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This meatball recipe is easy to scale up or down. They can be eaten right away, frozen or even pressure canned! Cooking meat in bulk makes those busy nights easy with a premade option that’s homemade! Our links to Amazon earn our family a commission, but we only share products we love! Ingredients 10 pounds…
When it comes to ground meat, most grocery stores showcase ground beef in every fat ratio, from 70/30 to 95/5. It’s a favorite for burgers, chili, meat sauces, and casseroles. Ground pork, meanwhile, often occupies a smaller shelf, quietly waiting for cooks to discover its versatility. However both of these red meat options should have…
Struggling with seeds not germinating? Learn the most common causes of low germination rates and practical solutions from full-time produce growers using real-life experience.
Kale plants are one of the most reliable crops we grow on our Iowa produce farm. Whether we’re transplanting kale seedlings in early spring, setting out a fall crop in late summer, or harvesting sweet leaves after a light frost, kale earns its place in our growing plan every year. We follow organic practices on…
Winter squashes are one of the most reliable, low-maintenance, long-lasting foods you can keep on hand for the colder months. At Pleasant Grove Homestead, we love showing people how incredibly simple it is to store butternut squash, acorn types, spaghetti squash, sweet meat, hubbard squash, and many other types of squash—all without hours of canning…
Winter squash is one of our favorite fall foods here at Pleasant Grove Homestead. From kabocha squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and classic butternut squash, these vegetables are versatile, nutritious, and store beautifully all winter long. Unlike many other vegetables, winter squash doesn’t require freezing unless you have leftovers — in fact, a whole squash…
Here in Iowa, growing kale is a rewarding challenge. From the rolling fields of our homestead to farmers markets in Oskaloosa, Des Moines, and beyond, different types of kale thrive in our climate, especially as temperatures drop in late October and after the first frost. As a produce farmer, I love sharing the story behind…
Homemade beef and noodles are a classic comfort food that’s perfect for busy families. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and transforms leftover roast beef or chuck roast into a delicious meal that’s ready to join your dinner rotation. Whether you’re serving it to picky eaters or planning a whole meal with sides like green beans, this classic dish is always a hit. Plus, it’s a great way to use leftover pot roast, stretch your meat budget,…
A Handy guide for home cooks to store, thaw, and enjoy beef later If you’ve cooked an entire beef roast and found yourself with more leftovers than your family can eat in 3–5 days, you’re not alone. Many home cooks wonder about the best way to store cooked beef for future use without sacrificing flavor…
While ground beef substitutes and plant-based meat alternatives are trending in every grocery store aisle, we’re taking a different approach here at Pleasant Grove Homestead. Beef—especially pasture-raised beef—is one of the few animal products that contains all nine essential amino acids in comparable amounts to what our bodies need. It’s also rich in vitamin B12, zinc, and iron—nutrients that are often…
Buying a quarter of beef, half beef, or even a whole beef is one of the best ways to fill your freezer with high quality, locally processed beef. But if you’re new to buying beef in bulk, one of the biggest questions is: What’s the difference between front quarter and hind quarter beef? Does that matter? And more importantly… When…