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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 Side Dishes

A white bowl full of fermented salsa garnished with cilantro and a wedge of lime.

Fermented Salsa | Probiotic Homemade Salsa

Read moreFermented Salsa | Probiotic Homemade Salsa
A slice of no knead bread with strawberry jam.

No-Knead Artisan Bread |Easy Dutch Oven Recipe

Read moreNo-Knead Artisan Bread |Easy Dutch Oven Recipe

Homemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions

Read moreHomemade Cranberry Sauce + Canning Instructions
Bird's eye view of a glass jar full of Italian crackers.

Homemade Crackers (Ready in Minutes)

Read moreHomemade Crackers (Ready in Minutes)
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
Finished dinner rolls in a towel-lined basket.

Quick Dinner Rolls (25 Minute Recipe!)

Read moreQuick Dinner Rolls (25 Minute Recipe!)
One opened and one sealed jar of marinated mozzarella balls sitting on a counter.

Marinated Mozzarella Balls with Garlic & Herbs - Easy 5 Minute Recipe

Read moreMarinated Mozzarella Balls with Garlic & Herbs - Easy 5 Minute Recipe
A woman's hands opening a freshly cooked bao bun.

EASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe

Read moreEASIEST Homemade Bao Bun Recipe
Honey Balsamic Brussel Sprouts on a white plate.

Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Read moreHoney Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Fermented cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fermented Cranberry Sauce

Read moreFermented Cranberry Sauce
Jars of home canned applesauce.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)

Read moreHomemade Applesauce Recipe (+ How to Can Applesauce)
Roasted beet salad with goat cheese in a white serving bowl.

Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese

Read moreRoasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese
A white bowl filled with potato salad.

Creamy Red Potato Salad Recipe

Read moreCreamy Red Potato Salad Recipe
Two pieces of avocado toast with poached eggs and goat cheese and marinated sundried tomatoes.

How to Make Avocado Toast

Read moreHow to Make Avocado Toast

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad Recipe

Read moreQuinoa and Black Bean Salad Recipe
Rutabaga fries on a white plate with dipping sauces.

Crispy Rutabaga Fries Recipe

Read moreCrispy Rutabaga Fries Recipe
Bacon wrapped asparagus on a white plate.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

Read moreBacon Wrapped Asparagus (Easy Appetizer or Side Dish)

Homemade Refried Beans in 10 Minutes

Read moreHomemade Refried Beans in 10 Minutes
Cast iron skillet with green bean casserole and a wooden spoon.

Green Bean Casserole - From Scratch

Read moreGreen Bean Casserole - From Scratch
Spinach artichoke dip in a baking dish and a hand with a chip taking a scoop.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

Read moreSpinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe
Three jars of peppers in fermenting jars.

How to Ferment Peppers

Read moreHow to Ferment Peppers
Cooked artichokes on a white plate.

Instant Pot Artichoke (Quick & Easy Recipe)

Read moreInstant Pot Artichoke (Quick & Easy Recipe)

Fried Apples and Onions Recipe Just Like Mrs. Wilder Made

Read moreFried Apples and Onions Recipe Just Like Mrs. Wilder Made
A woman in the kitchen holding up a large zucchini.

144 Best Zucchini Recipes - Ideas for Summer Zucchini

Read more144 Best Zucchini Recipes - Ideas for Summer Zucchini

How to Make Pierogies- Traditional Ukrainian Perogi Recipe

Read moreHow to Make Pierogies- Traditional Ukrainian Perogi Recipe
A white bowl of cooked green beans.

How to Cook Leather Britches Green Beans

Read moreHow to Cook Leather Britches Green Beans

Pioneering Today-Baked Garlic and Butternut Squash Recipe and Freezer Tips

Read morePioneering Today-Baked Garlic and Butternut Squash Recipe and Freezer Tips

7 Frugal Fall Recipes for Real Food Kitchens

Read more7 Frugal Fall Recipes for Real Food Kitchens
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)

Three jars of strawberry jam hot out of the canner.

Strawberry Jam Without Pectin (Low Sugar Recipe)

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
  • DIY

Podcast

Herbal Remedies for Summer: Natural Relief for Sunburns, Bug Bites, Stings & Scrapes

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)

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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