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Melissa K. Norris

Melissa K. Norris

Simple Modern Homesteading for a Healthy & Self-Sufficient Life

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Recipes

A jar of prepared homemade muffin mix.

Homemade Muffin Mix Recipe

Read moreHomemade Muffin Mix Recipe
A biscuit in half on a white plate, drizzled with honey.

Homemade Biscuit Mix Recipe

Read moreHomemade Biscuit Mix Recipe
A bowl of oatmeal topped with dried fruit.

Instant Oatmeal Recipe

Read moreInstant Oatmeal Recipe
Three pancakes stacked on a white plate with maple syrup drizzling over the top.

Homemade Pancake Mix

Read moreHomemade Pancake Mix
Homemade mayonnaise in a jar.

Fail-Proof Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe (In 2-Minutes)

Read moreFail-Proof Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe (In 2-Minutes)
Purple dead nettle growing in a patch.

Purple Dead Nettle – Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide

Read morePurple Dead Nettle – Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide
Buttermilk ranch dressing in a Mason jar.

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Probiotic)

Read moreHomemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Probiotic)
jars of canned chicken on a towel on kitchen counter

How to Can Chicken (SAFE & Easy Raw Pack Method)

Read moreHow to Can Chicken (SAFE & Easy Raw Pack Method)
A woman's hands opening a freshly cooked bao bun.

EASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe

Read moreEASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe
Mozzarella cheese and whey separating out.

How to Make Whey in Four Easy Steps

Read moreHow to Make Whey in Four Easy Steps
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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
  • Recipes
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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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