Podcast Summary: Simple Farmhouse Life – Episode 293 with Melissa K. Norris

Title: Cooking from Scratch for Modern Life: Kitchen Rhythms, Real Ingredients & Homestead Tips
Host: Lisa Bass
Guest: Melissa K. Norris
Release Date: June 10, 2025

1. Welcome and Introduction

Lisa Bass opens the episode by reintroducing Melissa K. Norris, a prominent figure in the handmade and homesteading community. Melissa is recognized for her extensive work in making things from scratch, canning, preserving, and gardening. She is also the host of the Modern Homesteading Conference in Idaho, which Lisa mentions she will be attending.

Lisa (00:24): "If you hang around all things Handmade Homemade in the homesteading community, you probably have heard of Melissa K. Norris."

2. Revival of Handmade and Homemade Skills

Melissa shares her perspective on the enduring interest in traditional skills, highlighting that the trend towards making things from scratch continues to grow even post-COVID.

Melissa (00:24): "I think there's multiple facets to it... we've been doing a lot of that for a really long time."
Lisa (02:30): "I thought that this would all dwindle down like as soon as Covid was over, but that has not been the case."

She attributes the sustained interest to the realization of the benefits that come from these practices, which people are eager to share with others.

3. Benefits of Cooking from Scratch

Melissa emphasizes the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of cooking from scratch. She shares her personal journey of overcoming health issues by eliminating processed foods and switching to homemade alternatives.

Melissa (00:00): "Once you know what it feels like to be in a better state, health-wise, it's really hard to go back."

4. Practical Tips for Beginners

a. Ingredient Swaps

Melissa discusses simple yet impactful ingredient substitutions that can elevate the quality of homemade meals.

• Oils and Fats: Replacing vegetable oils and Crisco with healthier alternatives like melted butter, coconut oil, lard, avocado oil, and olive oil for specific uses.

  Melissa (17:46): "It was replacing some of those basic pantry oils and fats with better versions... That's an actual pretty easy swap."

• Sugars and Sweeteners: Opting for raw organic sugar, honey, and real maple syrup instead of highly processed sugars and high fructose corn syrup.

  Melissa (20:26): "I prefer the flavor of raw organic sugar... It adds a little bit of flavor depth."

• Salt: Using unrefined salts like Redmond's real salt instead of iodized table salt for better mineral content and versatility.

  Melissa (22:12): "Redmond's real salt... I can use it for fermenting, I can use it for canning."

b. Batch Cooking and Freezing

Melissa shares her strategies for batch cooking and freezing to save time and reduce daily cooking stress.

• Egg Prep: Hard-boiling eggs for snacks, salads, or breakfasts.

  Melissa (35:21): "I will usually do like a bunch of eggs... I can just do whatever I need to do with it throughout the week."

• Egg Cups: Baking customizable egg muffins with various fillings that can be reheated quickly.

  Melissa (35:21): "I make egg cups... It changes the flavor based on what I add."

• Freezing Dough and Baked Goods: Preparing and freezing pie crusts, biscuit dough, and cookie logs for easy access.

  Melissa (37:37): "I form it into a log and freeze it... Bake from frozen with just a couple extra minutes."

c. Meal Planning

Melissa advocates for a flexible approach to meal planning, focusing on preparing key components ahead of time to streamline daily cooking.

Melissa (32:24): "I found for me is kind of hybrid... dinners planned out for two to three days ahead."
Lisa (49:19): "Just thinking about putting it in the instant pot is not like that... it's just a matter of what the quality outcome is."

5. Reducing Food Waste

Addressing the high rates of food waste in America, Melissa provides actionable tips to stretch groceries and minimize waste.

Melissa (32:24): "Americans waste... 40% of our food. Not wasting the food we buy is a very important factor."

Strategies Include:

• Utilizing Leftovers: Turning dinner leftovers into lunches.
• Bone Broth: Making bone broth from carcasses to add depth to soups and sauces.
• Vegetable Scraps: Freezing veggie scraps for future broth-making.

6. Melissa's Personal Health Journey

Melissa recounts her battle with stomach and esophageal health issues, which catalyzed her commitment to cooking from scratch and eliminating processed foods.

Melissa (12:18): "I have significant erosion and cellular change... figuring out by the food that I was eating to control the stomach acid."

Her proactive approach led her to overhaul her pantry, replace harmful ingredients, and adopt healthier cooking practices, ultimately improving her health and reducing medical expenses.

Melissa (17:12): "I've got to figure out how to make this at home and fit it into our schedule."

7. Discussion of Ingredients to Avoid

Melissa outlines key ingredients she eliminated due to their negative health impacts:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Seed Oils (e.g., Canola, Soy)
• Processed Sugars
• Iodized Table Salt

Melissa (17:29): "I don't want anything with canola oil... high fructose corn syrup can have different implications on health."

She provides alternatives such as raw organic sugar, coconut oil, and unrefined salts to maintain flavor and nutritional quality.

8. Melissa's New Book: Home and Handmade

Melissa introduces her updated book, "Home and Handmade," which serves as a comprehensive guide for those looking to adopt a homemade lifestyle. The book includes over 100 recipes and covers various aspects of natural living beyond cooking, such as skincare, home cleaning, and herbal remedies.

Melissa (51:01): "Home and Handmade is the blueprint that I wish I would have had... it is the guide."

Key Features:

• Recipes: From basic cooking to advanced techniques like fermenting and sourdough baking.
• Lifestyle Tips: Natural skincare, home cleaning, and herbal medicine.
• Updated Content: Incorporates a decade of additional experience and insights.

She aims to provide readers with the tools and knowledge she lacked during her health crisis, emphasizing the importance of quality ingredients and holistic living.

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In closing, Melissa expresses gratitude for her journey and the impact of cooking from scratch on her health and family life. She encourages listeners to embrace small, manageable changes rather than an all-or-nothing approach.

Melissa (26:57): "Once you know what it feels like to be in a better state, health wise, it's really hard to go back."

Lisa Bass wraps up the episode by reminding listeners of the resources available on their blog and YouTube channel, encouraging them to explore further for practical recipes and life-homesteading tips.

Key Takeaways:

• Health and Well-being: Cooking from scratch significantly improves health by eliminating harmful additives.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Homemade alternatives are often more economical than store-bought processed foods.
• Sustainability: Reducing food waste through smart meal planning and preservation techniques.
• Practicality: Incorporating batch cooking and simple ingredient swaps makes the transition manageable.

Notable Quotes:

• Melissa K. Norris (00:00): "Once you know what it feels like to be in a better state, health wise, it's really hard to go back."
• Melissa K. Norris (26:29): "Once you know what it feels like to be in a better state, health wise, it's really hard to go back because you're like, no, you're just not willing."

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Home and Handmade by Melissa K. Norris
• Website: Melissa K. Norris
• Modern Homesteading Conference: Conference Details

This episode provides a comprehensive look into the benefits and practicalities of adopting a homemade lifestyle, emphasizing health, efficiency, and sustainability. Melissa K. Norris’s insights offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their kitchen and overall living practices.