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Home » Homestead Recipes » Cooking From Scratch » Page 2

Cooking From Scratch

What does it mean to cook from scratch? That’s a question I’m asked often. Some people believe it means you need to grow or produce every ingredient. They imagine you milking your cow, making cheese, plucking ripe tomatoes from your garden, and milling your own grains.

Although those things are absolutely from scratch and sound quite wonderful, that’s not practical for most people! Many of us live in suburban areas or apartments that don’t quite accommodate poultry or livestock.

I consider cooking from scratch to mean cooking with the simplest ingredients. Everyone has their own ideas of how simple they need to go, but I like to keep things easy around here. No one has time to stress themselves out wondering if they’re doing something wrong eating boxed pasta or store-bought cheese!

Do what you can with what you have. Especially if you’re just starting to cook from scratch, focus on baby steps!

I buy store-bought pasta sauce and salsas. We eat frozen veggies and canned veggies, especially during the off-season.

There’s no shame in doing what’s right for your family and budget, so no food shaming around here!

My hope is that you’ll find lots of delicious recipes to feed and nourish your family and hopefully have some fun along the way. That’s it!

Homemade Sourdough Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Homemade Sourdough Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Easy Balsamic Pickled Onions Recipe {Quick Pickling}

Easy Balsamic Pickled Onions Recipe {Quick Pickling}

Easy Homemade Cranberry Liqueur Recipe {Holiday Fave!}

Easy Homemade Cranberry Liqueur Recipe {Holiday Fave!}

How to Make Roasted Cinnamon Pecan Butter

How to Make Roasted Cinnamon Pecan Butter

Easy Cranberry Salad Dressing Recipe {with Cranberry Sauce}

Easy Cranberry Salad Dressing Recipe {with Cranberry Sauce}

Easy Cranberry Mayonnaise {with Canned Cranberry Sauce}

Easy Cranberry Mayonnaise {with Canned Cranberry Sauce}

Creamy Roasted Jarrahdale Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Creamy Roasted Jarrahdale Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Fresh Milled Flour

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Fresh Milled Flour

Caramel Apple Jam {for Canning}

Caramel Apple Jam {for Canning}

Canning Old-Fashioned Apple Butter {Slow Cooker Version}

Canning Old-Fashioned Apple Butter {Slow Cooker Version}

Homemade Hot Honey Recipe {1 Minute Recipe}

Homemade Hot Honey Recipe {1 Minute Recipe}

A Beginner’s Guide to Milling Flour at Home {Free Chart!}

A Beginner’s Guide to Milling Flour at Home {Free Chart!}

Easy Pear Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Easy Pear Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Old-Fashioned Cranberry Sauce Recipe {Water Bath Canning}

Old-Fashioned Cranberry Sauce Recipe {Water Bath Canning}

Roasted Honeypatch Squash with Hot Honey & Feta Cheese

Roasted Honeypatch Squash with Hot Honey & Feta Cheese

Free Printable Thanksgiving & Christmas Pantry Staples List

Free Printable Thanksgiving & Christmas Pantry Staples List

Homemade Dutch Oven Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Homemade Dutch Oven Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

70+ Cozy Fall Desserts to Make From Scratch

70+ Cozy Fall Desserts to Make From Scratch

3 Ingredient Maple Pumpkin Butter Recipe

3 Ingredient Maple Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Homemade Cardamom Scones with Easy Cardamom Glaze

Homemade Cardamom Scones with Easy Cardamom Glaze

​Easy Cardamom Infused Sugar Recipe

​Easy Cardamom Infused Sugar Recipe

Slow Cooker Caramel Pear Butter Recipe {for Canning}

Slow Cooker Caramel Pear Butter Recipe {for Canning}

Moist Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe {Dairy Free}

Moist Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe {Dairy Free}

How to Freeze Basil in Olive Oil {Two Easy Methods}

How to Freeze Basil in Olive Oil {Two Easy Methods}

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rachael from milk glass home in a kitchen with a water bath canner and apple butter.
Hi, I'm Rachael!

I’m a self-taught home cook, gardener, and former farmers’ market manager who loves slow, seasonal living.

My kitchen is always full of baskets of seasonal produce, cookies cooling, and the next batch of jars ready for the canner. It’s a little messy and definitely chaotic, but always creative, delicious, and full of fun.

No shortcuts, no canned cream-of-anything soups; just real food, old-fashioned skills, and a little inspiration to bring the seasons into your own kitchen.

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