10+ Homemade Homestead Recipes for a Cozy Lifestyle

Homemade homestead recipes offer a wonderful way to enjoy fresh and authentic flavors. Cooking from scratch not only connects you to the ingredients but also allows you to create meals that reflect your personal tastes. With simple techniques and wholesome ingredients, you can easily bring the love of homesteading into your kitchen.

From hearty breakfasts to delightful dinners, the joy of making food at home enhances your connection to the seasons and your family. Exploring these recipes is a rewarding journey that makes meal times special and satisfying.

Sourdough Bread Loaf

Making a sourdough bread loaf at home is rewarding and fun. You’ll love the delicious taste and the wonderful aroma that fills your kitchen.

Start with your sourdough starter, flour, water, and salt. Mix them together to form a dough. Make sure not to overmix; a little roughness is okay.

Let the dough rise for several hours. You want it to double in size. Next, shape the dough into a loaf, and let it rest again.

Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Your loaf should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 1 cup warm water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine sourdough starter and warm water.
2. Stir in flour and salt until a rough dough forms.
3. Knead gently until combined. Don’t overmix.
4. Cover and let rise for 4-6 hours, until doubled in size.
5. Shape the dough into a loaf and let it rest for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C).
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

Making your own apple cider vinegar is fun and easy! You can use apple scraps, which helps reduce waste while creating something useful.

Start by filling a glass jar about three-quarters full with apple peels and cores. Mix sugar with water until it dissolves. Pour the sugary water over the apple scraps until they are fully covered.

Cover the jar with cheesecloth or a coffee filter, securing it with a rubber band. This allows airflow while keeping bugs out. Place it in a dark, warm spot for 3 to 4 weeks.

After this time, taste your vinegar. If it’s tangy enough, you can strain out the solids and store it in a sealed jar. Homemade vinegar can enhance salads and recipes.

Ingredients

• Apple peels and cores
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 cups water (distilled or filtered)

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a glass jar with apple scraps.
2. Dissolve sugar in water and pour over scraps.
3. Cover jar with cheesecloth and secure it.
4. Place in a warm, dark area for 3-4 weeks.
5. Taste the vinegar and strain if desired.

3) Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry syrup is simple to make and great for boosting your immune system. It can help ease cold and flu symptoms. Many people enjoy it for its sweet flavor and health benefits.

To start, you can use fresh, dried, or frozen elderberries. Gather your ingredients, and you’re ready to go. This homemade syrup is not only cost-effective but also allows you to control what goes into it.

You’ll need some common kitchen items to make this syrup. Once you have everything, the process is straightforward.

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh or 2/3 cup dried elderberries
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup honey (local, if possible)

Cooking Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the elderberries and water.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat (about 180°F or 82°C).
3. Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 45 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture to remove the berries.
5. Stir in honey while the liquid is still warm.
6. Pour into a clean jar and store it in the fridge.

Kombucha Brew

Making your own kombucha is a fun and rewarding process. You can enjoy a delicious drink while knowing exactly what’s in it. It’s a great addition to your homestead kitchen.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need tea, sugar, water, and a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). The SCOBY helps ferment the tea and sugar, turning it into kombucha.

First, brew your tea and add the sugar while it’s still hot. Once the mixture cools, pour it into a clean glass jar. Add the SCOBY and some starter tea from a previous batch.

Cover the jar with a clean cloth and secure it with a rubber band. Place it in a warm, dark place at room temperature (70-75°F or 21-24°C) for about 7 to 14 days.

After the fermentation period, taste your kombucha. If it’s to your liking, you can bottle it and refrigerate it. Enjoy your homemade brew!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 bags of tea (black or green)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 gallon of water
• 1 SCOBY
• 2 cups of starter tea (from previous batch)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Brew tea and dissolve sugar in hot water.
2. Let the tea cool to room temperature.
3. Pour the cooled tea into a glass jar.
4. Add the SCOBY and starter tea.
5. Cover the jar and secure it.
6. Place in a warm, dark spot.
7. Ferment for 7-14 days, then taste.

5) Fermented Pickles

Making fermented pickles at home is a fun and rewarding process. These pickles are crunchy and tangy, perfect for snacks or adding to meals. You only need a few simple ingredients and some time to let them ferment.

To start, choose fresh cucumbers. You’ll want to wash them well. Next, prepare a saltwater brine using chlorine-free water and sea salt.

You can add spices like fresh dill and garlic for extra flavor. The beneficial bacteria will do the work of fermenting the pickles, creating a delicious snack that is good for your gut.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs cucumbers
• 2 cups chlorine-free water
• 1 Tbsp sea salt
• Fresh dill (optional)
• Garlic (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash and trim the cucumbers.
2. Mix water and salt to make a brine.
3. Add cucumbers and spices to a jar.
4. Pour brine over cucumbers, ensuring they are submerged.
5. Cover loosely and let sit at room temperature for 5-7 days.
6. Taste the pickles; when they are tangy enough, store them in the fridge.

6) Beeswax Candles

Making your own beeswax candles is a fun and rewarding project. They create a warm glow and a nice natural scent. Plus, beeswax burns longer and produces less soot than other types of wax.

To start, you’ll need some beeswax. You can find it in blocks or pellets. If you want to add a bit of fragrance, consider a little coconut oil or cocoa butter.

You can also make your own wicks by soaking cotton in melted beeswax. You can use an old nail or coin to weigh them down.

Melt the beeswax gently in a double boiler at about 175°F (80°C). Once it’s melted, pour it into your prepared containers, adding the wick in the center. Let them cool, and soon you’ll have beautiful candles to enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450g) beeswax
• Optional: ½ cup (120ml) coconut oil or cocoa butter
• Cotton wicks

Cooking Instructions:

1. Melt beeswax in a double boiler at 175°F (80°C).
2. Prepare your container and wick.
3. Pour wax into the container.
4. Let cool completely before using.

Goat Milk Soap

Making goat milk soap is a fun and rewarding project. Goat milk is gentle on your skin and adds moisture. It contains vitamins that help keep your skin smooth.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need goat’s milk, lye, and oils like coconut, olive, and palm. A scale is important for measuring ingredients accurately.

When you’re ready, heat the oils to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) and let them cool slightly. In a separate container, mix the lye with the goat’s milk carefully, as it gets hot. Combine this with the oils once cooled.

Blend until the mixture reaches a light trace. Pour it into molds and let it sit for at least 24 hours before unmolding. After that, cure the soap for about four to six weeks to ensure it is safe to use.

Ingredients

• 10.26 ounces goat’s milk
• 3.86 ounces lye
• 8 ounces coconut oil
• 8 ounces olive oil
• 8 ounces palm oil
• 3 ounces shea butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the oils to 110°F (43°C).
2. Measure lye and goat’s milk separately.
3. Carefully mix lye into goat’s milk.
4. Combine the lye mixture with the oils.
5. Blend until light trace is reached.
6. Pour into molds.
7. Let sit for 24 hours, then unmold.
8. Cure soap for four to six weeks.

8) Dandelion Jelly

Dandelion jelly is a fun and easy recipe to try. It captures the bright taste of spring and is a lovely addition to your pantry.

To make this jelly, start by collecting fresh dandelion flowers. Be sure to choose chemical-free ones. The yellow petals give the jelly its beautiful color and flavor.

You will need a few simple ingredients. That includes water, sugar, lemon juice, and powdered pectin. The process involves making a dandelion tea from the petals. After that, you mix it with the other ingredients and cook until it thickens.

This jelly can be a sweet treat on toast or biscuits. It’s a unique way to enjoy a common plant right from your yard.

Ingredients

• 2 cups dandelion petals (greens removed)
• 4 cups water
• 1 box powdered pectin
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 4 cups of water in a large pot.
2. Add the dandelion petals and steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain the liquid into a clean pot.
4. Add sugar, lemon juice, and pectin.
5. Bring to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes.
6. Pour into jars and seal.

9) Herb-infused Olive Oil

Making herb-infused olive oil at home is simple and rewarding. It adds great flavor to your meals and is perfect for salad dressings or marinades.

To start, choose your favorite herbs. Popular choices include garlic, chili, and various citrus peels. Use 1/2 cup of dried herbs or 1 cup of fresh herbs for every 4 cups of olive oil.

Pour the olive oil into a saucepan and add the herbs. Then, heat the mixture on low for about 20 minutes. Be careful not to let it boil as this can ruin the flavor.

After heating, let the oil cool. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh to remove the herbs. Then, pour your infused oil into a clean bottle. It’s best used within a month for the best taste.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups (960 ml) olive oil
• 1/2 cup dried herbs or 1 cup fresh herbs

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour olive oil into a saucepan.
2. Add the herbs of your choice.
3. Heat on low for about 20 minutes.
4. Let the oil cool.
5. Strain the mixture into a clean bottle.

10) Pumpkin Spice Puree

Making your own pumpkin spice puree is a fun and tasty project. It adds great flavor to baked goods or can be used in drinks.

To start, you’ll need fresh pumpkin. Choose small sugar pumpkins for the best flavor. Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Then, bake them at 375°F (190°C) until soft, about 45 minutes.

Once cooled, scoop the flesh from the skin. You can mash it using a potato masher or blend it for a smoother texture.

Add a mix of spices to your puree. Typical spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. This combination gives it the classic pumpkin spice flavor you love.

Store your puree in airtight containers. It can be kept in the fridge for a week or frozen for later use. Enjoy it in pies, muffins, or even lattes!

Ingredients

• 1 small sugar pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds.
3. Place the halves cut-side down on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes until soft.
5. Scoop out the flesh and mash or blend until smooth.
6. Mix in the spices.
7. Store in an airtight container.