I’m bursting with excitement to share some wonderful news with you all! My brand new cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, is being published by Penguin Random House under their esteemed DK imprint! This has been a dream come true, and I can’t wait to finally share this labor of love with you.
Modern Pioneer Cookbook Announcement Video
Watch my Modern Pioneer Cookbook announcement video
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook is more than just a collection of recipes; it’s a comprehensive guide filled with all the essential techniques and recipes you need to embark on your journey to creating your very own Traditional Foods Kitchen. My aim is to empower you to become a true Modern Pioneer in your kitchen, confidently creating nourishing and delicious meals from scratch.
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Discover The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Embrace seasonal ingredients, master traditional techniques, and create truly nourishing recipes with The Modern Pioneer Cookbook. Featuring over 85 from-scratch traditional recipes, this cookbook is your gateway to understanding how simple ingredients and time-honored methods can revolutionize your cooking in the modern age.
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Table of Contents: A Journey Through Traditional Cooking
Introducing The Modern Pioneer Cookbook: More Than Just Recipes
When an editor from Penguin Random House reached out to me about writing a cookbook, I was absolutely thrilled! It felt like a dream unfolding, and I was overjoyed at the prospect of providing my wonderful community with a tangible, printed resource packed with the core knowledge to establish their own Traditional Foods Kitchens.
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook is designed to be so much more than just another cookbook on your shelf. I’m excited to offer you a practical manual brimming with all the fundamental techniques required to create the most nourishing and flavorful homemade foods. The added bonus? You’ll be saving money and minimizing waste in your kitchen simultaneously!
Traditional Techniques for Nourishing Flavorful Meals
What Treasures Await Inside The Modern Pioneer Cookbook?
Within the pages of The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, I’ve poured in my best methods for preparing traditional foods, guiding you step-by-step in a manner that is both detailed and easy to grasp. Furthermore, I’m sharing exclusive tips and tricks that go beyond what I’ve been able to cover in my videos.
Here’s a glimpse into the topics you’ll explore:
- Mastering Bone Broths: Learn the secrets to making the most flavorful and nutrient-rich bone broths.
- Culturing Dairy & Stovetop Cheeses: Discover how to culture various types of dairy and create a delightful assortment of stovetop cheeses.
- Fermenting Foods: Dive into the world of fermentation, from vegetables and fruits to condiments, and even craft probiotic-rich homemade vinegar that surpasses anything you can buy.
- Becoming a Home Baking Expert: Elevate your baking skills by mastering quick breads, yeasted breads, sourdough, and even breads made with sprouted flours.
- Creating Superfoods Everyone Will Love: Uncover recipes for incorporating superfoods into your diet in ways that are both delicious and appealing to the whole family.
- Home Canning and Food Drying: Learn the art of home canning and various food drying techniques, perfect for stocking your pantry with preserved goodness.
- Pioneer Desserts with a Healthy Twist: Indulge in delectable desserts like a Pioneer Wedding Cake and other treats made with whole grain flours and natural sweeteners.
- Meal Integration: Discover how to seamlessly incorporate all the traditional foods you prepare into delicious and nourishing everyday meals.
Beyond techniques and recipes, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook also offers a personal glimpse into my life. I share heartwarming stories about my wonderful husband, our son, and my parents, including invaluable wisdom from my mom, who many of you have grown to love!
A Cookbook You Can Trust: Tried and True
When you open The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, you can be confident that each recipe, every technique, and every dish will turn out beautifully if you follow along. I was incredibly fortunate to work with an amazing editor who also provided a professional recipe tester for this project.
The recipe tester meticulously worked through all my content to ensure that every recipe was flawless, the instructions were crystal clear, and no detail was overlooked. You’ll appreciate the thoroughness of the information I provide, all while keeping it accessible and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Mary's bookshelves filled with cookbooks
Add The Modern Pioneer Cookbook to Your Essential Kitchen Collection
One of the most frequent requests I receive through comments, emails, and letters is whether I have a printed cookbook. I am overjoyed to finally say, “Yes, I do!” And I truly believe The Modern Pioneer Cookbook will become a cherished and frequently consulted resource on your kitchen bookshelf.
It brings me immense joy knowing that you can now have a physical book containing the traditional food knowledge I’ve accumulated over my lifetime. Regardless of what the future may hold, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook will stand as an essential Traditional Foods manual on your shelf, ready for you to reference time and time again, even if the internet and power are unavailable! (Perfect for reading by candlelight, wouldn’t you agree? 😉)
My hope is that The Modern Pioneer Cookbook will find its place on your shelf alongside treasured classics like Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. For me, there’s nothing quite like the tactile experience of holding a real book in my hands and being able to pull it off the shelf whenever inspiration or a need arises.
The Enduring Appeal of Cookbooks
Don’t misunderstand me; the internet is an invaluable tool. However, when it comes to truly embracing and living a traditional kitchen life, many of us crave the tangible. We desire to hold a book, to carry it to our kitchen table alongside a comforting cup of coffee or tea, and to leisurely turn its pages as we read, learn, and unwind.
And if you’re anything like me, there’s immense comfort in settling into bed, snuggling under the covers, and opening a beloved book. My bedside table is often stacked high with cookbooks. My collection continues to grow, and I sincerely hope yours will too, with the inclusion of The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.
Pictures from Modern Pioneer Cookbook featuring food photography
The Lasting Value of the Printed Word
One of the most heartwarming compliments I ever received was when a visitor walked into my living room and exclaimed, “Oh my! C.S. Lewis would feel right at home here!”
As you likely know, C.S. Lewis is the celebrated author of numerous beautiful books, including the timeless Chronicles of Narnia series, adored by both children and adults. Like many authors, and indeed anyone who treasures the printed word, Lewis was surrounded by books!
Our living room, and truthfully, much of our home, is filled with books from floor to ceiling! Both my husband and I are, as they say, bibliophiles! So, you can imagine my sheer delight when I was presented with the opportunity to write a book! And not just any book—a book for Penguin Random House’s DK imprint.
If you are familiar with DK, you know they are renowned for publishing exquisitely crafted books that are treasured across lifetimes and passed down through generations!
Preserving Skills for Self-Sufficiency and Independence
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve likely heard me refer to certain pantry staples as forever foods. Well, the wonderful thing about a book is that, in essence, it too can endure indefinitely. Think of antique book collectors! There’s such a thrill in holding an original copy of a book from the 1700s. Imagine all the hands that have turned those pages, all the memories and enjoyment those readers experienced, just as you can now!
It is my sincere hope that in the years to come, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook will be shared and cherished by future generations, imparting the same invaluable skills you’re gaining as you cultivate your own Traditional Foods Kitchen.
I’ve deeply cherished all the comments and messages I’ve received over the years. You’ve shared with me how you’ve not only learned to prepare homemade traditional foods but also how you’ve taught these skills to others. This fills me with immense pride!
By sharing our knowledge, we keep these essential skills of self-sufficiency and independence alive. And as you continue to expand your skills and share your experiences, I hope The Modern Pioneer Cookbook will serve as a valuable reference for guiding others in creating their own thriving Traditional Foods Kitchens.
Mary's bookshelves with a focus on cookbooks and traditional living
An Exciting Cookbook Creation Journey!
In my cookbook announcement video, I share more details about the exciting journey of writing The Modern Pioneer Cookbook. It was quite an adventure, from writing the initial manuscript to reviewing digital layouts before the book finally went to print.
Furthermore, my editor, along with a photographer and food stylist, spent a week at my home. It was such a pleasure having them here. You’ll be delighted to see all the beautiful photographs of the food I cooked right here in my kitchen, styled and photographed on my very own kitchen table. I truly hope you’ll feel like you are right here beside me, cooking together in my kitchen!
Learn More and Pre-Order
Download Your Complimentary 36-Page Pantry List
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook is available for pre-order now! And while you await your book’s arrival, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List.
This comprehensive resource provides an extensive list of traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry. It’s packed with links to helpful recipe videos, informative articles, and much more!
Pantry List Recipe Video Thumbnail
Explore Kitchen Academy Videos
Are you eager for more traditional foods video content? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community gain access to exclusive videos, live streams, and other members-only benefits. Plus, your YouTube comments will feature a special members-only badge.
JOIN NOW and Become a Traditional Foods Kitchen Pioneer
In this replay of my members-only live stream, I discuss Dr. Davis and Super Cultured Dairy.
Member 2025 Channel Update
Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy 2025 Member Update
I share a preview of what’s planned for my Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy in 2025.
Baking with Ancient Grains in the Traditional Foods Kitchen
Discover the joys of baking with Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt—nutritious ancient grains that add depth of flavor and tradition to your favorite recipes.
Popularity of Flavored Oils
Discussing the Secrets to Perfect Green Herbal Oils
Let’s delve into the popularity of flavorful herbal oils and how to make them perfectly.
Stay Connected with Mary’s Nest
I eagerly anticipate welcoming you into my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
