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Home » Homestead Recipes » Cooking From Scratch » Page 3

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!

Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe {with Gravenstein Apples}

Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe {with Gravenstein Apples}

Canning Raspberry Jam {Low to No Sugar}

Canning Raspberry Jam {Low to No Sugar}

Creamy Zucchini Pesto Recipe

Creamy Zucchini Pesto Recipe

How to Dry Fresh Dill Fronds and Seeds {3 Methods}

How to Dry Fresh Dill Fronds and Seeds {3 Methods}

Cherry-Infused Bourbon Recipe

Cherry-Infused Bourbon Recipe

How to Dry Sage from the Garden {3 Easy Methods}

How to Dry Sage from the Garden {3 Easy Methods}

Fresh Cherry Scone Recipe with Sweet Red Cherries

Fresh Cherry Scone Recipe with Sweet Red Cherries

How to Dehydrate Cherries {Dehydrator or Oven}

How to Dehydrate Cherries {Dehydrator or Oven}

How to Freeze Cherries for Pie, Jam, and More

How to Freeze Cherries for Pie, Jam, and More

How to Freeze Blueberries Properly {Clean & Easy}

How to Freeze Blueberries Properly {Clean & Easy}

How to Dry Parsley {Air Dry, Oven, or Dehydrator}

How to Dry Parsley {Air Dry, Oven, or Dehydrator}

Homemade Blueberry Jam {Low Sugar Recipe for Canning}

Homemade Blueberry Jam {Low Sugar Recipe for Canning}

Essential Tools + Supplies for the Homesteading Kitchen

Essential Tools + Supplies for the Homesteading Kitchen

How to Freeze Jalapenos – Easy Way to Preserve Extra Peppers

How to Freeze Jalapenos – Easy Way to Preserve Extra Peppers

Dehydrating Garlic Scapes & How to Make Garlic Scape Powder

Dehydrating Garlic Scapes & How to Make Garlic Scape Powder

Easy Cheddar Garlic Scape Biscuits Recipe

Easy Cheddar Garlic Scape Biscuits Recipe

Fresh Tayberry Cake Recipe {Moist & Buttery!}

Fresh Tayberry Cake Recipe {Moist & Buttery!}

Homemade Roasted Garlic Butter with Fresh Herbs

Homemade Roasted Garlic Butter with Fresh Herbs

Freezing Garlic Scapes: What You Need to Know

Freezing Garlic Scapes: What You Need to Know

​Easy Roasted Garlic Scapes {Air Fryer or Oven}

​Easy Roasted Garlic Scapes {Air Fryer or Oven}

​3-Ingredient Garlic Scape Butter Recipe

​3-Ingredient Garlic Scape Butter Recipe

Homemade Hazelnut Butter Recipe {with Roasted Hazelnuts}

Homemade Hazelnut Butter Recipe {with Roasted Hazelnuts}

How to Dry Vanilla Beans to Make Vanilla Bean Powder

How to Dry Vanilla Beans to Make Vanilla Bean Powder

Homemade Coconut Palm Sugar Simple Syrup Recipe

Homemade Coconut Palm Sugar Simple Syrup Recipe

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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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