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Home » Homestead Recipes » Cooking From Scratch » Page 6

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!

Sweet & Salty Spiced Pickled Cherries {for Canning}

Sweet & Salty Spiced Pickled Cherries {for Canning}

Cherry and Apple Crisp {with Oats}

Cherry and Apple Crisp {with Oats}

Pan-Seared Iberico Secreto Recipe

Pan-Seared Iberico Secreto Recipe

Easy Blackberry Infused Vodka {Blackberry Vodka Recipe}

Easy Blackberry Infused Vodka {Blackberry Vodka Recipe}

Lemon Dill Hummus

Lemon Dill Hummus

Farm Fresh Marionberry Jam Recipe {for Canning}

Farm Fresh Marionberry Jam Recipe {for Canning}

Blackberry Vinaigrette

Blackberry Vinaigrette

Easy French Toast Brioche Casserole {Overnight Instructions}

Easy French Toast Brioche Casserole {Overnight Instructions}

Strawberry Apple Crisp {Strawberry Apple Crumble with Oats}

Strawberry Apple Crisp {Strawberry Apple Crumble with Oats}

Naturally Creamy Cherry Vinaigrette with Balsamic Vinegar

Naturally Creamy Cherry Vinaigrette with Balsamic Vinegar

How to Make Cardamom Extract

How to Make Cardamom Extract

How to Make Dill Salt (Dill Flavored Salt)

How to Make Dill Salt (Dill Flavored Salt)

How to Make Chive Blossom Butter (Chive Flower Butter)

How to Make Chive Blossom Butter (Chive Flower Butter)

Homemade Lemon Balm Simple Syrup Recipe

Homemade Lemon Balm Simple Syrup Recipe

Creamy One Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon

Creamy One Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon

Sour Cream and Chive Dip

Sour Cream and Chive Dip

Cardamom Simple Syrup Recipe

Cardamom Simple Syrup Recipe

Homemade Earl Grey Tea Syrup Recipe for Cocktails & More

Homemade Earl Grey Tea Syrup Recipe for Cocktails & More

Homemade Blueberry Syrup for Cocktails

Homemade Blueberry Syrup for Cocktails

How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup {with 2 Ingredients}

How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup {with 2 Ingredients}

Fresh Blackberry Simple Syrup Recipe

Fresh Blackberry Simple Syrup Recipe

How to Make Blueberry Extract for Baking (Two Ingredients)

How to Make Blueberry Extract for Baking (Two Ingredients)

Azure Standard Review: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

Azure Standard Review: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

How to Make Creamy Whipped Honey + Printable Tags

How to Make Creamy Whipped Honey + Printable Tags

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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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