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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

A woman pouring vodka into a bottle for homemade vanilla extract.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Read moreHomemade Vanilla Extract
homemade hot cocoa mix in a mason jar with red and white twine and pine cones on table top

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)

Read moreHomemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)
A jar of homemade Greek yogurt with a spoon lifting a bite to show texture.

Plain Yogurt Recipe | Easy Homemade Yogurt With Just 2 Ingredients

Read morePlain Yogurt Recipe | Easy Homemade Yogurt With Just 2 Ingredients

Best Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening

Read moreBest Flaky Pie Crust Recipe – Without Shortening
DIY brownie mix in a jar sitting on a counter.

DIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies

Read moreDIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies

Homemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)

Read moreHomemade Pop Tarts From Scratch (Hand Pies)
Granola bars stacked on the counter.

Easy Homemade Granola Bars (Copycat Nature Valley Recipe)

Read moreEasy Homemade Granola Bars (Copycat Nature Valley Recipe)

Sourdough Chocolate Bread From Scratch

Read moreSourdough Chocolate Bread From Scratch

Fried Donut Recipe How to Make Donuts From Scratch

Read moreFried Donut Recipe How to Make Donuts From Scratch

Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls with Molasses

Read moreOld Fashioned Popcorn Balls with Molasses
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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

A jar of fermented pickles sitting on an outdoor table.

Fermented Pickles Recipe|Easy Old-Fashioned Salt Brine Pickles

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
  • Lifestyle
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Podcast

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

Feeding a Family on a Budget

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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