The Hands-On Home

October 1, 2015

To gain control of her domestic life and live more sustainably, Strauss (a former chef-turned-urban homesteader and blogger at nwedible.com) turned her back on prepared foods and industrial products such as household cleaners and beauty items. The bulk of this book shares her recipes organized by season. In the vein of Alana Chernila's The Homemade Pantry and Kresha Faber's The DIY Pantry, 78 recipes are for food--to provide delicious meals or preserve a bounty to stock the pantry or freezer. Well-written instructions for processes such as lactofermentation and pressure canning (but not dehydrating) simulate having a savvy, understanding neighbor at your side. Additionally, almost 40 recipes for cleaners and personal care products are also included for those who haven't discovered some in craft books or read Mandy O'Brien and Dionna Ford's Homemade Cleaners. Strauss touches on general household management, too, with nonjudgmental suggestions for time management, laundry, tidying, and major cleaning projects. VERDICT This title enables an easy start down the path to a homemade, fun, environmentally responsible lifestyle. Home cooks will discover fresh recipes and adopt techniques the author shared from her professional kitchen experience.--Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

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