Welcome to Hill River Homestead, where we embrace time-honored traditions through homemade recipes, canning, and simple living. Whether you’re learning to cook from scratch or preserve food, you’ll find inspiration to slow down and enjoy the old ways.
This homemade cranberry juice recipe is as easy as it gets—just cranberries, sugar, and boiling water. The jars infuse naturally over a few weeks, giving you a beautiful, ruby-red juice that tastes like Christmas in a glass.
Scott’s rustic potato soup is hearty, simple, and made from the heart — just sausage, bacon, potatoes, and garden vegetables simmered together until perfectly tender. It’s an old-fashioned meal that brings everyone to the table on chilly nights.
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a homemade pie (or three!). Whether you love traditional pumpkin, creamy pecan, or something a little unexpected, these Thanksgiving pie recipes will make your dessert table unforgettable.
This hearty homemade chili is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy — made with home-canned tomatoes or salsa, three kinds of beans, and a little friendly family rivalry. Around here, his chili brings the heat, mine leans sweet, and both hit the spot on a cold night.
This easy meatloaf recipe comes straight from Mom’s kitchen — hearty, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients. It’s a classic homestead dinner that always hits the spot.
These Monster Cookies are the ones my mom still makes every holiday — thick, chewy, and loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. They’re a family favorite that never lasts long, no matter how big the batch.
This Potato Klub recipe is an old-fashioned Scandinavian favorite made from potatoes, onions, and flour. Hearty, simple, and comforting — it’s the kind of homestead meal that brings everyone to the table.
This Cranberry Wild Rice Bread is soft, hearty, and filled with the cozy flavors of fall. Made in the bread machine, it’s simple enough for a weekday and special enough for the holidays.
In our kitchen, potato soup always sparks a friendly debate. Scott loves this easy, no-fuss version simmered right on the stove — simple, cozy, and full of old-fashioned flavor.
This carrot cake is so moist and flavorful it wins over even the skeptics. Made from my aunt’s original family recipe, it’s topped with a rich cream cheese frosting kissed with a drop of cinnamon oil.
This old-fashioned apple squash bake came from my community action days—one of my coworkers used to make it for us, and it’s been a family favorite ever since. It’s the perfect cozy fall side dish, with tender squash, warm apples, and a sweet brown sugar topping that tastes like home.
These Apple Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins are soft, tender, and coated in buttery cinnamon sugar. They’re an easy fall baking recipe that tastes just like classic apple cider doughnuts — no frying required!
This apple fritter bread is my mom’s recipe, filled with fresh apples, a cinnamon swirl, and topped with a sweet glaze. It’s a cozy homemade loaf that tastes just like fall.
This hearty potato soup recipe is creamy, comforting, and packed with veggies. It’s my favorite version of potato soup — a family-sized classic perfect for chilly nights.
Learn how to freeze zucchini in slices, chunks, and shredded so you can enjoy your garden harvest all year long. These simple step-by-step methods make it easy to save zucchini for soups, stir-fries, and baking.
Fresh zucchini and bright lemon zest make this lemon zucchini bread moist, flavorful, and perfect for summer baking. An easy homemade recipe topped with a light glaze that every mom will love.
This stovetop spaghetti sauce is simple, hearty, and Ragu-style. Use fresh or frozen tomatoes with pantry staples for rich, classic flavor.
This easy chicken brine makes oven-baked chicken breasts juicy, tender, and full of flavor. We use it for all our shredded and cubed chicken recipes—casseroles, stir fry, sandwiches, and more.
This simple chicken BBQ marinade is loaded with flavor from BBQ sauce, garlic, smoked paprika, and a splash of green olive brine. It makes juicy, tender grilled chicken breasts that are perfect for summer dinners or cookouts.
Learn how to homestead on a budget with affordable, beginner-friendly tips that really save you money — and avoid common mistakes!
Sweet and tangy, this strawberry rhubarb freezer jam comes together quickly with Sure-Jell and no canning required. A delicious way to enjoy summer’s bounty year-round!
Freezing apple pie filling is a simple way to save time and enjoy homemade pies anytime. This easy make-ahead recipe shows you how to prepare, freeze, and use apple pie filling for perfect results.
June is such a hopeful month in the northern garden — the days are long, the air is warm, and
Learn how to freeze sweet corn the right way—whether on the cob or off—so it stays fresh, sweet, and full of flavor all year long. This simple step-by-step guide will walk you through blanching, cooling, cutting, and packing your corn for the freezer.
This sweet and simple blackberry jam recipe is made with just three ingredients and no canning required. It’s the perfect old-fashioned freezer jam for PB&Js, toast, or a spoonful over ice cream.
This old-fashioned blueberry freezer jam is sweet, simple, and made with just three ingredients. It’s the perfect way to preserve summer berries — no canning required!
This old-fashioned rhubarb bread is sweet, moist, and topped with a generous layer of cinnamon sugar. It’s a simple one-bowl recipe that’s perfect for spring mornings, family breakfasts, or anytime you need a cozy homemade treat.