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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

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

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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 stack of homemade graham crackers on a plate.

Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Read moreEasy Homemade Graham Crackers
A slice of pineapple upside down cake with a bite on a fork to show texture.

Old-Fashioned Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Read moreOld-Fashioned Pineapple Upside Down Cake
A slice of tangerine cake on a white plate garnished with segmented tangerines.

Tangerine Cake With Honey and Walnuts

Read moreTangerine Cake With Honey and Walnuts
Maple Vanilla Baked Pears on a plate.

Classic Maple Vanilla Baked Pears

Read moreClassic Maple Vanilla Baked Pears
Three homemade chocolate chip cookies on a white plate

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)
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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

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

How to Make a Sourdough Starter + Tips for Success

Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

A cooked whole roast chicken in a cast iron skillet.

Easy Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe (Crispy & Juicy)

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

Bacon wrapped asparagus on a white plate.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

A stack of homemade graham crackers on a plate.

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

A jar of pickled asparagus with spears on a plate.

Pickled Asparagus Recipe (Canned, Quick, or Refrigerator)

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

Strawberry Jam Recipe without Pectin and Low Sugar

Jar of fermented lemons on a counter with a bag of citrus and sliced lemons on a plate

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

Fermented pickles in large jars.

Quick & Easy Fermented Pickles Recipe

A basket full of strawberries.

How to Preserve Strawberries: Keep Those Berries Fresh!

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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
  • Recipes
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Podcast

Why Your Food Preservation Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It Safely)

How My Mom Fed Our Family on $100 a Month (And the Simple Habits That Still Work Today)

Spring Meal Planning (Without the Overwhelm)

Why Dieting Stops Working After 40 (The Blood Sugar Loop Explained)

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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