Hello and welcome to Beets ‘n Basil!

From homegrown recipes to gardening tips and fermenting experiments, this blog is all about embracing the joy of fresh food and a greener lifestyle. Whether you’re new to the world of gardening or just getting started with homemade foods, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let’s cultivate, create, and learn together as we celebrate the beauty of simple, homemade food.

Newest Recipes and Posts

Here, you’ll find my newest fermenting experiments, recipes rooted in fresh ingredients, diy household items, and tips for growing your own food.

  • Rolling Dolmas

    Rolling Dolmas

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    Chelsi
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    First you’ll want to make sure you know how tight to roll your dolmas. Depending on the filling you are using and whether the filling shrinks or expands you’ll want to adjust the tightness of your roll. Filling Type Roll Style Why Raw meat (lamb, beef, chicken) Snug (not tight) Meat shrinks as it cooks…

  • Oatmeal Cream Pies (with Maple Cinnamon Filling)

    Oatmeal Cream Pies (with Maple Cinnamon Filling)

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    Chelsi
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    Remember Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies?? Well this is the adult version with a maple cinnamon twist! I absolutely LOVED these growing up. It was such a treat to get to buy a box from the store and unwrap them from their individual celophane wrappers. The sweet fluffy center and chewy oatmeal cookies made it…

  • Homemade “Twizzlers”

    Homemade “Twizzlers”

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    Chelsi
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    These three ingredient twizzlers are easy to make with a little dehydrator time and they are tasty! Yes there’s beet juice in them but the sweetness of the dates over power the earthiness of the beets. Start by blending dates, beet juice, and freeze-dried strawberries with 3/4 cups of warm water. You are looking for…

  • Probiotic Lemonade

    Probiotic Lemonade

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    Chelsi
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    Do you have extra brine from your last batch of sauerkraut? One of the ways I like to use sauerkraut brine is to make a probiotic lemonade. It’s the first drink I have in the morning before breakfast. Along with lemon juice, I’ll add maple syrup as a sweetener. You can also add fresh mint…

  • Lamb, Date, and Warm Spice Dolmas

    Lamb, Date, and Warm Spice Dolmas

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    Chelsi
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    I brined 3 jars of grape leaves from our grapevines this year and although I love rice dolmas and rice and beef dolmas, I wanted to change it up and use different ingredients than I would normally use or have found in dolmas recipes. The first recipe I came up with was lamb based with…

  • Harvesting Coriander Seeds

    Harvesting Coriander Seeds

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    Chelsi
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    Cilantro or Coriander? Cilantro and Coriander often cause confusion, but they refer to different parts of the same plant, Coriandrum sativum. In the United States, “cilantro” typically refers to the fresh green leaves and stems, while “coriander” describes the dried seeds harvested from the plant. However, in many other parts of the world, especially in…

  • Zucchini Flour

    Zucchini Flour

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    Chelsi
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    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog! Zucchini is a staple in our garden every year because the plants produce heavily. However, zucchini can get huge quickly, seemingly overnight. It’s…

  • Beef Flanken Ribs

    Beef Flanken Ribs

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    Chelsi
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    These beef flanken ribs are one of my favorite meals to make. They are easy to prep, and after marinating for a day or so, they make for a quick weeknight dinner paired with a macaroni salad. What Are Flanken Ribs? Beef flanken ribs are a cut of beef short ribs that the rib section.…

  • Freeze Dried Turkey Stick Dog Treats

    Freeze Dried Turkey Stick Dog Treats

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    Chelsi
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    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links — at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog! If you’re looking for a healthy, homemade treat for your pup, these freeze-dried turkey stick dog treats are a great option! Made with…

  • Homemade Cup O’ Noodles

    Homemade Cup O’ Noodles

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    Chelsi
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    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog! If you love the convenience of instant noodles but want to control the ingredients, these homemade noodle cups are the perfect pantry staple.…