10+ Homemade Homestead Recipes for Simple Living Delight

Homemade homestead recipes bring the joy of farm-fresh cooking right to your kitchen. You can use ingredients from your own garden or local farms to make healthier and more flavorful meals. Whether you’re growing your own vegetables or sourcing fresh ingredients, cooking from scratch connects you to your food in a meaningful way.

Creating your own meals not only enhances your cooking skills, but it also nurtures a sustainable lifestyle. Embracing homemade recipes empowers you to take control of what goes into your dishes, ensuring you and your family eat well. This approach to cooking can turn ordinary meals into something special and rewarding.

1) Watermelon, Cucumber, Mint, and Feta Salad

This refreshing salad is perfect for hot summer days. The sweet watermelon pairs nicely with crunchy cucumber, and the feta adds a delicious salty kick. Fresh mint leaves bring a burst of flavor that ties everything together.

You can make this salad easily with just a few ingredients. It’s great as a side dish or a light lunch. Serve it chilled for the best taste.

Ingredients

• 4 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 lime, juiced
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon and cucumber.
2. Add the crumbled feta and chopped mint.
3. Squeeze in the lime juice and sprinkle with salt.
4. Toss gently to mix well and serve chilled.

2) Creamed Chard and Eggs Skillet

This Creamed Chard and Eggs Skillet is a tasty way to enjoy fresh greens. It combines nutritious chard with rich eggs for a satisfying meal.

To start, gather your ingredients. You’ll need fresh chard, garlic, onion or leek, eggs, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. These ingredients come together to create a delicious dish you can enjoy any time of the day.

First, sauté the garlic and onion in a skillet. Then, add the chard and cook until it’s wilted. Next, mix in the eggs, mustard, and lemon juice, cooking until the eggs are set.

This recipe is easy and perfect for breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch chard
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 onion or leek (small)
• 5 large eggs
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté garlic and onion in a skillet.
2. Add chard and cook until wilted.
3. Mix in eggs, mustard, and lemon juice.
4. Cook until eggs are set.

3) Homemade Yellow Cake Mix

Making your own yellow cake mix is simple and fun. You can avoid additives and create a delicious cake tailored to your taste.

For this mix, you will need basic ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. This way, you have full control over what goes into your cake.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups (281 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ cups milk

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Store the dry mix in an airtight container.
3. When ready to bake, add milk and follow your favorite cake recipe.
4. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
5. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, usually 25-30 minutes.

4) Sourdough Starter

Making your own sourdough starter is a fun and rewarding process. You only need two simple ingredients: flour and water. This starter helps your bread rise and adds a delicious flavor.

Start by mixing one cup of flour with one cup of lukewarm water (about 90°F or 32°C) in a clean jar. Stir until there are no dry bits.

Cover the jar loosely with a cloth and place it in a warm spot. Each day, discard half of the mixture and feed it with another cup of flour and a cup of water. After about 5 to 7 days, your starter should be bubbly and ready to use.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water (lukewarm)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour and water in a jar.
2. Stir until smooth.
3. Cover the jar with a cloth.
4. Place it in a warm area.
5. Each day, discard half and feed with flour and water.

5) Pumpkin Puree

Making your own pumpkin puree is easy and rewarding. It adds fresh flavor to your recipes, like pies and soups.

Start with a ripe pumpkin. You can find sugar pumpkins, which are great for pureeing. First, cut off the stem and then cut the pumpkin in half.

Remove the seeds and stringy bits with a spoon. Place the pumpkin halves face down on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 45 minutes or until soft.

Once the pumpkin cools, scoop out the flesh and blend it until smooth. You can use a food processor or a blender for this task.

Store your pumpkin puree in the fridge for a week or freeze it for later use.

Ingredients

• 1 sugar pumpkin

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds.
3. Place halves face down on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender.
5. Scoop out flesh and blend until smooth.
6. Store or freeze for later use.

6) Ground Venison Jerky

Making ground venison jerky is a great way to use your venison. It’s a delicious and healthy snack that can keep you energized. Plus, it’s easy to prepare at home.

To start, choose quality ingredients. You can mix venison with bacon for added flavor and moisture. Adding spices like garlic and onion powder enhances the taste.

Ingredients

• 7 lbs of venison
• 1 lb of bacon
• 1 cup dried apples, chopped
• 16 g celery powder
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup onion powder
• Additional spices to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 170°F (77°C).
2. Grind the venison and bacon together.
3. Mix in all the other ingredients.
4. Spread the mixture on dehydrator trays or a baking sheet.
5. Dehydrate or bake for 6-8 hours until fully dried.
6. Let cool and store in an airtight container. Enjoy your jerky!

7) Fermented Hot Sauce

Fermented hot sauce adds a tasty kick to your meals. It’s simple to make at home and uses fresh ingredients. You can adjust the heat level to suit your taste.

Start by filling a jar with fresh hot peppers. You can use any variety you like. Add chopped onions and spices for extra flavor.

Next, create a brine with filtered water and sea salt. Pour this over the peppers until they are fully submerged. Cover the jar with a lid.

Let the mixture ferment at room temperature for about one to two weeks. Taste it along the way to see if you like the flavor.

Ingredients

• Fresh hot peppers
• Chopped onions
• Spices (optional)
• Filtered water
• Sea salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a jar with hot peppers.
2. Add chopped onions and spices.
3. Mix filtered water with sea salt to create a brine.
4. Pour the brine over the peppers.
5. Cover and let ferment for 1-2 weeks, tasting as desired.

8) Homemade Bread for Beginners

Making homemade bread is simple and rewarding. You only need a few basic ingredients and some time. Start with flour, yeast, water, and a pinch of salt.

Here’s a quick recipe to get you started.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F or 43°C)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit until bubbly.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
3. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour and mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes.
5. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
7. Shape the dough and place it in a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. Enjoy your homemade bread!

9) DIY Peanut Butter Cups

Making your own peanut butter cups is a fun and tasty project. You can control the ingredients and make them just the way you like.

Start with creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, and your choice of chocolate. You can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate, depending on your taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 cups chocolate (your choice)

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, using 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
2. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
3. Spoon a layer of melted chocolate into each liner.
4. Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar together until smooth.
5. Add a scoop of the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate.
6. Cover with another layer of melted chocolate.
7. Chill in the refrigerator until set, about 30 minutes. Enjoy!

10) Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Making gluten-free chocolate chip cookies at home is quick and fun. You can enjoy the delicious taste without worrying about gluten. These cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with chocolate chips.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need gluten-free flour, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, an egg, and chocolate chips. You can sweeten the cookies with honey for added flavor.

When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix the butter and sugars until smooth, then add the egg. Gradually stir in the flour and chocolate chips.

Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Let them cool slightly before enjoying these delightful treats.

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix butter and sugars until smooth.
3. Add the egg and mix well.
4. Stir in gluten-free flour and chocolate chips.
5. Scoop dough onto a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
7. Cool before serving.