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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

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
Assembled individual strawberry shortcake on a white plate.

Individual Strawberry Shortcake Recipe From-Scratch

Read moreIndividual Strawberry Shortcake Recipe From-Scratch
Apple dump cake in a cast iron pan with fresh apples.

Apple Pie Dump Cake Recipe with Cake Mix

Read moreApple Pie Dump Cake Recipe with Cake Mix
Two jars of homemade cake mix on a wooden counter top.

Homemade Cake Mix Recipe

Read moreHomemade Cake Mix Recipe
A jar of prepared homemade muffin mix.

Homemade Muffin Mix Recipe

Read moreHomemade Muffin Mix Recipe
Chocolate gravy being spooned over a flaky buttermilk biscuit.

1930s Chocolate Gravy Recipe

Read more1930s Chocolate Gravy 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

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.

Grab Your Copy ($20, Free Shipping)

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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Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
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Podcast

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)

Why Winter Isn’t Actually Slower (and What to Do Instead)

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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