March 14, 2026, was a special day for me in Tucson, Arizona. I had the joy of demonstrating a fermentation recipe at the Tucson Festival of Books and sharing a bit about my newest cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Pantry. And my sweet friends, what an experience it was!
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Table of Contents
- Modern Pioneer Recipe in the Culinary Tent
- Aerobic Ferments Are Easy for Beginners
- Discovering How Easy Traditional Foods Are to Make
- Give Fermented Beverages a Try
- Fermented Beverages Recipes
- Thanks to My Sweet Arizona Friends
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Shop for My Favorite Items
Modern Pioneer Recipe in the Culinary Tent
The festival had a beautiful culinary tent set up with a full stage and cooking equipment, and I was blessed to work alongside the most wonderful chef and his team.
Chef Darryl and his crew had everything prepared perfectly so I could demonstrate how to make Fermented Hibiscus Ginger Tea, the recipe featured in The Modern Pioneer Pantry. They treated me like royalty and made the entire experience warm and celebratory.
And the audience—oh my goodness—what a packed house! With the Tucson weather warming up, everyone was especially excited to learn about a refreshing fermented beverage that’s as nourishing as it is beautiful.
Together, we walked through how easy it is to make a traditional fermented drink using just a few wholesome ingredients: edible hibiscus flowers, fresh ginger, water, a touch of sugar, and a little whey, if you happen to have it on hand. I like to think of the whey as an insurance policy—it gives the ferment a helpful little jump start and makes the whole process even more foolproof.
Aerobic Ferments Are Easy for Beginners
What delighted everyone the most was discovering how easy beverage fermentation can be. The fermented tea recipe is an aerobic ferment, meaning it’s happy to be exposed to air. No need to weigh anything down below the liquid. You don’t need to take special precautions to prevent air from entering your jar’s contents, as you would need to with an anaerobic ferment, such as sauerkraut.
With an aerobic ferment, you simply stir it every day, expose it to the air, and then strain the contents within 3-5 days. There’s something almost magical about watching such simple ingredients transform into a vibrant, tangy, naturally bubbly drink. The deep ruby color of the hibiscus alone had people leaning forward in their seats! And best of all, I shared how to turn hibiscus flower scraps into hibiscus vinegar. No wasting anything here!
Discovering How Easy Traditional Foods Are to Make
The questions afterward were wonderful, and you could feel the excitement in the room. So many people left eager to try fermenting beverages at home, realizing that these traditional foods are not complicated or mysterious—they’re actually quite simple and very approachable.
Moments like this remind me why I love sharing traditional kitchen skills so much. When people discover just how easy it is to make nourishing foods and drinks in their own kitchens, it opens up a whole new world of confidence and creativity.
Give Fermented Beverages a Try
If you’ve ever been curious about fermenting your own beverages at home, I hope this little story encourages you to give it a try. As everyone in that Tucson cooking tent discovered, it is one of the simplest and most delightful traditional kitchen skills to learn.
With just a few wholesome ingredients and a little patience, you can create something refreshing and nourishing right in your own kitchen. And once you see how easy it is, you may find yourself experimenting with all sorts of flowers, herbs, and spices along the way!
Fermented Beverages Recipes
How to Make Rejuvelac: A Traditional Fermented Grain Drink
Discover this traditional fermented grain drink made from sprouted wheat, offering gentle digestion support through ancestral methods.
The Gentle Power of Fermented Beverages—All Year Long
Learn how fermented beverages gently support digestion year-round, shifting with the seasons to nourish the gut through traditional, living drinks.
Homemade Strawberry Soda—A Sweet and Bubbly Probiotic Treat
Made with fresh fruit and a ginger bug—simple, healthy, and so refreshing!
Thanks to My Sweet Arizona Friends
Standing there in that culinary tent, surrounded by such enthusiasm, was a day I will treasure for a very long time. And many thanks to moderator Rita and the Tucson Festival of Books Team and to all of you who came out to listen to my presentation and then joined me at the book signing tent. It was such a joy meeting all of you in person and sharing lots of hugs!
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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.
The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Academy Videos
Why We Should Incorporate Mackerel Into Our Diet
Easy and nourishing ways to enjoy mackerel into your meals.
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
The Only Traditional Recipes You’ll Ever Need!
Focus on traditional recipes with real food. Don’t chase trends.
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- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
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Favorite Kitchen Supplies
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- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
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