Blog - Melissa K. Norris

Featured Article

No-Knead Artisan Bread |Easy Dutch Oven Recipe

Bake no knead artisan bread with 4 simple ingredients. Crispy crust, soft crumb, easy Dutch oven method, beginner-friendly recipe.

Recent Articles

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

I Left My Potatoes in the Ground for 5 Years Without Replanting - Here's What Happened

Homemade Greek Yogurt Recipe | Thick, Creamy, and Easy to Make

Ultimate Water Bath Canning Guide (Beginner-Friendly)

Creamy Asparagus Soup Recipe

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Mexican Crackers Recipe

Sour Cream and Onion Crackers Recipe

Italian Crackers Recipe |Crispy Homemade Herb Crackers

Sweet and Salty Crackers Recipe

DIY Italian Seasoning (Homemade Italian Spice Blend)

DIY Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe

DIY Taco Seasoning Mix (Better Than Store-Bought)

Old-Fashioned Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Creamy Delicata Squash Soup

Tangerine Cake With Honey and Walnuts

5 Nutrient-Dense Foods That Support Better Health Naturally

Easy Sourdough Boule Recipe (5 Minutes Hands-On Time!)

Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Classic Maple Vanilla Baked Pears

Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

End-of-Summer Garden Tips

Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins with Buttermilk

A Day in the Garden: Harvesting, Preserving, and Preparing for Fall on the Homestead

Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese

Healthy Peach Cobbler

Creamy Red Potato Salad Recipe

Cooking Eggs in Cast Iron (The RIGHT Way)

10 Food Preservation Methods Everyone Should Know

How to Make Avocado Toast

Cream of Broccoli Soup With Cheese

Great-Grandma’s Easy Sour Cream Biscuits

Instant Pot Artichoke (Quick & Easy Recipe)

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

Grandma's Vintage Date Bread Recipe

Quick Dinner Rolls (25 Minute Recipe!)

Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner (Citrus or Pine)

Quick & Easy Sourdough Discard Pancakes

Homemade Cheese Crackers Recipe (4 Ingredients!)

Frugal Living as a Homesteader (How to Save Money & Get Out of Debt)

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

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

Easy Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe (Crispy & Juicy)

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake without Jello & Homemade Cake Mix

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

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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Spring Preserving Recipes

Pickled Asparagus Recipe (Canned, Quick, or Refrigerator)

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

How to Store Lemons (For a Year!) - Fermented Lemons

Fermented Pickles Recipe|Easy Old-Fashioned Salt Brine Pickles

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!