. It is also time for me to get the Pantry organized and I thought I’d give you a run down of what I have in the pantry and the freezers. We had a slow garden year this year which meant that I did not preserve much food from our garden but every shelf in the pantry is overflowing! We had a great hunting year and we put up 3 deer, 1 elk, 3 wild turkeys, ducks, quail and 4 pigs from our farm. We are overflowing in broths, canned meat and jelly. I’m also going to give you a look into our emergency food storage (which I’ve never done before). Make sure you join me in seeing what the Hayes are up to for 2024!My Cooking Videos:Making Lard: youtu.be/VicmB0kVx0Q?si=2Y5iFtQSUmmmM_8TCanning meat: youtu.be/W941IDW2PbQ?si=S1rR66kJZ6t-knmTMaking broth: youtu.be/zSCYoDTAwko?si=r3P4QXON2e10STdZCranberry juice: youtu.be/oupSDtAt8jo?si=cDLCKUrOQzS2KobC Applesauce: youtu.be/n_2hcUBv3LM?si=Riwkc8sWX4a75i1fHerb Salts: youtu.be/MHT1DDu-q_8?si=cTu2K4L7HdkDWVmFMy Solo backpacking Videos:Day 1: youtu.be/twhV00ZudLI?si=MFJj-0dk23_Nd1xADay 2: youtu.be/bDBqJ2v5OF4?si=o8-NJ2HPGm9IiYuUConnect with me: Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
Learning to NOT Die in the Woods - How to Start a Fire - Survival Skills Liz Hayes 2024-02-08 | One thing I do not know how to do is SURVIVE in the woods on my own! If I get lost in the woods, and my survival is dependent on myself, then I’m in trouble. I have always had someone with me on my hikes to depend on, so I have never learned survival skills. This year, since I’m planning on doing a lot more solo hiking, my goal is to learn how to keep myself alive in the woods. I want to 100% know that I can keep myself, my kids, or my group, alive if need be. In this video, I get help from a professional, Clay Hayes, AKA my husband. We go over all the beginner tips on what a fire needs, what kinds of materials to look for, collecting materials for the fire, starting a fire in wet conditions, how to hold a ferro rod correctly to get a spark, and how to build the flame up once you have it going. And I will admit, this was a lot harder than I was expecting. So, join me in starting my very first fire, where you will certainly learn what not to do and get some tips on how to do it the correct way so you can be successful in starting a fire. The equipment that I used today:P4 Leatherman: amzn.to/3Si7izbFerro Rod: amzn.to/48STdiUFolding Saw: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy/list/3HR75H3YQSS6YConnect with me: Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
ALONE in the Idaho Wilderness - DAY 3 - SOLO Hiking and Camping Trip Liz Hayes 2024-02-01 | In this video, I’m on day 3, the last leg of my first solo hike. I woke up to extremely sore legs and feet and a sunrise. The first and only sunrise of the trip and it also brought something that I wasn’t expecting… PEACE! I was so at peace on day 3. I felt grounded sitting on top of that mountain watching the sunrise. I felt that I was right where I was supposed to be. I felt like I had conquered a fear, that I had actually made it, that I did what I had set out to do. I found myself sitting on top of that mountain thinking about hiking this trail again, but extending the trip for a few days so I would have more time to enjoy the lakes and my surroundings. I was able to finally eat breakfast and to do some fly fishing and just relax around camp for awhile before I started the journey home. Join me in watching the third day of my trip. It is the end of this solo hiking and camping trip, but just the beginning of my journey. There is so much more instore for me. Some of the equipment and meals I had on the trip: Backing Meals: heatherschoice.comCamping Stove: amzn.to/3vFuEY7 Fuel Canister for Stove: amzn.to/3TXGXZTCooking Pot: amzn.to/47BAIxZ Trekking Poles: amzn.to/3HsFnYh Tent (it was way to big for this trip for 1 person): seekoutside.com/cimarron-4p Connect with me: Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
ALONE in the Wilderness - Solo Backpacking Trip - Day 2 Liz Hayes 2024-01-25 | As a first time solo backpacker, who was taught growing up that the woods were a dangerous place, Day 2 of the trip brought the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It was the longest and most challenging day for me and it was also the day that really broke through the idea that the woods were a dangerous place. Day 2, I found myself in a place that I had never been before…lost, out of water and it would soon be dark and I had miles to go before I reached camp. I had no one to rely on but myself and I had to use every once of strength that I had, physically and mentally, to get to my destination for the night. Join me in watching the second day of my adventure.Some of the equipment and meals I had on the trip: Backing Meals: heatherschoice.comCamping Stove: amzn.to/3vFuEY7Fuel Canister for Stove: amzn.to/3TXGXZT Cooking Pot: amzn.to/47BAIxZ Trekking Poles: amzn.to/3HsFnYh Tent: (it was way to big for this trip for 1 person) seekoutside.com/cimarron-4p Connect with me: Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzy Amazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.html Bulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
3 Day Solo Camping Trip - First Time Alone in the Idaho Wilderness Liz Hayes 2024-01-17 | Sometimes the best way to overcome a fear is to just do the thing! And that is exactly what I’m doing this week. There is a bit of a back story here, which I tell in the video, but, as much as I love the woods and hiking, I’m terrified to be out there alone. I said it… I’m afraid to be in the woods alone! But, all that changes this week when I push myself out of my comfort zone and make the decision to do a 3 day backpacking trip into the Idaho backcountry ALONE! I had my husband, Clay, drop me off at a destination point and he was to pick me back up in 3 days at the ending point. In this first video, I’m heading out on the first leg of a 30 mile trip through the Idaho mountains in search of myself. Who am I and do I have it in me to finish this trip? My stopping point for the first night was a beautiful lake, I just had to find it. This trip had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for me and I documented it all.Some of the equipment and meals I had on the trip:Backing Meals: heatherschoice.comCamping Stove: amzn.to/3vFuEY7Fuel Canister for Stove: amzn.to/3TXGXZTCooking Pot: amzn.to/47BAIxZTrekking Poles: amzn.to/3HsFnYhTent: (it was way to big for this trip for 1 person) seekoutside.com/cimarron-4pConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
Cranberries to Cocktails - Canning Cranberry Juice and Making Drinks - A How to Guide Liz Hayes 2023-12-13 | If you have ever wanted to make your own cranberry juice, now is the time to do it. This time of year, most grocery stores have their cranberries on sale and cranberry juice is super easy to make. I grabbed 18 pounds of cranberries while I was in town and on todays video I'm going to be turning them into cranberry juice. I'm going through the whole process of canning the juice with cranberries in it and then we are gonna have some fun and make some festive cocktails and mocktails with the cranberry juice. Cranberry Simple Syrup3 cups cranberries1 cup sugar1 ½ cup water1. Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until the berries have burst and the juice has started to thicken, about 15 minutes.2. Strain the juice and let cool. (the remaining pulp is cranberry sauce)Cranberry Whiskey SourMakes 1 large drink1 ½ ounce whiskey1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice3 ounces cranberry juiceSplash ( or more if you want your drink sweet) of cranberry simple syrup. Lemon sliceFresh cranberriesPour everything EXCEPT THE LEMON SLICE AND FRESH CRANBERRIES into a cocktail shaker along with some ice cubes. Cover and shake well. Pour over ice and add a slice of lemon and a skewer of cranberries. Cranberry Gin & TonicMakes 1 large drink Fresh cranberriesRosemary 1 ½ ounces gin2 ounces cranberry juice1 ounce lemon juiceSplash ( or more if you want a sweet drink) of cranberry simple syrupClub soda or tonic water1. Prepare your glass by dipping the rim into some cranberry juice and then dipping the rim of the glass into sugar. Fill with ice and set aside.2. Pour all ingredients EXCEPT club soda or tonic into a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes and mix well. Pour over your ice, leaving some space at the top of the glass. 3. Top off with club soda or tonic water.4. Add a skewer of cranberries and a sprig of Rosemary.Cranberry Mocktail Drink of your choice (some good ones are: gingerale, 7-up, sprint, or a mix of club soda and lemon juice)Cranberry juiceCranberry simple syrup (add enough to get it as sweet as you would like it)1. Prepare your glass by dipping the rim into some cranberry juice and then dipping the rim of the glass into sugar. Fill with ice and set aside.2. Add your drink of choice, cranberry juice and simple syrup. 3. Give it a stir and enjoy! Recipes for Canning Cranberry Juice ( I combined both ways when I can cranberry juice)practicalselfreliance.com/canning-cranberry-juiceConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
My BEST Scone Yet - Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Scones - Made From Scratch Breakfast Pastry Liz Hayes 2023-11-27 | This quiet slow morning is perfect for baking and I thought I would cook up a batch of Homemade Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Scones for the boys for breakfast. They are quick and easy and you can use either active starter or your discard. They only require a handful of ingredients and, start to finish, you can have them done in about 40 minutes. They are versatile and you can add pretty much whatever fruit you would like and make them as sweet as you like too! They are perfect for breakfast or as a snack. They are rich and buttery with a hit of sourdough taste to them. I like to make an extra batch of them, cook them and then freeze them individually for easy and quick breakfast. The Recipe is below. ENJOY!!Recipe used in Todays Video:Blueberry Lemon Sourdough SconesFor the Scones:2 ½ Cups Flour ( I used bread flour)½ Cup Brown Sugar½ Teaspoon Salt1 Teaspoon Baking Powder½ Cup Cold Butter Cubed½ Cup Blueberries (Fresh or Frozen)¾”ish” Cup of Sourdough Starter (Active or Discard)1 Egg1/3 cup Milk2 Teaspoons VanillaJuice of 1 small LemonFor the Glaze (There is no recipe for this, but the below ingredients are about what I used):2 Cups Powdered sugarJuice of 1 small Lemon1 Teaspoon VanillaMilk (optional)1. Combine Flour, Brown Sugar, Salt and Baking Powder.2. Cut in Butter until it resembles coarse sand.3. Add Blueberries and give it a stir. Set Aside.4. Combine Sourdough Starter, egg, Milk, Lemon Juice and Vanilla.5. Add to your dry ingredients.6. Mix until you get a thick batter that resembles biscuit dough. If it still has dry bits, add a little more milk.7. Prepare pan with parchment.8. Put your dough onto your parchment and sprinkle it with flour.9. Pat out into the shape you desire. A thick dough will result in thicker scones.10. Bake at 350 for 20- 25 minutes or until done.While Scones are baking, make your glaze.11. Add Powdered Sugar to your bowl.12. Add in the lemon juice and vanilla.13. Whisk. If its too thick add milk,1 teaspoon at a time, until it gets to your desired consistency. 14. Drizzle over scones while they are still warm.15. ENJOY!!Connect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08df
Fall Mornings on the Farm & Sourdough Dough Biscuits in the Dutch Oven - COOKING WITH COALS Liz Hayes 2023-11-21 | This morning were gonna be cooking with coals again. Its a cold, brisk and sunny November day at our Northern Idaho home so I though we would get a fire going and throw together some Sourdough biscuits to cook in the Dutch oven. This recipe is pretty dang easy and it doesn't require any actively fed sourdough. Just scoop out some discard and your are good to go. And, its also a quick and easy cook in the Dutch oven. These biscuits take about 25 minutes to cook on the coals so while they are cooking we are gonna take a walk around our farm and see some of the cold, icy Fall landscape. Equipment Used in Today’s Video:Stainless Steel Pie Plate: amzn.to/40DuAUaStainless Steel Trivet: amzn.to/3ucI6BPDutch Oven (same size as mine but this is a different brand): amzn.to/46l6RJwLodge Gloves: amzn.to/47B7saYLid Lifter: amzn.to/3QGZGFDParchment paper: amzn.to/47o5XgzConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlBulk Food Buying: Azure Standard: azurestandard.com/?a_aid=868a3a08dfRecipe used in Todays Video:The Simplest Sourdough Biscuits: kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/the-simplest-sourdough-biscuits-recipe
The Best Pecan Pie I Have Ever Made - Cooking with Coals- Off Grid Cooking Liz Hayes 2023-11-16 | Today we are cooking my favorite pie for Thanksgiving, but with a twist! We are doing our cooking in a Dutch oven over a bed of coals. I love a campfire and I love cooking so today we are combining them and cooking with coals. It’s always a good idea to have a backup method for cooking for your family and using a Dutch oven is a great way to do that. While it can be intimidating to cook with coals, it is pretty easy to do. It just requires a bit of practice. So, on today’s video, I am teaching you step by step how to cook a Pecan Pie! I have listed the recipe below. ENJOY!!Recipe used in Todays Video:Pecan Pie1 Pie Crust2/3 Cup Sugar1/3 Cup Butter, Melted1 Cup Karo Syrup ½ teaspoon Salt3 Eggs1 Cup Pecan Pieces1. Mix together and add to your pie crust.2. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until done. 3. Remove from oven when the pie is still slightly jiggly. It will set up once it cools.4. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Equipment Used in Today’s Video:Stainless Steel Pie Plate: amzn.to/40DuAUaStainless Steel Trivet: amzn.to/3ucI6BPDutch Oven (same size as mine but this is a different brand): amzn.to/46l6RJwLodge Gloves: amzn.to/47B7saYLid Lifter: amzn.to/3QGZGFDConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08df
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Pies- They didnt last! Liz Hayes 2023-11-13 | Its the beginning of the holidays and a favorite time of year for myself. I love to get into the kitchen during the holidays and bake for my family and friends and today we are kicking it off with cooking our favorite pies for Thanksgiving. I always make a Pecan Pie, and a Pumpkin Pie each year for the holidays. This year, I tried switching up my traditional Pecan Pie by switching out the Karo Syrup for Maple Syrup. While it was still very good, we did not like it as much, so I would suggest using the Karo Syrup. I will be making my own recipe for the pumpkin pie, which I have listed below for you, and we will also be making an Apple Pie at the request of my oldest son. I have listed all the recipes below. ENJOY!!Equipment Used in Today’s Video:KitchenAid Mixer: amzn.to/49xLwiHStainless Steel Deep Dish Pie Plate: amzn.to/3MEtz8qGlass Deep Dish Pie Plate: amzn.to/3QyYqEvConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08dfRecipes used in Todays Video:Liz’s Crust Recipe:This makes 2 Pie Crust2.5 Cups Flour2 teaspoons Brown Sugar2 teaspoons Cinnamon1 teaspoon salt6 T Lard or Crisco, Cold10 Tablespoons Butter, Cold1 teaspoon Vinegar¼ Cup Water¼ Cup Vodka1. Mix flour, spices, sugar, and salt together.2. Cut in lard or Crisco. Once mixed up, add in your butter and cut it in until it looks like coarse sand.3. Add in your liquids. 4. Mix until a dough is formed. If your dough is too dry, YOU CAN USE AN ADDITIONAL FEW TABLESPOONS OF WATER! 5. Cut into 2 pieces and wrap in saran wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. 6. Roll out and put into pie plate. Once the dough is in the pie dish, pierce the bottom and all sides with a fork. 7. Put back into the refrigerator and chill for at least an hour or overnight. 8. At this point you can either add your filling and cook from a raw state or for a more delicate pie or a no bake pie, you can bake the crust before adding filling.9. If you are baking the crust alone, add pie weights or dry beans to the bottom of the crust to help weight the crust down so it does not bubble up. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes10. Add aluminum foil around the edge of the crust if the crust is getting to dark while cooking. Liz’s Pumpkin pie2 Cups Fresh Pumpkin, pureed (or canned pumpkin)1 ¼ Cup Heavy Cream1/3 Cup Cane or White Sugar1/3 Cup Brown Sugar3 Eggs 1 teaspoon Vanilla½ teaspoon Salt2 teaspoon Cinnamon1 teaspoon Ground Ginger¼ teaspoon Nutmeg¼ teaspoon Cloves1/8 teaspoon Cardamom1. Mix everything together and add into your crust. 2. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. DO NOT OVER BAKE!Deep Dish Pecan Pie1 Deep Dish Pie Crust1 Cup Sugar½ Cup Butter, Melted1 ½ Cups Light Karo Syrup ¾ teaspoon Salt5 Eggs1 ½ Cups Pecan Pieces1. Mix together and add to your pie crust.2. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until done. 3. Remove from oven when the pie is still slightly jiggly. It will set up once it cools.4. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Classic Apple Pie: americastestkitchen.com/recipes/2052-deep-dish-apple-pie(WHEN I MADE IT, I USED WILD APPLES, I DID NOT BAKE THE APPLES, I USED LEMON JUICE INSTEAD OF ZEST AND I USED MY PIE CRUST LISTED ABOVE AND I ADDED BUTTER AND CINNAMON TO THE TOP BEFORE I ADDED THE TOP PIE CRUST)
The BIGGEST One We Have Ever Found - Hunting For Geodes -Homeschool Science - VLOG Liz Hayes 2023-11-09 | This week at elk camp, the boys and I are on the search for geodes! One of our favorite things to do while we are at camp is to get out and hike and explore the area and we never leave empty handed. There is so much to explore and learn about. We go to this area every year and we always turn it into a homeschool activity. When we find geodes, it always turns into a lesson in geology with writing activities and art lessons and we learn something new each time. And to be honest, this video is really for this Mommas heart! My oldest is growing up quickly and I'm making all the memories that I can while I still have him at home.
Campfire Cooking - Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread - NO BRIQUETTES! Liz Hayes 2023-11-06 | Today at camp we are going to be cooking Sourdough bread over hot coals. I'm not going to be using charcoal briquettes that you buy. Today I'm going to be using firewood. I’m going to give you some tips on how to pick out the best Dutch oven for you needs, how to dig the right size hole to cook in, how to choose the right method of cooking with (charcoal vs firewood) and how to get started. I love to bake fresh bread and I taught myself how to cook it in a Dutch oven so that we can have fresh bread wherever we go. It can be intimidating to learn to cook over a fire but it is so worth and its an invaluable skill to have. Not only can you cook in a Dutch oven at camp, but if your power goes out then you can still cook bread. Dutch oven cooking is the way our ancestors cooked and you can cook anything in a Dutch oven that you can cook in a regular oven. It just takes a bit of time and practice to learn how to do it. Ingredients Used in Today’s Videos:Bread Flour: amzn.to/3tVO75LEquipment Used in Today’s Video:Dutch Oven: amzn.to/3tXAEuhRack for Dutch oven: amzn.to/3u0oMaWStainless Steel pie plate: amzn.to/47hjPc3Jars for Sourdough Starter: amzn.to/3s9nr1aConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08df
HERB SALTS- Preserving Herbs From My Garden- Recipe Liz Hayes 2023-11-02 | It’s the end of the garden season for me in Northern Idaho so that means that everything has to come out of my garden. Today I’m going to be harvesting herbs from my garden. I have rosemary, thyme, and sage that I’m needing to preserve. My favorite way to preserve these herbs is in the form of a salt. I find that we use herbs so much more when they are made into a salt rather than just a dried herb. And they will last for years. I’m going to be making 4 different salts today. My recipes are listed below and I have also listed the link for the 2 other recipes that I used. Recipes that I used on todays video:Rosemary Sage Salt:eatingrichly.com/rosemary-sage-seasoning-salt-recipeTuscany Herb Salt: theelliotthomestead.com/2020/08/homemade-flavored-saltsJalapeno Cilantro Salt:1.5 Cups fresh Jalapenos ( OR MORE IF YOU WANT SPICER) 1 Bunch fresh cilantro3 Cups salt 1. Coarsely chop jalapenos (you do not need to remove the seeds) 2. Coarsely chop cilantro. 3. Measure out salt. 4. Add all ingredients into food processor and blend. 5. Spread out on baking sheet. 6. Bake at 250 degrees stirring every 10 minutes until dry. 7. Let cool. 8. Put back into food processor and blend until desired consistency. 9. Put into mason jar and label. 10. ENJOY!!Celery Salt: 6 Cups fresh celery leaves 2 Cups salt 1. Measure out salt. 2. Coarsely chop celery leaves. 3. Add all ingredients into food processor and blend. 4. Spread out on baking sheet. 5. Bake at 250 degrees stirring every 10 minutes until dry. 6. Let cool. 7. Put back into food processor and blend until desired consistency. 8. Put into mason jar and label. 9. ENJOY!!Equipment that I used on today’s video:Baking sheets: amzn.to/3MqOfR8Blender: amzn.to/40ghlbPConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08df
Hunting for 300 Million Year Old Fossils- What Will We Find? Liz Hayes 2023-10-31 | One of our favorite things to do at elk camp is to explore! And another thing that we do at camp is school. So, today we are combining those into a fun educational adventure. Fen and I are taking a hike into the mountains of Idaho in search of fossils. This hike is an excellent way to learn about the geology of Idaho. We are on a mission to look into the past and discover fossils that are millions of years old. Come on with us and see what we find.Connect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08df
7 SPOOKTACULAR Halloween Treats - Party Food- Come Cook With Us Liz Hayes 2023-10-29 | Treat your friends and family to some 7 spooky Halloween party food that'll have them begging you to keep cooking. In this video, we'll show you some recipes for delicious Halloween party food that'll leave your guests wanting more. From appetizers to main courses, we've got everything you need.Fen and I are cooking appetizers, cookies, brownies and a drink. And these are all kid friendly recipes. Come cook with us and have a frighteningly fun Halloween night. Recipes used in todays video:Mummified Meatballs in Crispy Potato Skin Coffinsallrecipes.com/recipe/267956/mummified-meatballs-in-crispy-potato-skin-coffinsPumpkin Shaped Cheeseballthecountrycook.net/pumpkin-shaped-cheese-ballMonster Cookieshandletheheat.com/halloween-cookiesHalloween Peanut Butter Spider Cookiesmommymusings.com/halloween-peanut-butter-spider-cookies-recipeHalloween Cream Cheese Browniespersnicketyplates.com/halloween-cream-cheese-swirl-browniesMelting Monster Halloween Punchthespeckledpalate.com/melting-monster-halloween-punchIngredients Used in Today’s Videos:Black Cocoa Powder: amzn.to/3QKKPeVCandy Eyes: amzn.to/40mngw4Ghoul M & M’s: amzn.to/3MmwWRcEquipment Used in Today’s Video:Kitchen Aid Mixer: amzn.to/479PKexCookie Scoop: amzn.to/3s1NfMFX-Large Baking Sheets: amzn.to/3tRCrkGConnect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyAmazon Store front: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlAzure Standard: azurestandard.com/suggest-a-product?a_aid=868a3a08df
It Cant Get Any Easier- Making and Canning Apple Sauce for Long Term Food Storage Liz Hayes 2023-10-26 | It is October in Idaho and that means its apple season. Wild apples are abundant in this area so this week we are going out to pick apples to make some super easy and delicious applesauce. Applesauce does not require any special equipment beside some jars and a pot so its a great beginner canning recipe. Although I take you step by step on how to make it, I do not have a recipe. I just add spices and sweetener until I get it to the taste I like. I'm also going to be canning my applesauce for long term food storage so I will show you step by step on how to successfully can applesauce so it will stay good for years to come.
30 Days WALL TENT Camping- Camp Tour Liz Hayes 2023-10-23 | Its September and that means for the next 5 weeks we will be living in a wall tent! Today I'm going to be giving you a tour of our home away from home for the next month. September camp has become a favorite time for the whole family and we all look forward to unplugging and getting in a little R&R while we are away. And by R&R I'm talking about, no running water, no showers, and living off grid. In this video I'm going to be showing you how we live at camp. From living and sleeping arrangements, homeschooling, cooking and eating, how we spend our days and how we keep warm and even our bathroom accommodations! Its all laid out for you in this video.
Wild Edibles- Foraging for Wild Teas in the Pacific Northwest Liz Hayes 2023-07-09 | We try to live off the land as much as possible and part of that is using the forest around us as a source for our food. Whether that is foraging for foods to eat or foraging for plants to use for medicinal purposes. A lot of current ailments can be handled by simply using plants from the woods. Our grandparents and great grandparents did not run to the doctor for every little thing. They knew how to use nature as medicine. And today we are going to be doing just that. Today we are focusing on foraging for wild teas in the forest surrounding us. In this video, we will be walking through the forest and looking for the plants that make great teas, as well as discussing the medicinal and culinary benefits of those teas that you find in the wild. If you’re interested in learning more about foraging for wild teas, then this video is for you! We’ll discuss the process of foraging, identifying as well as the plants that make great teas. We’ll also explore the therapeutic benefits of the plants and how to harvest those plants. We will also discuss how to store them for long-term use. The materials I used for this video are listed below. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia and Inland Northwestamzn.to/44CAEwMThe Lost Book of Herbal Remediesamzn.to/3NL82KWLarge Basketamzn.to/46R2fMSDehydratoramzn.to/44gbt3uPop Top Jarsamzn.to/3XJrvjVMy Amazon Storefrontamazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryeraffiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlConnect with me:Instagraminstagram.com/lifelikelizzy
SPICE UP Your Life! Peach Habanero Hot Sauce Recipe - Step by Step Guide Liz Hayes 2023-06-25 | If you're looking for a delicious and spicy way to spice up your life, look no further than this Peach Habanero Hot Sauce Recipe! Its fruity and tangy and oh so SPICY! Who knew peaches and habaneros went together so good! This easy and home grown hot sauce will add zing to any dish, and is a must have for any foodie!In this step by step guide, you'll learn not only how to make this spicy and delicious hot sauce, but you will learn how to preserve it by water bath canning so it will be shelf stable. I will also give you some helpful tips on how to handle habaneros and how to use this sauce in your everyday meals. Whether you're a hot sauce lover or you just want to add a little extra heat to your meals, this recipe is a must have! And its so easy. Peach Habanero Hot sauce recipe:foodinjars.com/recipe/peach-habanero-hot-sauce
Deep Freezer Tour- How I Organize My Deep Freezer Liz Hayes 2023-06-11 | Do you have a chest freezer or deep freezer? If not, you are missing out! One of the best thing about having a deep freezer is the ability to store large quantities of food. As great as they are, the can be a real pain to deal with. Food seems to go into hiding and its impossible to find. In this video, I’m taking you on a tour of my deep freezer and I’m going to show you how I chose to organize it so I can get the best use out of all those foods we have in there. Our freezer is invaluable. Its one of the ways that we store food. It holds the main source of our protein that we eat and a lot of other things that we grow here on our farm. We are a big hunting family and each year we fill our freezer with wild organic game meat and farm raised pork. We have everything in there from deer, elk, wild turkey, and pigs to strawberries and vegetables from my garden. But the problem with a deep freezer is just that… its deep! So things tend to get stacked on top of each other and then the items on the bottom tend to be forgotten about and not used. So today we are going to pull everything out, organize it into different storage bins, take a little inventory and then put everything back in nice and neat.
Uncovering the Hidden Wild Animals Living In Our Woods: Homeschool Science! Liz Hayes 2023-06-04 | In this video, we'll be exploring the woods outside of our home and discovering some of the wild animals that call it home. If you're interested in learning more about nature, or you're looking for a fun activity to do with your kids, then this is the video for you! By exploring the woods outside of our home, we'll be learning about all of the wild animals that live there. It'll be a fun, educational walk in the woods!A walk in the woods is a great way to learn about nature and spend quality time with your child at the same time. We'll be exploring the woods, learning about the animals that live there, and having a lot of fun doing it!Do you know what is living around you? No? Don't worry. Most people don't. We have had our 2 boys out in nature since they were born. When they got old enough to chose what they wanted to do with their time, it was be outside, to be in the wood. So naturally when it come time to homeschool that is what we did. We did most of our school outside and we still do. Our homeschool guiding principal is to step back and let our children take the lead. I guess you could call us "unschoolers". We believe our children learn best when we take the back seat and let them learn about what they are into, what's important to them. Isn't that how you learned? We all do. In todays video we are going to be doing just that. Fen loves animals, hunting and he likes to track animals so today are taking a walk through the woods, immersing ourself in the environment to learn about what is living beside us. When you walk though the woods, if you look close enough you can see all kinds of signs that tell you what is around you. From a rolled over rock, a broken tree limb, a pile of animal poop and foot prints on the ground. And those foot prints on the ground are what we are focusing on today. We are going to be doing a bit of homeschool science, a piece of a nature unit study, and we are going to be casting animal track. We will be identify what animals are living beside our house. This is a quick, easy and inexpensive craft for kids of all ages to do and it doesn't require much. You just need some cardstock, tape, crafting plaster, some water and a bowl to mix it in.
Adding Bee Hives To The Homestead- IS THIS REALLY BEE KEEPING? Liz Hayes 2023-05-28 | DO YOU KNOW that 1 single worker bee will only make 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its entire life?? An average hive will fly around 40,000 miles and visit over 2 million flowers to collect 1 pound of honey! This week I'm making a dream come true...we are adding bee hives to the homestead. I have always wanted to own bees. I've dreamed about it, read about it, took a class on bee keeping and now its time to actually do some bee keeping. Bees are essential for the environment. Agriculture doesn't exist with the help of bees (or other pollinators). BEES MAKE FOOD!! Yes, you heard that right. Bees pollinate our food crops. Without bees (or other pollinators) , plants do not get pollinated and no pollination means that our vegetables and fruit do not make anything. Without bees (or other pollinators) we do not get seeds to plant food for the next year. Bees also pollinate shrubs and trees as well. In addition to all those things, bees make honey, wax and pollen. Honey is a natural sweetener. You can use honey for coughs and sore throats. It is antibacterial and can help with infections and healing wounds. Bees wax is used for making candles, lip balms, cosmetics, soaps, furniture polishes, and you can use it for preserving food . Pollen is full of vitamins and minerals and helps with seasonal allergies, asthma, stomach problems and a whole category of things. But Sadly they are on the decline. Pesticides that they spray today wipe out bees. Bees that are in the field bring it back to the hives and kill the hives off. Cities are being built and taking their precious food sources. Parasites are reeking havoc on bees and invasive species have been introduced to areas pray on bees, some can even kill a whole hives within a few hours. Rising temperatures, drought and floods all affect the food sources for bees. I knew bee keeping was going to be challenging. I've heard it from a bunch of people. Its work to keep a bee hive and ALOT of work to keep a healthy bee hive. I dove into this endeavor with everything I had. Sadly, for me it was a heart breaking experience. From the moment I got the bees home nothing worked out. It was problem after problem. I tried my best but in the end we lost both of the hives. I feel I learned a lot and I will get more bees again in the near future.Connect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyShop my favorite things: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy
This is For the Bees!- TURNING A WEED PATCH INTO A FLOWER GARDEN Liz Hayes 2023-05-21 | In this weeks video I'm going to be doing a long awaited project. In our garden we have one corner that the weeds have taken over and this week we are turning that spot into a beautiful perennial flower garden. This just isn't any old garden. I designed this garden especially for honey bees! After removing the old raised beds, we tilled the soil and then added a triple layer of cardboard. I am using this as weed protection. after the cardboard was laid then 3 inches of wood mulch was laid on top. Once that was complete, I added a variety of perennial flowers that would bloom at different times throughout the Spring, Summer and fall. I did this so our bees would have plenty of food. Perennial flowers, if chosen for your area, are flowers that you only have to plant once and they will come back year after year. And they usually will spread. Some of the flowers I chose are listed below. LavenderRosesPeoniesLupinColumbineTulipsirisesEchinaceaSedumHydrangeaHollyhocksButterfly BushSalviaRudbeckiaBlack Eye SusansAstersBee BalmCat Mint Connect with me:Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyShop my favorite things: amazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy
We Are Going to CAPSIZE!- Learning to Sail Liz Hayes 2023-05-14 | We dream of owning our own sailboat one day and in this weeks adventure, we rent a sailboat for the day, take the family with us, and head out to learn how to sail the boat. The weather was beautiful and the wind was low but things quickly changed after we got to our destination and realized that the wind was about 3 times what we were expecting! We were only able to rent a sailboat after taking a class and passing a certification. As excited as I was to go out, I was extremely nervous and found it to be a very stressful situation. I also had to deal with one thing that I was not expecting...sea sickness! I will admit it was a rough introduction into sailing but not enough to make me change my mind about owning a sailboat one day.
Fishing and Camping in the Everglades- Just the Two of Us- VLOG Episode 6 Liz Hayes 2023-05-03 | Clay and I like to take a trip, just the two of us, each year and this year we find ourselves down in the Florida Everglades. Its wild and beautiful and with everything from Sea Turtles, Sharks and Dolphins to Salt Water Crocodiles and Manatees, there's no shortage of things to keep us occupied... and most people don't think of fishing and camping here! For this trip we snuck away from the boys and we got to spend 10 days primitive camping on chickees, catching and cooking our dinners, exploring the backcountry, checking out the scenery and just spending some good old quality time together. We find ourselves fishing in the backcountry and then heading on over and having a ball in Florida Bay. We had a blast reeling in Snook, Speckled trout, Red Fish and we even had fun when we were catching the little old Lady Fish and Jacks too! Clay was able to do some fly fishing and the fish were ON!! And of course we ate like kings. With the fish we caught, I whipped up some ceviche, fish tacos, fish curry and some fried fish too! We even ate sashimi right off the boat. There's no shortage of options when the fish are on! Oh and don't forget the bug spray!!Connect with meInstagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzy
Florida Camping Trip- FUN OR AN UNEXPECTED DISASTER? VLOG- Episode 5 Liz Hayes 2023-04-19 | In this weeks video we find ourself heading to a crystal clear spring fed river for a few days of camping. While Clay is going to be out hog hunting, the boys and I have plans for fishing, canoeing, snorkeling, squirrel hunting, foraging for mushrooms and just sitting around a nice campfire. But to our surprise, this trip quickly takes a different direction. We do all love camping but on this camping trip we find ourself in a completely different environment and I personally find it really hard to keep a positive attitude about it.
Beach Fun, Spear Fishing & Blowholes!! VLOG - Episode 4 Liz Hayes 2023-03-15 | After almost 2 weeks in tropical St. Croix Virgin Islands, we are tired. Fen and I stayed together today and didn't go out with the big boys to the real deep water. With the wind howling, the water was rough but Fen and I gave it a go for a while. As usual Fen was armed with the pole spear trying to catch some fish while Clay and Coye were aiming for lobster. After a good while in the water, with Coye and Clay nowhere to be seen, Fen and I decided to come back in. Then it was all good times on the beach. We did everything from explore the tide pools, try to catch small crabs, some natural body painting, relaxing, searching for hermit crabs and the most exciting thing... a blowhole.Of course once the day in the water was finished it was back to camp to come up with a recipe using what we were able to gather in the ocean. That's one of the best things about being self sufficient and using what you got! Thing are never the same. You are always coming up with new ideas on how to use the food that you hunted or fished for. Lodgingmtvictorycamp.com
Diving for Conch- Catch, Clean & Cook - VLOG Episode 3 Liz Hayes 2023-03-08 | We are still living our best life in St. Croix Virgin Islands and in this episode its all about Coye. Coye, 13, my oldest son who is shy and quiet. He likes to be behind the camera instead of Infront. But this week he takes center stage. He not only free dives for the very first time but goes above and beyond to dive deep to see the treasures of the ocean and supplies us with one of our meals during our time in St. Croix. The goal for us this trip was to supply the meat for our dinners out of the ocean, its part of our lifestyle of being self sufficient. We like to hunt, fish and gather as much food as possible and this week Coye does just that. Not only was he able to catch part of our dinner but this ship loving boy got to explore a sunken boat which was right up his alley. Once we got back to shore, we cleaned the conch and I took over and made a conch ceviche to share with our friends for dinner. If you have never had conche ceviche you missing out. Its a quick and easy recipe that taste really great... especially when the main ingredient is fresh from the ocean. You basically just make salsa, cut up your conch and add lime juice! That's it. Quick and Easy!!Lodgingmtvictorycamp.com
Camping on a Secluded Beach- VLOG Episode 2 Liz Hayes 2023-03-01 | We are still in the Virgin Islands and this week we find our way down to a secluded beach with nothing but some sweet potatoes, a bottle of wine and some coffee and try to catch us some food for our dinner. We split up with Clay going into the ocean with his spear pole trying to find fish and a snare for lobster and the boys and I stayed in the tide pools looking for a different kind of food, a food most people might not want to eat. On this trip we are not by ourselves. We are joined by our good friends, Matt and Carmen and their kids. The kids get to play on the beach, turn trash into treasures and we all sit around a fire while our food cooks and we all share the food that we found. Being self sufficient can be fun and entertaining and in this weeks video it is just that.
Foraging for our Dinner- Island Style- VLOG Episode 1 Liz Hayes 2023-02-25 | A big part of our life is foraging for our food and this week we find ourselves in the crystal clear waters of St. Croix Virgin Islands doing just that. This was our boys first trip to the Virgin Islands and their first time free diving. We gave Fen a spear pole for him to try to get us some fish and Clay went diving for lobster. Coye spent his time on this day exploring and I was on camera duty and keeping track of Fen duty until dinner time. Diving with a 10 year is no small feat but when he is on a mission for food he goes into overdrive and fishing for our dinner took on a whole new meaning. A part of being self sufficient means you learn to cook what you forage so after a full day in the water then it was time to whip up a meal. Lodgingmtvictorycamp.com
Bobcat Enchilidas- Made From Scratch Liz Hayes 2023-02-18 | Today we are going to be making enchiladas from scratch. These are not just any enchiladas. I'm going to be using Bobcat that Clay brought home from a recent hunting trip to Texas. Most people don't think of Bobcats as an edible food but that cant be further from the truth. Bobcats and even Mountain Lions are edible. Once you get past the thought of eating a "cat" you see that it just another source of protein. There's an estimated 200,000-300,000 Bobcats roaming in Texas. And in most states there is a hunting season for them. And it is darn good eating. The thing with cooking wild game meat like Bobcat, is that you have to cook it low and slow to get it nice and tender. To get the Bobcat ready to be turned into enchiladas, I put it into a dutch oven with some salt and pepper and a small amount of water and then cooked it in the oven at 200 for about 8-10 hours. Once it was falling off the bone then I shredded it and it was ready to go. THE FULL RECIPE IS BELOW.Tortillas3 Cups All Purpose Flour1.5 Teaspoons Salt1 Teaspoon Baking Powder1/3 Cup Oil¾ Cups Warm Water1. Combine all of your dry ingredients and mix well. 2. Add your oil and water and stir until you have a shaggy dough.3. Turn out on a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes or until you have a smooth dough (if its too dry and water a teaspoon at a time, if its to wet and a dusting of flour until its kneadable)4. Cut into 8 pieces and roll into balls. 5. Then flatten the balls into disc, making sure they are well floured.6. Sit aside covered with a towel until ready to use.7. Roll each ball into a circle, making sure to roll them very thin (if they are too thick then your cooked tortillas will resemble pita bread)8. Fry in an oiled pan for 20-30 seconds on each side9. Keep warm until ready to useEnchilada SauceI used recipemagik.com/best-enchilada-sauce-recipe for the Enchilada Sauce (I doubled it) but used the following modification:1. I used Mexican Chili Powder2. Instead of tomato paste, I used about 20 oz tomato sauce3. And I used 5 cups of Chicken Bone BrothWhen making the sauce again, I will triple the amount for the enchilada recipeThe filling: 1. About 6 cups chopped Bobcat meat (Bobcat was cooked in a dutch oven with salt and pepper with a small amount of water in the bottom of the pan. I cooked it at 200 degrees for about 10 hours.)2. 21 ounces chopped green chilis3. 14 ounces black olives, drained (save a handful for the topping)4. 28 ounce black beans, drained5. 2 bunches green onions chopped (save a handful for the topping)6. Juice of 2 lemon (save half the juice for the top)7. Cilantro, chopped (for the topping only)8. Cheese, shredded (save some for the topping) You can never have too much cheese 😊Mix everything together except for the cilantro Putting it all together:1. Dip your tortilla into the enchilada sauce, coating the front and back. 2. Add your filling3. Top with cheese4. Roll up and place seam side down in a prepared casserole dish.5. Top with enchilada sauce, cheese, olives, green onionsBake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is nice and browned. After removing from the oven, top with fresh cilantro.ENJOY!!
How to Make a DIY Leather Art Journal Liz Hayes 2023-02-10 | Today I'm going to be using oiled leather to make a homemade gift for a cover for an art journal. You can use any type of material for this as well. A thick denim, fleece or even a padded quilting material would work. This would also be nice to make for a planner, recipe book, or picture album cover It is very versatile and can be made for any type of a book and any size book. This has a nice thickness to it and open and closes easily. I will be using 5 -6 ounce leather which is about 2.0-2.4 mm thick. It has a tab to keep it closed and your art protected. I'm going to be giving this one as a birthday gift so I will be engraving initials on the front cover and a personal message on the inside.The materials I used are listed below.Leather came from this etsy shopetsy.com/listing/672911743/leather-cow-full-grain-tooling-squares?Leather Working Tool Kitamzn.to/3JKLVUxContact Cementamzn.to/3jH4C0KDremelamzn.to/3YrFj1D
The Best Canned WILD HOG- Wild Game Canning Recipe Liz Hayes 2023-02-04 | Today I'm going to be pressure canning wild game meat. As a southern girl I like smoked pulled pork and to me there's no better way to do that then to smoke it low and slow. But today I'm on a mission. I'm not going to be just smoking this for a meal. I'm going to be canning this wild hog to make it shelf stable for long term food storage. My family tries to be self sufficient as possible and a huge part of that is to supply our own wild food and to make sure that we have a supply of that on hand. There is a lot of way to preserve wild game and canning meat is a great way to do that. It make it shelf stable so that no refrigeration is required. And when you can get it just the way you like it, well... that's just a win win in my book. Feral pigs are an abundant and great tasting alternative to farm raised pigs. Unfortunately many are wasted because of a bias against wild boar meat which is ridiculous. Feral hog is one of the best wild game meats on the planet and will give any domestic pig a run for it's money. Give this wild game canning recipe a try for yourself and let me know what you think.
Shelf Stable Pickled Egg- Preserving Eggs for Long Term Food Storage- Quick and Easy Recipe Liz Hayes 2023-01-31 | I have been pickling eggs for a long time and today I'm going to show you the complete process of pickling them for long term storage. These are shelf stable so no need for refrigeration until you open a jar. Are grandparents and great grandparents have been doing this for years. Preserving foods that they are shelf stable is a great way to have food security. And food security is an important part of becoming self sufficient. There are many ways to preserve eggs and pickling them are a favorite way that we do that in our home. Its also super quick and easy. You can eat them straight out of the jar, put them on top of a salad, make egg salad, or even make deviled eggs. Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT USDA APPROVED RECIPE. Proceed at your own risk.
We Live in a Barn! Ranch Tour Liz Hayes 2023-01-24 | Idaho in the summer and Florida in the winter. Bicoastal living has its pros and cons. When you travel like we do, you have to give up some things and embrace the others to live like this. This week we are going to be taking a look at where we call home during those winter months. And it might not be quite what you were expecting! Most people think of Florida as big cities and beaches but surprisingly most of the state is made of farm land. And that's where we find ourselves, living on a Ranch. And this is not just any Ranch. This is the Ranch where my husband grew up on and the ranch where I've spent over half my life calling home. We are going to tour the outside areas, find out what my kids are doing here and take a quick peek into our house. There's also one big thing that's missing from the way we normally live in Idaho. What's that you ask? Take a look and find out!
Pantry Tour 2023- Whats Inside My Pantry Liz Hayes 2023-01-17 | Ever wonder what a years worth of food for a family of 4 looks like? Come along and let me show you. As much as I wish I had one, I do not have a root cellar. My pantry is not perfect. Its small and cluttered and we are in there everyday. Jars of food get moved around on a daily basis. Its a working pantry. It doesn't stay clean or at the perfect temperature but that's ok. I can still put up quite a lot of home grown food in there and I am so thankful that we have it. Our meat comes from farm raised pigs and wild game that we harvest. We are big hunters and we fill our freezer with organic elk, deer and turkey. Our freezer full of wild game are kept in a different location. I've been so excited to do this pantry tour video. Homesteading is a challenge. Its not easy. This year was a hard gardening year and I had crops fail and not produce as well as expected but I was still able to put up a very large amount of the things we eat. All the hard work all summer long leads to this moment, self sufficiency. The moment that you can walk into the pantry and get all the supplies you need for your home cooked meals. This year I preserved our foods by canning, pressure canning, freezing, dehydrating, and leaving some things just as they are and storing them in crates. Some of the things you will see in the video were not home grown but were store bought. We do buy items at the store in bulk. I buy things in large quantities from Azure Standard. Its important to have food security and buying in bulk and preserving your home grown food are great ways to do that. Was I able to preserve a full years worth of food? Come on and lets take a look. My Dehydrator amzn.to/3GLQxGZ Freeze Dryeraffiliates.harvestright.com/1444.htmlSausage Stufferamzn.to/3QRr6ZdMy Amazon Store Frontamazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy
Homemade Venison Sausage Made Easy Liz Hayes 2022-11-14 | On todays video we are going to be showing you how to make venison sausage. Making homemade sausage can be intimidating but it is quite easy to make. Today we are going to walk you through that process. We are using a combination of a white tail deer I harvested on a recent hunting trip and one of our farm raised pigs. If you do not have access to farm raised pigs... no problem. Just head to the store and buy a pork shoulder and you will be good to go. We will be using a sausage stuffer but if you don't have access to one you can use this recipe and just make patty sausage or use a stuffing attachment for your grinder. Our recipe is listed below as well as the equipment that we use to make it. Leggs #10 seasoning1 pound dry non fat milk powder18 pounds venison7 pounds pork fat2 pounds of ice chipsAmazon Storefrontamazon.com/shop/lifelikelizzy
The Very Best Strawberry Jam - How to Make and Can it! Liz Hayes 2022-08-02 | Nothing says summer like fresh strawberries from your garden. And it’s even better when you can preserve that taste to have later in the winter. My kids absolutely love homemade strawberry jam, and we make dozens of jars of it every year while the berries are in season. Depending on the variety of strawberries, that can range from a few weeks to a few months. In today’s video I am going to be showing you how to make the best homemade strawberry jam and how to can it using a hot water bath. This very simple jam recipe is from The Blue Book guide to preserving. But when I make it, I cut back on the sugar and increase my pectin so it's not a super sweet jam but keeps the jam consistency. I cut my sugar back by 1.5 cups and then add 1 tablespoon of extra pectin to the recipe. I also cut out the lemon juice and instead use 1 teaspoon of Citric acid. But I am going to list the original recipe below and then put my modifications into parentheses beside the original. Ball Blue Book guide to preserving Strawberry JamMakes: 4 pints 2 quarts strawberries6 tablespoons Pectin (7 Tablespoons Hoosier Hill Farm fruit pectin)¼ cup lemon juice (no lemon juice but add 1 teaspoon citric acid)7 cups sugar (5.5 cups sugar)1. Wash your strawberries and remove stems. Crush your strawberries. 2. Combine strawberries, pectin, and lemon juice in a large pot.3. Bring to a boil stirring occasionally. 4. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved.5. Return to a rolling boil.6. Boil hard for 1 minute.7. Skim foam if necessary. 8. Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Put lids and rings on jars.9. If using half pint jars process 10 minutes, pints 15 minutes in a hot water bath.
We Started a New Garden- GARDEN TOUR 2022 Liz Hayes 2022-07-19 | Welcome to my very first garden tour. We try to be as self-sufficient as possible and a big part of that is growing a large garden. These gardens not only supply us with all the organic fresh vegetables that we could eat during the summer, but they also provide 90% of the vegetables that we will eat during the winter as well. With the cost of groceries and food shortages due to COVID, growing your own food just makes sense. I make sure to plant enough that I can preserve vegetables us for the next year through canning, dehydrating, and freeze drying. Each year my garden gets bigger and bigger, and this year is the biggest yet. I expanded!! I started a brand-new garden and I’m going to show it all to you and talk about what I’m doing with that right now and what the goal is for it in the fall to make it a no till garden. Gardening in Northern Idaho is not without its challenges, and I will show you some of the things that I do to help us grow some of the vegetables that we really like and what I do to extend our growing season. We are going to talk irrigation, mulching, lasagna gardening and whether to use weed mat or not too. You are going to get a peek at my green house, a big failure in the garden, some experimental crops, and a look at some changes that I implemented into the way I garden that gave my compacted overworked soil a new life. So come on and have a look at the gardens that feed my family of four. You can connect with me on my social medial outlet.Instagram: instagram.com/lifelikelizzyHarvest Right Freeze Dryer (Affiliate link): affiliates.harvestright.com/1444.html
Stock up on Broth - 1 YEAR Supply! Liz Hayes 2022-07-01 | Stop buying that canned broth from the store. You can make your own healthy nutritious broth right at home from just leftover bones. Homemade broth is full of collagen, fat, minerals and vitamins that your body needs and its super easy to make. In our house we use a lot of broths, so in todays video I'm going to walk you through how I stock up on broth and make a 1 year supply of organic turkey stock from just the leftover bones that we have. There is really no recipe. You just throw whatever you like into the pot and simmer away.
