The Modern Pioneer Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes From a Traditional Foods Kitchen

by Mary Bryant Shrader

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes

Cooking traditional foods from scratch is easier and less expensive than you might think. In simpler times, people cooked from scratch using seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques like canning, fermenting, and drying to preserve the harvest. Mary Bryant Shrader follows these principles to create delicious, nutrient-dense meals that are affordable, budget-friendly, and additive-free. Now you can learn why so many people are big fans of the Mary’s Nest website and YouTube channel. In The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, Mary shows you how to master the basics of pioneer cooking to make over 85 delicious recipes that are all simple and incredibly nourishing. She shows you how to make cultured dairy, nourishing bone broths, fermented vegetables, sourdough starters, and sourdough bread, as well as traditional home-cooked recipes. You'll also learn how to soak and sprout grains, prep ingredients, stock your pantry, and shop for other essential ingredients.

Here's what you'll find

Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2023

About the author

Hi Sweet Friends, My name is Mary and I am the author of The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Nourishing Recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... and The Modern Pioneer Pantry: A Complete Guide to Preserving Food, available for pre-order February 2025.

Through my YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/marysnest and corresponding website: https://marysnest.com/ I teach traditional cooking skills for making nutrient dense foods including bone broth, cultured dairy, ferments, sourdough, and more! I also teach how to stock a traditional foods pantry, home canning basics, and how to make natural remedies using simple ingredients.

I'm always happy to answer questions about my new cookbook or any questions you may have about cooking traditional foods. You can find my author page here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Love and God Bless,
Mary

Reviews

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not the stuff of which Pioneer women were made. I have a soul of steel, but not the body.

It was way too difficult for me to master these techniques.

I gave this book to a friend who keeps bee hives, knows how to clean and prepare honey, keeps a flock of chickens, guarded by a handsome Rooster named Bruce, does her own canning and is a master of being prepared.-

If society collapses, I will be one of the useless ones to be willingly put out upon the ice.

[Marcela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am definitely not one for making m,y own bone broth, canning or dehydrating foods, yet I found this cookbook to be completely fascinating.. I had no idea that you could,make your own ginger ale. Ms. Shrader’s instructions are clear and detailed. I am thrilled that such a book exists for when I get the bug to try something healthy and unique to this day and age. I plan to,make homemade ginger bug following her instructions over six days and then fresh ginger ale. My family will be thrilled with this activity. I will then follow it by doing a sourdough starter. And maybe then dehydrating some veggies. Who knows, I may turn out to be a modern pioneer woman! This cookbook is definitely fun to have around. Thank you Ms. Shrader for your clear and detailed instructions, notes and pictures.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[kckat96 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for writing The Modern Pioneer Cookbook. Your love of traditional foods and your encouragement helps home cooks around the world learn about and create these wonderful traditional foods for family and friends.

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Modern Pioneer Cookbook is a treasure trove of information, of which the actual recipes are only a part. Most chapters begin with a “Getting started with…” section and an FAQ page that provide tons of background information for someone who may be new to the chapter’s topic. The sheer volume of information packed into each chapter is amazing. Once the reader has an understanding of the topic, they then get a chance to see that information put to use through the recipes contained in the chapter. I love that these recipes truly teach me skills that used to be well known in most households, but through time, these skills have been lost to most households. Through this fantastic book, Mary Bryant Schrader teaches us the way the skills of old play an important role in the modern-day kitchen. This is so much more than just another cookbook!

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great beginner book for people who want to make as much as they can homemade. It has recipes for homemade sauces,homemade broths, desserts, dinners, breads and various other recipes. This is a very diverse range of recipes and I think most people who read this would find a recipe they want to make. The recipes are easy to follow and understand. The photos throughout are wonderful and helpful. The recipes that I'm most excited to try are stovetop cottage cheese, homemade yogurt, Old Fashioned Cinnamon Graham Crackers and No Knead White Sandwich Bread. Special Thank You to Mary Bryant Shrader, DK, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I expected. It is interesting to learn more about making broths, yogurts, and sourdough from scratch, but I was hoping for some old-fashioned everyday meal recipes...and more recipes in general. This does seem to provide a good basis for "modern pioneer" cooking where you're utilizing as much of your foodstuffs as you can, but it just seems very time intensive and possibly not heart healthy using so much fat. She certainly lost me with the gelatinous broth...

Thanks so much for the opportunity to review an early copy of this book. If I ever make it to retirement, this could be something interesting to try out, but it's just not feasible with a busy schedule.

[Markie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Modern Pioneer Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes From a Traditional Foods Kitchen
Author: Mary Bryant Shrader

Review:

"The Modern Pioneer Cookbook" by Mary Bryant Shrader is a delightful and informative culinary journey into the world of traditional foods and cooking techniques. Drawing inspiration from simpler times when people prepared meals from scratch using seasonal ingredients and traditional methods, Mary Bryant Shrader invites readers to rediscover the joys of cooking nourishing, additive-free dishes that are budget-friendly and delicious.

One of the book's standout features is its emphasis on returning to the basics of pioneer cooking. In a world where convenience often takes precedence over nutrition, Shrader's approach champions the use of whole foods and traditional cooking techniques like canning, fermenting, and drying to preserve the harvest. She demystifies these methods and demonstrates how accessible and cost-effective they can be in today's kitchen.

The book is a reflection of Mary's Nest website and YouTube channel, where she has garnered a loyal following for her expertise in traditional cooking. In "The Modern Pioneer Cookbook," she shares her wealth of knowledge with readers, making it accessible to those eager to explore traditional cooking for the first time and those looking to deepen their culinary skills.

Readers can expect to find a treasure trove of over 85 recipes that encompass a wide range of dishes. From nourishing bone broths and cultured dairy to fermented vegetables and sourdough bread, Mary offers a diverse array of recipes that celebrate the flavors of traditional cooking. The inclusion of detailed instructions and cooking guidance ensures that individuals of all cooking abilities can embrace pioneer-style cuisine with confidence.

The book is not merely a collection of recipes; it's also an educational resource. Mary provides valuable tips on sourcing ingredients, stocking a traditional foods pantry, and equipping one's kitchen with the essential tools for successful traditional cooking. This practical guidance empowers readers to embrace a lifestyle centered around whole foods and sustainable culinary practices.

Accompanied by beautiful photography and detailed images that illustrate traditional cooking techniques, "The Modern Pioneer Cookbook" engages the senses and brings the world of pioneer cooking to life. The visual elements of the book complement the recipes and serve as valuable aids for those new to traditional cooking.

In conclusion, Mary Bryant Shrader's "The Modern Pioneer Cookbook" is a remarkable resource for anyone interested in embracing the art of traditional cooking. With its wealth of recipes, educational content, and practical advice, it empowers readers to rediscover the joys of cooking from scratch and nurturing themselves and their loved ones with nutrient-dense, homemade dishes. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this book will inspire and guide you on a journey to a more authentic and nourishing culinary experience.

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes

Cooking traditional foods from scratch is easier and less expensive than you might think. In simpler times, people cooked from scratch using seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques like canning, fermenting, and drying to preserve the harvest. Mary Bryant Shrader follows these principles to create delicious, nutrient-dense meals that are affordable, budget-friendly and additive-free.

Now you can learn why so many people are big fans of the Mary’s Nest website and YouTube channel.

In The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, Mary shows you how to master the basics of pioneer cooking to make over 85 delicious recipes that are all simple and incredibly nourishing. She shows you how to make cultured dairy, nourishing bone broths, fermented vegetables, sourdough starters, and sourdough bread, as well as traditional home-cooked recipes. You'll also learn how to soak and sprout grains, prep ingredients, stock your pantry, and shop for other essential ingredients.

Here's what you'll find inside:
* Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes for bone broths, cultured dairy, ferments, and home-baked loaves of bread, including sourdough, as well as recipes for chicken, meats, fish, vegetables, desserts, and much more.
* Beautiful photography, including detailed pictures that will help you learn traditional cooking techniques.
* Detailed instructions and cooking guidance that will help readers of all abilities cook like a pioneer, using traditional techniques.
* Tips for sourcing ingredients and stocking and equipping your own traditionally eaten food kitchen.

Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

This book has been on a co-worker's desk for weeks begging for reviews and I have been reading it in bits and pieces here and there. Now that it has been published, I am adding in my review: it just showed up on NetGalley so maybe I will get approved there as well.

Mary is the kind of woman you want to have over for dinner - she is folksy, homey and not pretentious, nor is the book! There are great things to learn about traditional cooking ... well, traditional for North America and its farm-based food culture. These are easily found foods at any farm stand or supermarket --- no going to 10 different stores for 10 different obscure ingredients --- and the recipes are easily understood by cooks and bakers of all levels.

Of course, bone broth shows up ... let's call it stock and a base for soup vs. a method of starving oneself ala GOOP, fermented vegetables are popular but your intestinal tract will thank you (trust me!) and everyone was making sourdough during COVID lockdowns, so if you are late to the game, well start baking.

Mary had to move from NYC to the hill country of Texas to find her niche - and this excellent book will make your dinner plates sing!

[Angela Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go back and forth on whether this is a 4 star or 5 star book.
My criteria for buying a cookbook typically depends on if there is a picture on every page that entices me to make each dish. While there are a lot of lovely pictures in this one, there isn't a picture for every dish but if there were this book would weigh over 50 lbs. This is just my own personal criteria for purchasing cookbooks, but this was one I won through a Goodreads giveaway. I'm so happy I did, because this book is a gem.

On the five star side there is a lot of information in this book, information you do not find in just any cookbook. Mary takes you all the way down to full scratch which is invaluable in this day of difficult to decipher ingredient labels. If you are wanting to eat healthy, knowing every single ingredient is where you start. This will teach you how to make the broth, render fat, make your own yogurt, cream cheese, butter, cottage cheese, pickling and fermenting, baking bread, brining, preserving through different means, learn to make apple cider vinegar, salad dressing, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup; all the things that would be an ingredient in another cookbook are broken down.

This book is more of a resource book than a cookbook for meals as you don't get to the meals until the last chapter on page 276 (of 292 pages). So in that respect the title is a little misleading which is why I go back and forth on the rating. This is, however, an invaluable resource for cooks who want to have full control and knowledge of every ingredient as well as learning traditional scratch cooking. I might have called it The Modern Pioneer's Kitchen Resource, left the 16 pages of meals there as a sampling, and then had a whole second book called The Modern Pioneer Cookbook with meals referencing this book, and then there would have been the potential for a box set or each book selling the other.

I am looking forward to cozying down and giving this book a more in depth read and have my tabs ready to go to mark every page of everything I want to make. Definitely a keeper!

[Debra Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Bryant Shrader
Mary Bryant Shrader
Author Mary Bryant Shrader is a proponent of cooking from scratch because it is easier and less expensive, I would add it tastes so much better. When you are preserving your own food, you know what is in it, NO preservatives. The author has a website and YouTube channel where she goes by Mary’s Nest. If you think cooking from scratch is too hard, think again. The author offers how to’s along with 85 recipes. There is a wide range of recipes; they are easy to make, just follow the simple directions. She offers a list of equipment and appliances that would be nice to have as well as a list of equipment you will probably already have. Her section on the Four-Corners Pantry is wonderful. The working pantry is where you store nonperishable food that you use on a daily basis. The Refrigerator and Freezer is easy to understand, and the fourth corner of your Pantry is the Extended “prepper” pantry is where you store backup nonperishable food for restocking your working pantry. She includes a list of foods that have been categorized.
Did you know there is a right way to roast a chicken? Author Mary Bryant Shrader shares the correct way to cook a chicken…slowly. Don’t try to cook it fast. The temperature of the oven should be 350. Your vegetables should be under the chicken which has lots of herbs. You should allow about 25 minutes per pound. She even shares what you can do with the leftovers. In the pioneer’s kitchen there are no leftovers for there is a use for everything. The bones and pan drippings can be cooked to make broth or gravy. Leftover chicken can be used to make chicken tacos, chicken pot pie or soup.
This book is invaluable for cooking delicious, healthy foods for you family.

[Karen Hancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have nothing better to do than make everything from scratch, you’ll want to pick up Mary Bryant Shrader’s cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes From a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This cookbook has recipes for all sorts of things most of us don’t have time to make; it’s like going back 100 years and skipping all the modern techniques that have made our cooking easier.

Shrader includes chapters on pickling and preserving, condiments, sourdough, sprouting, and other grass roots techniques that most of us don’t have much desire to do. There are a few good recipes for main dishes, but most of the recipes probably won’t appeal to the mainstream cook or baker.

Most of the recipes are time consuming – very few are quick, and they will remind readers of tree huggers and environmental types. The cookbook includes beautiful, professional photographs of many of the recipes, as well as a picture of the author at the beginning of each chapter (overkill?). The recipes are written in the traditional manner with a list of ingredients followed by step-by-step instructions. There are also comments at the beginning of each recipe.

This is grass roots cooking – something you’d expect from a great grandmother living on a farm. Readers who like this kind of thing will love this book; those of us who like doing things the modern way with modern gadgets, not so much.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, @prbythebook, @dklivingus and @marysnest for my #gifted book.

I fell in love with this book immediately. It’s not only filled with main dish recipes, but some basic, yet exciting things like Homemade Vegetable Bouillon and Old-Fashioned Cinnamon Graham Crackers. Trust me, if you like unusual information and healthy recipes. This is the book for you. And me.

I’ll say it one more time: I Love It!

And, after last week, when I read the label and discovered that the chicken and beef bouillon I’ve been purchasing is only “flavored” and not the real deal, I’m totally excited about Shrader’s broth recipe.

Here are some things you'll find:

Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes for bone broths, cultured dairy, ferments, and home-baked breads, including sourdough, as well as recipes for chicken, meats, fish, vegetables, desserts, and much more.

Beautiful photography, including detailed pictures that will help you learn traditional cooking techniques.

Detailed instructions and cooking guidance will help readers of all abilities cook like a pioneer, using traditional techniques.

Tips for sourcing ingredients and stocking and equipping your own traditional foods kitchen.


This book is an easy 5-star book. However, if you’re not a cook, then you might consider it for that special cook in your life.

[Racheal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, accessible, and kind resource for making slow food.

I was not familiar with the Mary's Nest blog or channel, but from reading this book, I can see why she has such a large following. Mary approaches this cookbook as she's writing to a dear friend.

I loved learning more about her and her perspective on slow food.

She has great recipes and approaches to a range of foods, such as multiple kinds of broth, rendered fats, dairy products (such as butter, yogurt, cream cheese, kefir, etc.), pickles and ferments, baked goods, and sprouting.

I am familiar with many of these approaches already, so it's a less useful book for me (especially since I need to eat gluten free, and a large section of the book is related to gluten-full baking. But I would absolutely recommend it to beginners or those who want to have a resource with all kinds of useful information in one place (rather than relying on google searches).

Overall a lovely book with a great message about how to create our own nourishing foods!

Thank you to Netgalley and DK publishing for the opportunity to review this book!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I was expecting. It's a cookbook where everything is made completely from scratch (which I expected), but there aren't a lot of recipes for every day. Much of the book is focused on bone broth, canning and baking bread. The author does give very clear, detailed instructions in her recipes, and also offers several options and ideas within the recipes. So each recipe can be easily adapted to a cook's needs. The desert chapter was interesting and might be useful if you're looking to cut down on sugar.

The author's tone is warm and I think that she must teach incredible cooking classes. But the overall message, that cooking this way is revolutionary, didn't resonate with me. It's different than how many people cook, but there are whole books on sourdough bread. There are recently published, hip books on canning and making your own pickles. Bone broth has been hot for years. So, while this is worth checking out to get some solid recipes on healthy foods, I don't think there's anything radical about the way this book advocates eating.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a great resource for people who want to learn traditional, healthful cooking. Shrader does a great job explaining how to do things like fermenting, canning, using raw milk, cooking homemade stuff, etc for those who are new to it. I’ve been doing most of this for years but there were still tips and recipes I made notes of. It’s definitely suited more for those with traditional diets (meat and wheat) but there’s good info on lots of fun stuff like how to make a ginger bug and homemade soda, and stuff like that. There are favorite recipes for each section but not hundreds of them. Nutritional information is not provided but most of the recipes contain a photo. Much of the book is information, not just recipes. Recommended for anyone looking to learn how to make these traditional, healthy meals.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking to make more food from scratch this cookbook has a lot of info on making basics - stocks/bone broth, rendering fat, yogurt, pickles, and bread. There are also chapters on condiments and homemade drinks. While all of that is great, I agree with some other reviews I read that there aren't very many actual meal recipes - just one chapter at the very end. While you can do a lot with the basics that Shrader focuses on, I do think having more meal recipes would be helpful. I personally already can and make my own stock, bread, etc. I do think this would be great for someone starting out trying to make more homemade food but I do with there were more recipes using the basics. I also found the font and layout of the pages odd - it was almost large print and the margins seemed very small as well.

[Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four words. No- six words. I love this book. Buy it!

So many cookbook tout getting back to basics, but this one actually did it. For the first time, I have a logical explanation of why sourdough bread gets so stinky AND a remedy for that smell and taste. I put it on my list to try.

Broth: there are more considerations than just beef, chicken, or veg? Who knew? More to add to my list.

I kept adding and adding to my list and realized that I was actually working my way through the book, not “creating a list”.

This book is fantastic. I’ve never heard of the author despite the fact she has been making videos on YouTube for years. The title and blurb and appealed, so I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did. Five stars all the way to my kitchen.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to take a day away from my emotionally therapeutic reading to read this cookbook cover to cover. I find I dont use all the same ingredients in my cooking (I'm not fond of a lot of fermented food, for instance) BUT! I love the whole foods get preservatives and processed food out of our food system and reduce waste mindset! also love a lot of the recipes and found some new recipes to try. worth your time and if you have kids that need to learn to cook, definitely worth your money, she has a free training curricula that goes along with the book on her web page, listed on the about the Author page in the front of the book, enjoy.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m OBSESSED with this book. OBSESSED.

If you’ve ever been interested in transitioning to more traditional foods and less processed, then YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

Mary is like the mother, aunty, or grandma everyone wants. She gives you tips, tricks, and trades of pioneer living. From kitchen and pantry staples to broths, fats, dairy, pickling, baking, condiments. She explains what Superfoods are, how to preserve, and gives recipes for some sweet desserts and fulfills meals.

This isn’t just a cookbook, y’all. It’s a whole new way of living and I can’t wait to use this book as a guide.

[Jill Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such an incredible wealth of information. As a mom that tries to do as much from scratch cooking as she can, it is beyond anything I could ever imagine. With that being said, for someone that is just starting out, the pure amount of information that is there could be overwhelming so it is sifting through to figure out what would best work for them and building on it. The photos that are throughout add to the overall appeal of the book and encourages me to try new things that are out of my comfort zone. A wonderful cookbook that would be benficial to any collection!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Mary, this cookbook is a treasure.

The cookbook is packed full of information on having a "traditional foods kitchen." Each recipe is perfectly detailed with notes, tips, and tricks, so you even walk away knowing what to do with the kitchen scraps.

The cookbook's high-quality photography and structural quality are the real standouts. If other YouTuber cookbooks have let you down (*cough* Everything Worth Preserving), this one won't disappoint.

It is everything I look for in a cookbook—well done, Mary!

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-grounded base for getting the most nutrients out of your food. Techniques for cooking, preserving, serving, and not wasting anything. Preserving covers storage, rendering, drying, pickling, fermenting, and canning. She’s a fountain of knowledge and her verbiage is direct and helpful. The “why”, the “how”, and the “why nots” are talked about. It’s almost encyclopedic if you take the time to read the “Cook’s Notes”. This book is a gem.

[Cozy Book Spot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook! Lots of information about ingredients, techniques, and how to cook from scratch besides the over 85 amazing recipes. I love homemade everything and I’m so excited to try the recipes in this book. There are detailed instructions and lots of tips. There recipes for bone broths, fats, dairy (butter, cheese), pickling and fermenting, baking (breads, sourdough), sprouting. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Bryant Shrader of "Mary's Nest" YouTube fame has written a concise how-to book just as you'd hear her talk live.

This is a heavy book with many topics other than her "bone broth" or "chicken roasting" claim to fame. Fermenting, pickling, water bath caning, and much more are in this volume.

She does a nice job of breaking down the how-to's, gives cautions, and alternates. Not a lot of pictures.

[Charlene McCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live part time in Central America where I can't always find everything I need (for the more instant foods). So I need to do a lot from scratch, and this book helped me out with this. I haven't bought it as yet - but have borrowed it from a foodie friend who agrees - it's good. I will buy it at some point.

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found it incredibly interesting, I doubt I’d ever make anything from this cookbook. Just a bit more complicated for my cooking lifestyle. But like I said it was fascinating to learn more about different ways of cooking foods.

[Pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! So many great techniques to get anyone started on their journey in the kitchen. Looking forward to making my own ginger bug and trying out so many of these recipes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I really enjoyed this cookbook. It is full of really good recipes and they all are very well written with easy instructions. The photos are beautiful. Highly recommend!

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook was not my style. Though if you are a homesteader or aspire to be one, it seems like it would give you some good pointers and teach you good lessons on how to do so.

I received this book through Goodreads giveaway.

[Wilhelm Marz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful cookbook that is also quite practical. Although many of these meals I have not attempted, it was quite clear how they can be made and it was a joy to read. Those I attempted it worked out well. Mary Bryant Shrader did a wonderful job with "The Modern Pioneer Cookbook".