Welcome Guideposts Readers!

Welcome to Mary’s Nest. I’m Mary Bryant Shrader, and I’m so happy you’re here. We both love the Guideposts magazine and all their inspirational stories. I’m so happy I could share my story with you in their Apr/May 2025 issue.

I grew up in a traditional foods kitchen and learned how to make traditional foods from my mom, who lived through the Great Depression and WWII. She taught me the importance of self-sufficiency, nutrient-dense foods, and how to make bone broth, cultured dairy, ferments, sourdough, and more.

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The Modern Pioneer Pantry

Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into delicious, homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!

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Table of Contents

Begin Your Traditional Foods Journey Today

I’m happy to share what I’ve learned from my mom and throughout my over 20 years as a traditional foods cook and teacher. You can get started with my free first 15 traditional foods playlist to help you learn step-by-step how to make traditional foods recipes and begin your journey from a processed foods kitchen to a traditional foods kitchen.

Marys Nest Stovetop Beef Bone Broth Recipe

My Mary’s Nest YouTube channel has over 1.1 million subscribers and 67 million views. I have over 600 videos and my accompanying Mary’s Nest website to help you learn how to make traditional foods, set up your Four Corners Pantry, and more. I invite you to subscribe to my Mary’s Nest YouTube channel to be notified of my new videos and learn more about traditional foods. Subscribing to my YouTube channel is free!

Get Your Copy of The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

You can get a printed copy of my national bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, which is packed with over eighty-five, from-scratch recipes, stunning photography, and step-by-step guidance. Published by Penguin Random House, my cookbook is available from national and local bookstores.

My book is on sale at many retailers, including Amazon, for this holiday season. So treat yourself, your family, and your friends to a traditional foods guidebook that will be an invaluable reference on your and their kitchen bookshelf.

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

  1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
  2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
  3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
  4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
  5. Preorder The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Be one of the first to get Mary's hardcover book about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

Teach Your Children and Grandchildren

The Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum is a comprehensive set of lesson plans to teach traditional foods recipes and kitchen skills to students in grades K-12. You can use this curriculum in conjunction with the recipes and text in my bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook. This curriculum resource is over 250 pages, and you can download it for free.

I was a homeschool mom and have fond memories of working in the kitchen with my son, teaching him how to make traditional foods, and guiding him to develop lifelong kitchen skills. I am so happy to make my curriculum available for free to help you teach your children and grandchildren and keep traditional foods and skills alive in your kitchen.

More Free Downloads

I also offer a set of free downloads that you can print out and include in your Kitchen Journal. These downloads will help you build your traditional foods kitchen.

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