• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

Log In
  • Start Here
  • Podcast
  • Articles
    • Natural Medicine Cabinet
    • Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Gardening
    • Homestead-Life
    • Canning Recipes
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Classes
    • General Store
  • Academy
  • Log In
  • Start Here
  • Podcast
  • Articles
    • Natural Medicine Cabinet
    • Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Gardening
    • Homestead-Life
    • Canning Recipes
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Classes
    • General Store
  • Academy
  • Log In

From-Scratch Dessert Recipes

Make incredible from-scratch dessert recipes with pantry staples. Enjoy recipes for dump cake, a vintage jam roly-poly, chocolate wacky cake with homemade chocolate buttercream frosting, and even unique recipes like candied kumquats or papaya bars! Don’t miss the holiday favorites with this traditional Christmas pudding recipe, old-fashioned molasses cookies and Grandma’s pumpkin roll.

Maple Vanilla Baked Pears on a plate.

Classic Maple Vanilla Baked Pears

Read moreClassic Maple Vanilla Baked Pears
Chocolate chip cookies on a baking tray.

Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Read moreEasy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
A woman splitting a blueberry muffin in half.

Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins with Buttermilk

Read moreOld-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins with Buttermilk
Peach cobbler served on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

Healthy Peach Cobbler

Read moreHealthy Peach Cobbler
A loaf of date bread with a slice served on a white plate.

Grandma’s Vintage Date Bread Recipe

Read moreGrandma’s Vintage Date Bread Recipe
A slice of chocolate wacky cake on a serving utensil.

Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Read moreBest Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
A slice of chocolate wacky cake on a white plate.

Easy Chocolate Wacky Cake Recipe (aka Chocolate Depression Cake)

Read moreEasy Chocolate Wacky Cake Recipe (aka Chocolate Depression Cake)
Candied kumquats in a bowl of yogurt.

Quick & Easy Candied Kumquats Recipe

Read moreQuick & Easy Candied Kumquats Recipe
Papaya bars dusted with powdered sugar on a white cutting board.

Quick & Easy Papaya Bars Recipe

Read moreQuick & Easy Papaya Bars Recipe
Christmas pudding served on a white plate with brown sugar sauce.

Traditional Christmas Pudding Recipe

Read moreTraditional Christmas Pudding Recipe
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 6
  • Next
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.

More About Melissa
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

My Most Popular Posts

Sourdough starter in a jar with a loaf of bread in the background.

How to Make a Sourdough Starter + Tips for Success

sourdough starter in Maosn jar on counter

Best Beginner Sourdough Sandwich Bread No Yeast

Cream of mushroom soup in a Mason jar.

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

A plate full of molasses cookies with another in the background.

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

Buttermilk biscuits in a cast iron pan.

Easy Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits Ready to Eat in 20 Minutes

Image of a slice of jam roly poly served on a decorative plate. A jar of raspberry jam is sitting in the background. Text overlay says,

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.

Grab Your Copy ($20, Free Shipping)

Fall Canning Recipes

three different sized jars of apple pie filling and a smaller jar of apple pie jam.

Apple Pie Jam Low Sugar Recipe

Jars of home canned applesauce.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

Fermented cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions

Jars of mustard pickles sitting on a counter.

Homemade Mustard Pickles (+ Canning Instructions)

Canned Apple Pie Filling Recipe & Tutorial

Sidebar


Melissa K. Norris

Follow me:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Classes
  • Academy
  • Contact
  • Log In

Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • DIY

Podcast

Why I’m Pressing Pause (And How You Can Help Shape What’s Next)

Root Vegetable Storage Without a Root Cellar: Simple Methods That Work

From-Scratch Cooking Made Easy: Myths vs. Reality

Refreshing Summer Drinks You Can Make at Home

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


© 2025 · Melissa K. Norris Pioneering Today LLC

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

Melissa K. Norris and Pioneering Today LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Manager