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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

5th-generation homesteader. Helping modern women live from scratch.

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Melissa Norris

A bird's eye view of a freshly baked chicken and broccoli casserole in a white baking dish.

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole With Curry | Easy From-Scratch Dinner

Read moreChicken and Broccoli Casserole With Curry | Easy From-Scratch Dinner
A cooked whole chicken served on a white platter and garnished with fresh rosemary.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken  (Juicy, Easy & Flavorful Recipe)

Read moreInstant Pot Whole Chicken  (Juicy, Easy & Flavorful Recipe)

Fish Chowder Recipe- Great-Grandma's from 1931 & Keto friendly

Read moreFish Chowder Recipe- Great-Grandma's from 1931 & Keto friendly

Melt in Your Mouth Blueberry Cake Recipe using Maple Syrup

Read moreMelt in Your Mouth Blueberry Cake Recipe using Maple Syrup
Image of an essential oil diffuser with bottles of essential oil, an essential oil diffuser necklace, a cedar bow, and red velvet draped in the background. Text overlay says, "7 Holiday Essential Oil Blends for a Natural Homestead ".

7 Holiday Essential Oil Blends for a Natural Homestead

Read more7 Holiday Essential Oil Blends for a Natural Homestead

15 Homemade Natural Herbal Bath and Body Gifts

Read more15 Homemade Natural Herbal Bath and Body Gifts

DIY Farmhouse Burlap Christmas Ornaments- Easy Homemade Project

Read moreDIY Farmhouse Burlap Christmas Ornaments- Easy Homemade Project
A freshly baked pumpkin chocolate chip muffin with a bite taken out of it.

Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins Recipe with Maple Glaze

Read morePumpkin Applesauce Muffins Recipe with Maple Glaze
A buttered biscuit served on a white plate.

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

Read moreOld Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

Hard Times Pudding - A Frugal Dessert from the 1920s

Read moreHard Times Pudding - A Frugal Dessert from the 1920s
Blackberry jam in a Mason jar.

Homemade Blackberry Jam Recipe (Low Sugar + Canning Instructions)

Read moreHomemade Blackberry Jam Recipe (Low Sugar + Canning Instructions)
Blueberry Dumplings Recipe

Blueberry Dumplings Recipe- Old-fashioned Recipe from 1949

Read moreBlueberry Dumplings Recipe- Old-fashioned Recipe from 1949

Easy Mint Water Recipe & Benefits

Read moreEasy Mint Water Recipe & Benefits

Buckwheat Pancake Recipe from the 1920s

Read moreBuckwheat Pancake Recipe from the 1920s
A white plate with a helping of strawberry rhubarb dump cake and a fork. Text overlay says, "Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake Real Food Style: Homemade Cake Mix & No Jello".

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Read moreStrawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Homemade Tinted Lip Balm Recipe- Easy DIY

Read moreHomemade Tinted Lip Balm Recipe- Easy DIY
Three images of hot cross buns sitting on a napkin. Text overlay says, "Easy Hot Cross Buns: Great-Grandma's 1950's recipe with no processed sugar".

Traditional Hot Cross Buns - Easy Recipe from 1950

Read moreTraditional Hot Cross Buns - Easy Recipe from 1950
Potato bannocks on a white plate.

Traditional Bannock Recipe (With Potatoes)

Read moreTraditional Bannock Recipe (With Potatoes)

5 Symptoms Your Gut Health is Off- Heal Your Gut Naturally

Read more5 Symptoms Your Gut Health is Off- Heal Your Gut Naturally

Vintage Recipe: Grandma's Easy Oatmeal Macaroons Recipe Gluten Free

Read moreVintage Recipe: Grandma's Easy Oatmeal Macaroons Recipe Gluten Free

7 Signs You Suffer from Thyroid Disease

Read more7 Signs You Suffer from Thyroid Disease

4 Simple Habits to Improve Your Energy Naturally

Read more4 Simple Habits to Improve Your Energy Naturally

10 Things Every Mason Jar Lover Needs

Read more10 Things Every Mason Jar Lover Needs

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

Read moreOld-Fashioned Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe
three different sized jars of apple pie filling and a smaller jar of apple pie jam.

Apple Pie Jam Low Sugar Recipe

Read moreApple Pie Jam Low Sugar Recipe
A pint jar full of homemade peanut butter.

Homemade Peanut Butter Recipe - Ready in 5 Minutes

Read moreHomemade Peanut Butter Recipe - Ready in 5 Minutes
Woman in a red and white apron holding a plate of date nut bars. Text overlay says, "Old Fashioned Italian Date Nut Bar".

Old-Fashioned Italian Date Nut Bars Recipe

Read moreOld-Fashioned Italian Date Nut Bars Recipe

DIY Homemade Cinnamon-Oatmeal Shaving Soap in a Mason Jar

Read moreDIY Homemade Cinnamon-Oatmeal Shaving Soap in a Mason Jar
Image of a homemade Christmas ornament with text overlay, "Homemade Christmas Ornament using old canning lids".

DIY Homemade Christmas Canning Lid Ornament

Read moreDIY Homemade Christmas Canning Lid Ornament

6 DIY Re-Purposed Sweater Projects

Read more6 DIY Re-Purposed Sweater Projects
Pumpkin roll sliced on the counter.

Grandma's Easy Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe

Read moreGrandma's Easy Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe
Ginger cream cookies on a plate with holiday decor on the table.

15 Cookie Baking Tips for the Best Cookies Every Time

Read more15 Cookie Baking Tips for the Best Cookies Every Time

DIY Canning Ring Wreath

Read moreDIY Canning Ring Wreath

3 Ingredient Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

Read more3 Ingredient Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
A cast iron skillet with fresh made bread rolls.

Soft Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe From Scratch

Read moreSoft Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe From Scratch

6 Rules for Bartering Success

Read more6 Rules for Bartering Success
Dehydrated tomato slices on a dehydrator tray.

5 Reasons Dehydrated Food is a Preparedness Must & 5 Tips for Dehydrating at Home

Read more5 Reasons Dehydrated Food is a Preparedness Must & 5 Tips for Dehydrating at Home
Picture of an antique violin hanging on a painted barn wood door. Text overlay says, "6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power Goes Out".

6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power is Out

Read more6 Things to Do for Fun When the Power is Out
Picture of an antique kerosene lamp sitting on a bed of hay with barn wood in the background. Text overlay says, "4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out".

4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out

Read more4 Things You Need When the Lights Go Out

8 Tips for Bulk Food Storage

Read more8 Tips for Bulk Food Storage
Five bags filled with dried beans. Text overlay says, "6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk".

6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk

Read more6 Tips on Buying Food in Bulk

5 Things You Shouldn't Ignore

Read more5 Things You Shouldn't Ignore
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A woman in the kitchen with jars of home canned food.

Howdy, I'm Melissa!

I’m so glad you're here. This is the place for all of us who loved Little House when we were young and thought Laura was our best friend. It's where we grow dinner in the backyard and think everything looks and tastes better when it comes from a Mason jar. Here, you'll find my favorite from-scratch recipes, herbal remedies and tutorials, and all my gardening tips from my 20+ years of growing and raising our own food.

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My Most Popular Posts

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

A fork and knife carving a whole roasted chicken.

Oven-Roasted Chicken Recipe | Crispy Skin & Juicy Whole Chicken  

A stack of homemade graham crackers on a plate.

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Peach cobbler served on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

Healthy Peach Cobbler

Close up shot of a double chocolate zucchini muffin.

Bakery Style Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

A stack of sourdough tortillas on a towel lined counter.

Easy Sourdough Tortillas (Soft and Flexible)

Plated by Season: Home‑Cooked. Home‑Grown. On Your Table in 30 Minutes or Less.

75+ seasonal, from‑scratch recipes + a monthly harvest chart. Real meals. Minimal fuss.

Grab Your Copy ($20, Free Shipping)

Summer Preserving Recipes

Three jars of strawberry jam hot out of the canner.

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

A jar of fermented pickles sitting on an outdoor table.

Fermented Pickles Recipe|Easy Old-Fashioned Salt Brine Pickles

Jars of blueberry jam with a jar of yogurt topped with blueberry jam.

Blueberry Jam Recipe Without Pectin (+ Low-Sugar)

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

An opened jar of cherry jam with a spoonful.

Cherry Jam Recipe Without Pectin and Low Sugar

Jars of mustard pickles sitting on a counter.

Homemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)

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Melissa K. Norris

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  • About Melissa K. Norris — Modern Homesteading ExpertStart Here
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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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Podcast

Summer Meal Planning Made Easy (Quick & Easy Summer Meals)

Healing Plants of the Bible: 16 Biblical Herbs and Their Traditional Uses

Why So Many People Feel Called to Homesteading

What Grows Best in a Pacific Northwest Vegetable Garden?

Books

  • Everything Worth Preserving
  • The Family Garden Planner
  • Handmade
  • The Made from Scratch Life
  • The Family Garden Plan

Education

  • Organic Gardening Workshop
  • Home Fruit Preservative Canning e-course
  • Home Canning With Confidence
  • Homemade Bread & Baking Class
  • Natural Homemade Bath and Beauty
  • Pioneering Today Academy


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