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Home » Homestead Recipes » Cooking From Scratch » Page 4

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!

Easy Homemade Blackberry Extract Recipe

Easy Homemade Blackberry Extract Recipe

Homemade Hazelnut Simple Syrup

Homemade Hazelnut Simple Syrup

Easy Apple Rhubarb Muffins with Crunchy Oat Topping

Easy Apple Rhubarb Muffins with Crunchy Oat Topping

How to Dry Chives at Home (Oven or Dehydrator)

How to Dry Chives at Home (Oven or Dehydrator)

Smoky & Spicy Hatch Green Chile Meatloaf Recipe

Smoky & Spicy Hatch Green Chile Meatloaf Recipe

12 Easy Homemade Extracts for Your Spice Cupboard

12 Easy Homemade Extracts for Your Spice Cupboard

How to Make Mint Extract with Fresh Mint (Easy DIY Recipe)

How to Make Mint Extract with Fresh Mint (Easy DIY Recipe)

Easy Whole Wheat Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

Easy Whole Wheat Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

Soft & Fluffy Sourdough Discard Cornbread Recipe 

Soft & Fluffy Sourdough Discard Cornbread Recipe 

How to Roast Jalapenos {Oven, Air Fryer, Grill, Stove}

How to Roast Jalapenos {Oven, Air Fryer, Grill, Stove}

Easy Roasted Green Tomato Salsa Recipe

Easy Roasted Green Tomato Salsa Recipe

15+ Homemade Simple Syrup Recipes with Everyday Ingredients

15+ Homemade Simple Syrup Recipes with Everyday Ingredients

Homemade Blood Orange Syrup (Blood Orange Simple Syrup)

Homemade Blood Orange Syrup (Blood Orange Simple Syrup)

Easy Black Cherry Syrup Recipe for Sodas & Cocktails

Easy Black Cherry Syrup Recipe for Sodas & Cocktails

Dehydrating Pears: How to Dry Pears for Long-Term Storage

Dehydrating Pears: How to Dry Pears for Long-Term Storage

Super Easy Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe

Super Easy Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe

How to Dehydrate Strawberries {Dehydrator or Oven}

How to Dehydrate Strawberries {Dehydrator or Oven}

How to Dehydrate Jalapenos for Soups, Dips, and More

How to Dehydrate Jalapenos for Soups, Dips, and More

Easy Homemade Orange Extract for Baking & More

Easy Homemade Orange Extract for Baking & More

Easy Blood Orange Scones with Cherries & Blood Orange Glaze

Easy Blood Orange Scones with Cherries & Blood Orange Glaze

Easy Buttermilk Whole Wheat Scones with Honey

Easy Buttermilk Whole Wheat Scones with Honey

How to Make Sugar Cubes (+ Infused & Floral Sugar Cubes)

How to Make Sugar Cubes (+ Infused & Floral Sugar Cubes)

How to Preserve Garlic Scapes: 4 Methods

How to Preserve Garlic Scapes: 4 Methods

Whipped Maple Cream Cheese Spread with Walnuts

Whipped Maple Cream Cheese Spread with Walnuts

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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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