Preserving the wisdom of the lost arts for life.
Traditional Cooking
Rediscover the simple skills and time-honored methods of cooking from scratch.
Traditional cooking isn't just about recipes. It's about learning the skills behind the food—making bread, preserving milk, preparing homemade staples, cooking with seasonal ingredients, and using what you have to create nourishing meals for your family.
Learn the Skill Behind the Recipe
Traditional Skills
Make Butter
Separate Cream From Milk
Make a Sourdough Starter
Make Pie Crust
Pastuerize Fresh Milk
Preserve Seasonal Ingredients
Learn how cream becomes butter.
Learn the traditional process of separating cream for cooking and butter making.
Learn how to create a starter from flour and water.
Learn the technique behind flaky homemade pastry.
Learn how to pasteurize milk at home.
Learn how traditional cooks extended the life of their harvest.
Wisdom From the Kitchen
Why homemade food matters
it connects us to the ingredients we grow, the skills we learn, and the traditions passed down through generations. Cooking and baking from scratch allows us to know what goes into our food, make the most of what we grow and preserve, and create nourishing meals that bring family and friends together.
What our grandparents knew about cooking
more than simply following recipes—they understood how to make the most of what they had. They knew how to stretch ingredients, preserve the harvest, cook from scratch, and turn simple foods into nourishing meals. These practical skills and time-tested traditions are worth preserving and passing on to the next generation.
Cooking with seasonal ingredients
making the most of fresh foods when they are naturally at their best. Using what is growing and available throughout the year brings variety and flavor to your meals while helping you make the most of your garden, orchard, and preserved foods.
Passing recipes from one generation to another
keeps more than food traditions alive—it preserves the memories, skills, and stories that make those recipes special. By teaching family recipes and traditional cooking methods to the next generation, we can keep treasured knowledge from being forgotten and continue the traditions that have nourished our families for generations.
Using everything you have
finding creative ways to make the most of your garden harvest, pantry staples, leftovers, and ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. From cooking with every part of a harvest to repurposing leftovers and preserving excess food, these simple habits help stretch your resources and make every ingredient count.
Making food instead of buying it
learning simple skills to prepare everyday staples at home rather than relying on prepackaged products. From bread and butter to sauces, mixes, snacks, and meals, homemade food can help you use what you have, reduce waste, increase your health and preserve practical skills for generations to come.
Teaching children traditional kitchen skills
From measuring ingredients and kneading dough to preserving food, preparing meals, and learning where food comes from, these simple hands-on lessons can build confidence, independence, and an appreciation for the traditions of making food from scratch.
COOKING FROM SCRATCH
There was a time when many everyday foods were made at home rather than bought at the store. Learn how to make the staples our grandparents knew how to prepare with simple ingredients and practical techniques.
Browse our collection of from scratch recipes, or use the filters below to find exactly what you're looking for.
What Do You Have in Your Kitchen?
Search cooking from scratch recipes by ingredient.
Old Fashioned Strawberry Ice Cream
I love that no special equipment is needed and it is so fast to make.
Peach Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker
It requires no special equipment and takes mere minutes to make.
Buttermilk Waffles
light, crisp, and flavorful homemade waffles using tangy buttermilk.
Raspberry Whipped Cream
light and fluffy homemade whipped cream infused with the fresh, sweet-tart flavor of raspberries.
Orange Infused Oil
make a fragrant, citrus-infused oil using fresh orange peel and a simple carrier oil.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
a flavorful taco seasoning blend from simple pantry spices.
Homemade Eggnog from Scratch
make rich, creamy eggnog at home using simple ingredients and traditional preparation methods.
Homemade Sauerkraut in a Crock
a traditional way to ferment fresh cabbage into crisp, tangy sauerkraut using simple ingredients and natural fermentation.
Lithuanian Beet Soup
a colorful and flavorful soup made with tender beets, vegetables, and a savory broth, creating a comforting dish with a beautiful ruby-red color.
Butter in a KitchenAid Mixer
an easy way to turn heavy cream into fresh, homemade butter with minimal effort.
Homemade Sauerkraut in Mason Jars
a simple way to ferment fresh cabbage into tangy, crisp sauerkraut using just a few basic ingredients.
Strawberry Puff Pancake Recipe
a light and fluffy oven-baked pancake topped with sweet, juicy strawberries and your favorite toppings.
Homemade Whipped Cream
a light, fluffy topping made with simple ingredients and perfect for adding a creamy touch to desserts.
Waffles Using Homemade Bisquick Mix
light, fluffy, and crisp on the outside, made quickly with your homemade baking mix.
Pancakes from Homemade Bisquick Mix
light, fluffy, and easy to prepare using your homemade baking mix.
Homemade Bisquick Mix
a convenient pantry staple made with simple ingredients that can be used to quickly prepare pancakes, biscuits, waffles, and other baked goods.
Candied Lilacs
delicate edible flowers coated with sugar to preserve their beautiful appearance and subtle floral flavor.
Homemade Lilac Sugar
a fragrant, floral sugar made by combining fresh, edible lilac blossoms with granulated sugar.
Heritage Potato Donuts
soft, tender homemade donuts made with potatoes, creating a light texture and delicious old-fashioned flavor.
Sausage Tortellini Soup
a hearty and flavorful soup made with savory sausage, tender tortellini, vegetables, and a rich, seasoned broth.
Popcorn Balls
a fun, old-fashioned treat made by coating freshly popped popcorn with a sweet syrup and shaping it into easy-to-eat balls.
Tomato Tortellini Soup
a warm and comforting soup made with rich tomato soup, tender tortellini, and flavorful herbs and seasonings.
Oatmeal With Strawberry Rhubarb Conserves
combines warm, hearty oatmeal with the sweet-tart flavor of homemade strawberry rhubarb conserves.
Delicious Vanilla Glaze
a simple, sweet topping made with powdered sugar, vanilla, and a few basic ingredients.
Chili Dip from Canned Meat Lover's Chili
a quick and hearty appetizer made by transforming homemade canned chili into a warm, savory dip.
White Bean Chicken Chili
a hearty, comforting meal made with tender chicken, creamy white beans, flavorful spices, and a savory broth.
Make "The Best Ever" Homemade Hamburger Patty
a juicy, flavorful burger made from freshly ground beef and simple seasonings.
Make Your Own Sausage
allows you to choose the cuts of meat, seasonings, and fat content while creating flavorful sausage at home.
Grind Meat into Hamburger
a simple way to turn cuts of beef into fresh ground meat at home, giving you control over the cuts and fat content.
Make Snow Cones with Fresh Snow
a fun winter treat by collecting clean, freshly fallen snow and topping it with homemade fruit syrup or your favorite flavoring.
Latest From the Kitchen
Old Fashioned Strawberry Ice Cream
I love that no special equipment is needed and it is so fast to make.
Peach Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker
It requires no special equipment and takes mere minutes to make.
Buttermilk Waffles
light, crisp, and flavorful homemade waffles using tangy buttermilk.
