Melissa Norris

Toxin Testing & My Results

How to Freeze Apples – A Simple Guide for Preserving

Individual Strawberry Shortcake Recipe From-Scratch

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!

Raising Grass-Fed Beef (Pros & Cons)

Homemade 5-Minute Marinated Cheese Balls

How to Start a Fire Without a Lighter

Tips to Eat Real Food

Why Heirloom Seeds Are My Favorite

13 Basic Steps to Starting a Vegetable Garden

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.

More About Melissa

My Most Popular Posts

How to Make a Sourdough Starter + Tips for Success

Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread No Yeast

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

Great-Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

Easy Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits Ready to Eat in 20 Minutes

Vintage Recipe: Jam Roly-Poly Recipe without Suet

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.

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Fall Canning Recipes

Apple Pie Jam Low Sugar Recipe

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions

Homemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)

Canned Apple Pie Filling Recipe & Tutorial