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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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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.

A loaf of date bread with a slice served on a white plate.

Grandmother’s Date Bread Recipe (Vintage Recipe)

Read moreGrandmother’s Date Bread Recipe (Vintage 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
Ginger cream cookies on a plate with holiday decor on the table.

Old-Fashioned Ginger Cream Cookies

Read moreOld-Fashioned Ginger Cream Cookies
A plate full of molasses cookies with another in the background.

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

Read moreGreat-Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe
A slice of pumpkin roll on a white plate with a fork taking a bite.

Grandma’s Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe

Read moreGrandma’s Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe
Stacks of homemade strawberry shortcake on a platter with mint and fresh strawberries

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Read moreHomemade Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
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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

homegrown ripe paste tomatoes in a wicker basket on the grass

How Much to Plant Per Person for a Year’s Worth of Food

A woman inspecting the apples on an apple tree.

How to Grow Fruit Trees

Vertical container planter with strawberries on cement patio

Small Space Vegetable Gardening Urban Gardening Tips

Baby meat chicks hanging out in the grass.

Raising Baby Chicks – Beginners Guide for the First 6 Weeks

A steak on a piece of butcher paper on a counter.

When Butchering a Cow the Best Cuts of Meat to Get

Chickens in a portable coop.

Integrating New Chicks to Existing Flocks Q&A Chicken Raising

Want to grow a year’s worth of food?

Know exactly how many plants per person you need to plant with my easy worksheet and chart!

Summer Canning Recipes

two jars of strawberry jam sitting on a tabletop with fresh strawberries around it.

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

homecanned green beans in jar on counter

How to Can Green Beans the Easy Way – Raw Pack

How to Make Mustard Pickles – Great-Grandma’s Recipe

homemade cherry pie filling in mason jars on white towel

Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (Canning Instructions)

placing dill in mason jar crunchy dill pickles on table

Best Homemade Pickles Recipe (Garlic Dill Pickles)

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Melissa K. Norris

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Podcast

Homestead Security: Why Community May Be Your Best Defense

Farm Dog Breeds (Which is Best for You?)

Time Spent to Grow a Year’s Worth of Food

Fruits and Vegetables in Season by Month and Tips for Preservation

Books

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

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


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