This summer, I had the sweetest surprise—not just from the peas themselves, but from the people who grew them. A local family here grows peas, and this time they did something extra generous: they opened their fields and let locals pick up to three liters for free! No charge. Just come, pick, and take home … More Freezing Peas for Winter
Today’s post will be a bit longer. I love being back to nature and enjoying its wild bounty, like nettles, which offer both nourishment and healing, reminding me of the incredible gifts the earth provides. While most people rush to get rid of nettles, I welcome them—especially this time of year. Today, I went into … More Nettles – My Springtime Secret Weapon
As the days grow shorter and the garden veggies ripen, it’s the perfect time to start canning! You can read about my first experience with water bath canning. There’s something incredibly comforting about having a homemade soup base on hand. With a busy work schedule and limited time to cook during the day, I decided … More Canning: Preserving Beetroot Soup Base for Cozy Days Ahead
I couldn’t resist one final drive to the forest, eager to soak in the beauty of nature one last time before winter settles in. This time, I steered clear of the mysterious lakes and that quirky cabin, venturing a bit deeper into the woods instead. With my husband by my side, I felt adventurous and … More One Last Drive to the Forest
Basket Full of Pears: Juice and Jam for Winter Autumn brings an abundance of fruit, and this year, I was lucky enough to get a basket full of juicy pears from Janis’s parents. They looked so perfect and succulent that I couldn’t resist turning them into something special. Using a juice steamer, I made fresh … More Exotic Pear Jam and Juice Recipe: Preserve Autumn’s Bounty for Winter
Hello, apple enthusiasts! In my recent apple processing adventure, I turned a massive 15 kilos of apples into Apple pie filling ( the recipe is here). Another part was transformed into delicious apple juice and rich apple puree using a steamer. If you’re looking to make the most of your apple harvest, here’s a simple … More How to Make Apple Juice and Apple Puree Using a Steamer
As you know this was my first time making apple pie filling for winter storage. Please read more here:Hello everyone! If you caught my previous post, you know I had an apple-filled adventure after a friend’s birthday party—coming home with a staggering 15 kilos of apples! (You can read all about that experience here.) It … More First Try: Apple Pie Filling for Winter (Without Clear Jel)
Hello everyone! I recently had a delightful surprise at a friend’s birthday party: I came home with an enormous 15-kilo box of stunning apples! (It was so heavy, I could barely lift it!) Sunday became an apple extravaganza as I spent the entire day processing these fruits. And believe me, 15 kilos is a mountain … More A Fun Apple Adventure: From Party to Winter Storage
I’m sharing this recipe mostly for myself—to remember how to make pickles the way my mom taught me. After all these years, I finally got around to trying it out, and I have to say, I’m pretty proud of the results! I’m not exactly sure how many cucumbers I ended up pickling, but I managed … More My First Pickling Adventure: Mom’s Classic Pickles
And there are more… Maybe you have good tomato recipe? Ilze
Am I getting old or what? I’ve been thinking about water bath canning since autumn when my mom made all the tomatoes on pickled cucumbers for us at her home… and was tired as hell! I didn’t have a pot big enough… And I considered buying one, but then I realize that my stove top … More Water Bath Canning
In my family, we never used Steamer Juicer for apple juice instead we used a cold press and then heated the juice in a big pot. Steamer Juicer was used for cranberries and currant. Steamer juicer is a great way to make homemade apple juice and sauce at the same time! I discovered it last year! … More Making Apple Juice & Apple Sauce Using a Steamer Juicer
As you know I love to go foraging for mushrooms and also you know that this year mushrooms are all over the place. Or at least where we live :). What’s my favorite wild mushrooms? These! – Suillus luteus (Slipery Jack) – Leccinum aurantiacum – Boletus reticulatus Schaeff. (Summer Bolete) – Leccinum variicolor Watling – Lactarius torminosus (Woolly Milk-cap) – Lactarius pubescens … More My favorite wild mushrooms
How to prepare dill for winter? My favorite way is to freeze them. I don’t know why, but I don’t like the taste of dried dills. It’s completely something different. To freeze the dill you need only a few minutes! I’m buying bulk from organic farmers and they usually are clean. If choose to wash: leave … More How to Store Dill for winter
a day in the life of a latvian mom 