Kitchen Staples to NEVER Run Out Of | What to Keep Stocked in Your Pantry | Homestead Basics

[@suzyq6767]

I cooked for my family as your mom did--my kids are about your age. My pantry is still filled with grains, legumes, masa, flax seeds, spices, herbs, leavenings, salt, sweetener, dehydrated/canned veg/fruit, which allows me to make everything from scratch. My yard and windowsill are full of growing fruit and veg for fresh stuff. It is so inexpensive to run my home this way. Plus, the food tastes much better than prepared or restaurant foods. I also store soaps and such. This has never been a "prepper pantry" but a plan-ahead lifestyle. Over the last 40 years, rotating through my year's supply +1 more #25 bag has saved us from going hungry a few times. And it didn't feel like deprivation or weird because homemade various ethnic bean stews, rice, wheat/corn tortillas, pupusas, bread, porridge, muesli, muffins, pancakes, pasta, wheat meat, lentil balls/loaf, bean burgers, and homemade sauces felt normal and expected. We haven't used dairy in years; all skin issues, constipation, and congestion disappeared. Although your description sounds a lot like what I used to do, we don't eat animal products or extracted fats, making our diet akin to that of healthy blue zones. My energy is high and figure fit and trim, which is unusual for post-menopause. My sugar and lipid levels, plus recent MRI and CT scans, indicate that my cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and brain are clean as a whistle, a fantastic feat with my family history and previous dangerous lipid and sugar levels twenty years ago. My mother didn't cook like you or me. I learned to store food and cook from scratch from ladies at my church.

[@nunyabusiness3625]

That's awesome! So you only cook vegan foods?

[@nharman5162]

@SuzieQ weird question...are you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints? I am and I am working towards truly living the Word of Wisdom but am struggling with good recipes and techniques for things like lentil baked/ loaves etc. And I don't know anyone who can help me out 😞

[@nunyabusiness3625]

@@nharman5162 She sounds like she could be that or Seventh Day Adventist.

[@danam.8709]

I'm Not LDS but used to keep the same pantry as you and added Sooo much to my cooking skills from the members of our local Grainge and those ladies also managed everything at the local churches except the sermons 😁.

[@victoriayamen8923]

I too, was blessed to be raised on "from scratch" cooking. That's how I've raised my children, and my little grandchildren know when they come to grandmas house...we cook from scratch and they can't wait to get their little hands in on what ever is going on in the kitchen. Food is love. ❤

[@diannemiller4754]

We lived on a farm so most foods were meat, potatoes, and vegetables. I was a teen when I made my first (box) pizza. Now as a grandmother I'm definitely going back to farm fresh foods.

[@PinkCsmtlgy]

We make our own onion powder every year. We normally make enough to fill a half gallon jar. About a month after we made this year's, my oldest was getting me the jar and he broke it. I cried for about an hour.

[@dianehall5345]

Hi Melissa- I just received your book Hand Made. As a farm wife, who had a grandmother, who went through the Great Depression, you did a great job of sharing the Old Ways! I especially like your chapter on sour dough. I knew some of the process, but you confirmed what I had forgotten. I am going to keep the starter on the counter, but refrigerate the starter if there is a gap in my baking routine. And I use a lot of buttermilk and yogurt. Thanks for those sections! Your book brought back fond memories of watching my gram cook. ~ Diane

[@MelissaKNorris]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for getting it

[@brandyh3536]

I just got Hand Made too! I have barely got to read it yet, but this weekend is going to be cold and icky, so i plan to read it then

[@akkoss2331]

My Mom was a fantastic cook who cooked EVERYTHING from scratch. I'm so thankful for her teaching me those basic skills, which I am using to feed my family. Learning to stretch ingredients by using different or less expensive ingredients has been a game changer for me as my 5 kids have grown and I am now feeding 4 teenagers ( plus a husband who still eats like a teenager 😉)

[@thearboristswife8274]

My mom also made everything from scratch except taco seasoning because my dad insisted on a specific brand for his tacos. When I was 19 I became a nanny to a wonderful family who also did things from scratch. I used my moms recipes to cook for the kids. When I was about 23 yrs old I found out that cake mix came in a BOX mix! I was pretty proud to say that I never used those to bake from before.

[@colleenavery232]

Canning them to have on hand is good but the high heat kills off some nutrients - until grid down - another preservation method is freezing - buy soap molds 6/silicon mold - pour the broth in them and freeze them. Put the blocks in baggies labeled in your freezer - melt them overnight in a a 1/2 gallon mason jar on the counter and use

[@claudiaclaverie991]

My husband and I used to call what you’re describing as “newover’s”not leftovers because it was a new meal using something from a previous meal

[@sarad2083]

I cook like that all the time and no one taught me about it, I just did it lol. My grandma told me it's a rare trait to have nowadays. I've made some super yummy meals out of stuff you'd never expect haha

[@pamelaremme38]

To me there is no such thing as "left overs" I freeze them in whole meals and pop them in my toaster oven to re-heat. A home made TV dinner. HEALTHIER. Even left over mashed potatoes get turned into potato pancakes and then I freeze them. That is....if there are more potatoes than meat and veggie to put in my freezer meal. Just a little helpful hint. Blessings.

[@Mary-em5yi]

I have recently discovered I enjoy cooking from scratch! I have just begun the process of stocking what we need. I am also nearing an early retirement and realize a lot of our expenses are in food purchases. I am really looking forward to your chart to help demonstrate and guide us on how to stretch one meal (like your roasted chicken example) into 4-5 meals!

[@revkathie1]

I'm with you on the Oreos - they get a pass every time.

[@TheJaymarcyhigley]

Scary how long Oreos can sit on a shelf and not go bad! Home made all the way!!!

[@shirleyhall1924]

Same here

[@pistachio57]

I was always extremely disappointed that Oreos, despite being dark colored, have zero chocolate taste.

[@loue6563]

I live in an apartment so can’t grow much. But I have started to dehydrated any foods I get when they are starting to be not so fresh. Onions and garlic are easy to dry and store and even put in a spice grinder to make powders. We so often by things and don’t use them all be they go bad. I have been trying so hard not to waste food. It’s not always easy, to make time for it but so worth it.

[@aramkrikorian9460]

I buy the coarse Redmond Real Salt and put it into a pepper mill.

[@tessie652001]

I keep a lot of ingredients on hand it so nice to know. Don’t have to run to town all the time GODBLESS sweetie

[@diannevaldez8670]

Oh my gosh!!# I'm going to start buying your cook books! Yummmm

[@sharonholmes4444]

I also make everything I can from scratch except Rue. It just never turns out for me so I do carry cream soups unfortunately. We have a bulk health store here locally where I get all my spices. Herbs I grow and dry myself.

[@tracydimond3759]

We live in lower Alabama. So we have to keep an eye out for hurricane /tornado issues. When hurricane Michael hit Florida our nearest town had alot of evacuees hit. Supplies flew off shelves. We tend to keep supplies stocked for emergencies anyway, so we didn't have issues like others did when it came to sourcing stuff for meals, etc.

[@100snyderm]

Been there done that with chili powder! Also used hot fresh peppers instead of sweet and compounded the problem (the growing season made them super spicy that year). No amount of sour cream toned down the heat of that chili! My brothers still talk about it!

[@vdsilva6806]

Thanks Melissa! Informative, educational, and appropriate for the times. All presented in a way that keeps your attention. You’re a natural!

[@happydays1336]

I've been a "scratch" baker since I was a newlywed in the 1970s because it's so much cheaper and tastes tons better. Plus, I figured why buy cake mixes, for example, when you have to add almost the same number of ingredients to a mix as you do for a scratch cake? I grew up eating Jiffy Mixes, pancake mixes and boxed cake mixes. They are much inferior in taste. The only mix that tastes the same as made from scratch is Brownies. I've got to start making my own mixes for convenience again. The "Make a Mix" cookbooks are a good place to start. I think they're still in print.

[@WingardMT]

Thanks for the coconut milk alternative! love my curry but allergic to coconut milk and lately not worth the suffering. YEAH--can't wait to try your idea!

[@Eric-gi9kg]

Amazing information.. I grew up on traditional cooking. Didn't get my first fastfood until I around 8 years old (after we moved to the mainland..Seattle). I've always been interested in making things from scratch...I find it relaxing and rewarding. Just haven't done it in a long while, but really want to get back into it.

[@TheHappyHomestead]

Mmmm, I need to try that ranch popcorn!! Great video, thank you! I love learning from you!!

[@judyg9889]

Yes! I do the exactly the same thing; saves soooo much time & money. Unfortunately, I just found out that Bragg's nutritional yeast is fortified with the artificial form of B vitamins. :( Not good for anyone, but particularly not good for those with MTHFR gene mutations (and LOTS of people have this without knowing it). The answer is non-fortified yeast; Azure has Starwest Botanicals, but it's more expensive. Amazon has at least one organic, non-fortified nutritional yeast. I've always considered Bragg's to be kind of the pinnacle of healthy products, but not in this case. :( Fortunately I didn't buy it in bulk, and I will use the one jar of Bragg's that I have for our dog & cat so as not to waste it.

[@abundantlyblessedhomestead9951]

Thank you SO much for commenting this! I always buy Braggs with that assumption... but no more!

[@welshfae1249]

I grew up rural. Coal fires and oil were our fuel. We would often get snowed in during the winter, so had to be prepared.

[@deecooper1567]

GM☕️☕️. Sounds like how I was raised & how my boys were raised. We always lived around 30-40 mins from town so it was a waste of time & money to run to the store for one item. I grew up in a “ prepared “ small farm but never considered how convenient my mom had things in the pantry lol. Now the term used is prepping haha. I love shopping in my own store … so convenient!! Using what you have and planning ahead saves time, energy & expense. Great video 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@debbieb6054]

I would love to have your recipe for the chicken and coconut cream. Thank you for this video!

[@ariyaelle]

Thank you for the tips! It’s very helpful! Love the tip of cooking whole roast meat to have prepared meat on hand. Great time savings.

[@jeanludtke2913]

My parents struggled after my dad fell three stories and broke his back and legs. He had polio as a child and one leg was much smaller, and still, worked painting buildings until he fell. All this to say, my parents struggled to feed us. My mom made whatever she could to keep us four kids fed. Lots of potatoes! The good Lord came through many a day as people would show up with friut and groceries. I remember once we had spaghettios, we thought we died and went to heaven. God saw us through. Mom went back to school and that helped build a better future.

[@living6a916]

Best video I’ve seen on kitcheneiring

[@dauntlessdivine2627]

I cook from scratch already but still love and appreciate this video! You gave me a lot of ideas that I haven't tried before!

[@jacquelineperez9069]

Blessings and lots of thanks to you Melissa , I have learned so much from you( sour dough starter, bread making:, etc….)thanks again for sharing your knowledge with the world!😇

[@holidayhomestead6327]

Great video. I love how many different things you are able to make from a few simple ingredients. Ps, I need a few of those recipes you mentioned. They sound delicious!

[@oksanasolo6842]

Love that you still live in the same street.

[@dr.rev.lindabingham]

Blessings to all!

[@TammiTalking1]

This video was right on time for me. City girl trying to “house” like I’m in the country.

[@kimberleyfriesenhahn2515]

Great video! I've never heard of the papooses dish. We are absolutely going to have to try that one!

[@MelissaKNorris]

Let me know what you think of the dish when you try it!

[@celesteessel4500]

Loving this video, feeling inspired

[@MelissaKNorris]

So great to hear that you enjoyed the video!

[@Wildevis]

All great advice, bone broth is my staple in winter for soups and stews. All great advice thanks and I a, rather pleased that I mostly cook from scratch. I have not bought a packet with any mix for years. I have a super spice shop accross the road from me so can buy there in bulk and then make my own mixes, like the Maroccan Ras el Hanout mix which consists of about 12-18 different spices but is an amazing blend

[@WeWillServeJehovah]

Totally did the same thing with the chili powder.

[@meganwells8423]

Can you do a video on all of your favorite cook books for scratch cooking? Trying to buy more for a maybe grid down situation. 🙃

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

We grew up on a mixed farm only 4 miles from town. Mom cooked from scratch all the time. I had graduated high school before I ever learned how to make Mac & cheese from a box!😆

[@jesskan9828]

Great video! Can you share your taco bowl recipe?

[@walterofontario729]

Ha I'm with on the Oreo cookie thing...home made chocolate cookies ...the best

[@lindamickel8545]

Thanks Melissa. I’m with you on not spicy and I have made chili where no amount of sour cream was going to help. Nice to know I’m not alone. Lol. Blessings

[@s.f.nightingale1735]

I grew up in a household without salt, my dad got out of the military, and made a salt mountain on his food one day(didn't even taste it), so my mom got rid of all salt. She had to borrow salt to bake. While the ban has been lifted, unless we're baking, my family uses garlic salt, because garlic was our preferred seasoning. Though, watching this from the future, I wonder what preservation methods you might use for your cow's milk.

[@maryfroese7388]

Growing up I didn't know what KD was, I had it the first time when I was 16, the way people raved about it I thought it would be great but I hated it and still do after 18 years later. We had almost no pkg food, I kind of miss those days!

[@kathywills3244]

Azure has coconut cream powder.

[@cindynielson4231]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Another video full of lessons. TFS 👍🎅🎄

[@tamara-lnlhomestead1441]

Melissa, I'm with you on not needing/having Oreos😜

[@BarbaraFischer4]

Do you have a video on your food storage? That would be really cool! Would also love to see your videos on Rumble, GabTV, or another less-big-tech-y platform someday (I know adding another channel can be a pain though!).

[@BarbaraFischer4]

Oops just got to the end of the video where it recommends your pantry vid!

[@anniem.163]

Great video and tips! Thank you so much for the links also!

[@pamelaremme38]

In my homemade kansas city BBQ sauce I didn't have apple juice so I diluted some of my applesauce and it worked beautifully. We just need to get creative.

[@dn744]

I only ate pre made food at friends houses. Even when I tried jar sauce mix, I didn't like the taste. I noticed the preservatives

[@emberreel3577]

You should add those spice lists to the new book !!!!

[@erinburns5966]

Great video! I've always wanted to try a curry and the one you described sounds amazing! Do you have a recipe or link for that? Thanks!

[@jamabailey3529]

Love all the information in your videos. What is nutritional yeast?

[@VictoriaSprague-c8y]

Because I have high blood pressure I have to buy the salt substitute

[@wobdeehomestead]

Try the fudge dipped Oreos, you’ll love them!

[@jimathey6153]

OLD LEATHER SMITH here, 2 continue, there is almost No Flavor JUST HEAT & SPICE. GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃

[@hickoryhillinthebigwoods-r759]

What is the large stainless steel box to the left of the stove?

[@gails8950]

Looks like for tea, coffee, flour, sugar on top and bread loaf on bottom storage.

[@dalerankin8816]

Bread last 14 weeks in the fridge that is a long time

[@missourigirl4101]

Great info! Thanks!

[@cathybooth290]

Not food related But I never had bought sweaters or socks always handmade. Also we had radiators Didn't even know about forced air heat. LOL

[@camboishawt]

LOL homesteader id be making my own garlic and onion powder i saw your garden :0

[@MelissaKNorris]

Only so many hours in a day, hopefully this year 😊

[@cathycooper3550]

Cathy from Alabama here. How do you organize your spices since you buy in bulk? Enjoy your videos! Thanks!

[@vkarr154]

Love your vids!

[@ReadAndThrift]

I had to make myself keep watching after that Oreo slander 😂 I love Oreos

[@mistymounthomestead8594]

Where do you get redmond salt in buckets? I can only find small bags (I'm in Canada though

[@nancyinboise2160]

I was wondering what kind of staples you keep stocked for baking at all times?

[@renegaderanch1752]

Hey! Love your videos, and how clean you keep your home while homesteading! Just curious, what do you keep in the top of the silver bread box on your counter??

[@marabergman2304]

I would love to see a video of you cooking some of these recipes. They sound amazing!

[@victoriasprague7014]

Do you know if they accept/take the EBT cards/food stamps

[@abundantlyblessedhomestead9951]

Where do you buy real salt in the big buckets? Thanks!

[@Jeanaye]

Melissa: thank you for this. I have recently read about fats going rancid in stocks and broths when cooked for too long, and the need to either skim off the fat or strain off the first batch for use after 2-3 hours into the longer cooking process of continuing cooking the bones with new water base added. Can you please explain if you have heard of this being true. Thanks

[@lizabethhall7377]

I've been wondering about it going rancid as well.

[@littlemisswowzers7188]

Girl I admire u...im no where on ur level, 4 yr old boy and a very picky eater, his father...lol I can do rues...umm make my own sauces, gravy but taking a full chicken is where I freak out...lol

[@debigriffin1604]

I’ll take a soft, made from scratch, yummy, fresh baked cookie, over a hard, weird tasting Oreo any day lol.

[@COWELLGIRL]

How do I order one of your husbands dough knife/scraper

[@MelissaKNorris]

You'll find them here melissaknorris.com/product-tag/bench-knife/

[@sarad2083]

I have a question on the Redmond real salt.. it says its unrefined but contains no iodine. The only foods that really have iodine is fish which I don't eat. How do you supplement the iodine? Also I read it's grittier than table salt, do you notice a difference?

[@tatzja8074]

You could take a sea kelp supplement or try to incorporate sea kelp in your diet if you’re not put off by the taste.

[@amandataylor682]

My parents cycled through store bought foods like hamburger helper, hotdogs, & sausage quesadillas every week. 😂

[@amandalashley3819]

I cook almost completely from scratch too. Unfortunately my kids know what pop and store bought cookies are because my dad thinks I'm crazy and that I'm depriving my kids of the "good things in life".

[@Finchersfarmstead]

Hmm peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Homemade is best, it's cheaper n your tastes buds different.

[@amberwebb975]

Love this video. Very informative. Yours is the second KZbin video I’ve seen who had mentioned Azure standard. I’ll have to check them out. I’m sorry to have to ask this but could you please move your mic away from your throat. Sorry again I just think it will make the sound quality better for you in the future.

[@tristaperkins7112]

Can you link your spicy sauerkraut?

[@helennelmes7560]

Oh my! So funny

[@josephnorton1225]

Is it true the main plant if Azur Standard had a fire in 2022?

[@MelissaKNorris]

Not the plant, office headquarters, it didn't affect the warehouse or orders except for carob and azure brand oils, but they already have a new place for oils

[@jimathey6153]

OLD LEATHER SMITH here. I make my own hot PEPPER, I usually plant them next 2 each other so I get hotter PEPPERS. This is my 3rd grind. With my Lord's help I grow, Sun dry, and finally grind, takes 1 year. This grind has Ghost, Biquinho, 160 degree Cayenne, Caribbean Red Habenaro, and Jalapeno

[@birchwoodbuilders3288]

Do you ever freeze dry your left overs?

[@MelissaKNorris]

We usually eat them all but plan to do some this coming year

[@csstudio1786]

Argentinean "empanadas" from meat, chicken, humita, vegetables...

[@gowest5145]

I made some homemade chili for lunch. I threw all my leftovers in it.

[@edwardzarnowski5558]

Chili over baked potatoes is yummy with cheese and sour cream (Mrs Z)

[@ginapearson3601]

❣️❣️

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

Hi Melissa🥰 I purchased your academy a few months ago, and seem unable to log in and open the academy index to finish my course. I am going to be slow finishing the course and hope to use it as reference often. It is a lifetime membership right? I tried to email, but I don't think I'm able to reply to the subscription emails. 🥰

[@MelissaKNorris]

Hey there, the membership access isn't lifetime, but if you did annual it's for the full year or monthly as long as you keep it active. You should be able to reply to the emails. You can email direct [e-mail]

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

@@MelissaKNorris Thank you Melissa. I will message you at the email you provided here.

[@ZeldaZelda-RichesToRags]

disappointing that most everything I needed to order is out of stock

[@celesteessel4500]

Hi 🔥🕊

[@sundancer442]

Dehydrated coconut powder. Shelf stable; problem solved. :)

[@RichRecipesDoItYourself]

Melissa alt yazı ekle lütfen

[@tonydavis4957]

Wow she such a smart BEAUTIFUL woman. Iam a FAN

[@traceyshomestead1938]

You're, like, the Martha Stewart that Martha Stewart wishes she could be!

[@janicemerryweather5913]

Hi big fan here! I’m saying this in the nicest most respectful way…. The mic is a bit too close to your throat.

[@Finchersfarmstead]

Yeah 23 tornadoes in 7 states

[@kristiecox7350]

So funny, I’m the same way. I could care less about Orios