There’s something extra special about giving gifts that help someone nourish their family well. Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned home cook, someone just beginning their traditional foods journey, or yourself, these categories will guide you to meaningful, useful presents they’ll enjoy all year long.

Plus, I include a section on cozy reads, enchanting movies, and family-favorite board games for playing by the fireplace when temperatures turn chilly. You can enjoy fun activities with a cup of tea after a long day at work, or with family and friends after a delicious holiday meal.

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Table of Contents

Thoughtful Gifts for Every Traditional Foods Cook

If you’ve been hoping to treat the traditional foods cook in your life (or simply want to refresh your own cozy kitchen), this collection of gift ideas is a wonderful place to start. From hardworking tools to thoughtful little comforts, each category is filled with items that make everyday cooking more joyful, more nourishing, and a whole lot easier.

I’ve included discount codes where possible. For the full list of codes for my sweet friends, be sure to visit my Shopping Guide page.

Homemade Gifts and More

You can make homemade gifts too! In the following blog posts, I list easy, medium, and advanced recipes that would make wonderful homemade gifts, depending on how much time you have to prepare them. For example, I show you How to Make a Healthy Make Ahead Hot Chocolate Mix. Afterward, you can gift the mix to family and friends in cute containers with a red ribbon.

Kitchen Tools – General (Pots, Pans & Everyday Essentials)

A well-equipped kitchen is the heart of traditional cooking. These pieces make everyday tasks easier and encourage home cooks to prepare wholesome meals from scratch.

Note: Lots of HexClad products are on sale for Black Friday on Amazon, including their HexClad Hybrid Nonstick 10-Inch Frying Pan with Tempered Glass Lid. To learn more about HexClad and see if their products are right for you, watch our son Ben’s video, HexClad Cookware & Knives: My Honest Review.

And if you’re looking for more kitchen bargains that may still be on sale from Amazon Prime Days, check out my Amazon Prime Days: Kitchen Deals, Cookbooks and More post.

Making Bone Broth Tools

Perfect for those who love simmering, nourishing broths. These tools help create rich, mineral-packed broths—whether on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in an Instant Pot.

Your favorite cook will enjoy the following products to make and store bone broth over and over in their traditional foods kitchen.

Get Bones for Bone Broth at US Wellness Meats

For a trusted source of high-quality bones for bone broth, check out US Wellness Meats.

I’m a long-time customer of US Wellness Meats because I have always been impressed by the quality of their products. Check out my US Wellness Meats unboxing video to see the types of products you can get, including bones for beef bone broth!

Mary with a US Wellness Meats shipping box.

Home Canner Tools

Ideal for anyone who enjoys stocking their pantry shelves with homemade jams, pickles, and soups. These gifts make the canning process safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

Water Bath Canning Equipment

It’s easy to start learning how to home can with water bath canning recipes. And best of all, you can use most of the equipment you get for water bath canning for pressure canning too.

Note: Did you know I created a water bath canning class as part of the School of Traditional Skills? You can gift this class to your favorite home cook at a 50% discount through December 20, 2025. Learn about my class, as well as all of their special offers, by downloading the School of Traditional Skills Holiday Gift Guide 2025.

Pressure Canning Equipment

You can’t use your water bath canner for pressure canning; you’ll need to get a separate pressure canner, but as you’ll see in my How to Use the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner video, the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner makes it easy to start pressure canning recipes after you feel comfortable with water bath canning.

Fermenter and Pickler Tools

Fermentation is one of the oldest preservation methods, and these tools make it approachable and fun—even for beginners. And if pickling is your thing, the same tools will help you, too!

If you want to make and store effervescent beverages, such as Homemade Strawberry Soda, you’ll want a few more products, such as:

Masontops Mason Jar Fermentation Kit Discount Coupon

Although you don’t need any special equipment to start making ferments, the Masontops kit can help you simplify the process and enable you to create your ferment successfully. In my Masontops unboxing video, I show you my Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit and go over everything the kit includes.

Masontops Unboxing Review YouTube

Food Drying and Dehydrator Tools

For the cook who loves stocking an abundant pantry with dried foods, these tools help extend the harvest and create long-lasting, nutrient-rich shelf-stable foods.

Redmond Real Salt

When it comes to using salt in my recipes, I always like to use a real salt that has not been processed and does not contain any extra added chemicals or anti-caking agents. Redmond real salt is perfect!

Cultured Dairy Enthusiast Tools

These gifts support anyone exploring the world of homemade yogurt, cultured dairy, and those special probiotic-rich ferments we all love.

Mary holding a plate with homemade butter.

Note: Heard about Super Cultured Dairy, but not sure what it is and what products you’ll need to make it? Watch my special livestream: How L. Reuteri Can Transform Your Gut: My Chat with Dr. William Davis.

Cultures for Health

If you’re looking for starter cultures from Milk Kefir to Cheese, see the products that Cultures for Health offers for making homemade cultured and fermented foods. And if you order from their website, be sure to use my MARYSNEST discount code for 15% off your purchase.

  • Cultures for Health – Make Real Cultured Foods at Home and use discount code MARYSNEST for 15% off your purchase on the Cultures for Health website.

Containers for the Freezer

Freezer storage can be stylish, safe, and practical. These products help home cooks preserve soups, stews, bone broth, meats, grains, and more with confidence.

Freezer space is limited, so organizing the space you have gives you the opportunity to store more foods for future meals.

In my Make-Ahead Freezer Chicken Legs – Easy Broiler Dinner in Minutes! video, I show you how to prepare this delicious recipe ahead of time and keep it in your freezer so it’s ready for mealtime. You can find this freezer recipe and more in my latest cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Pantry.

Favorite YETI Products

Our son Ben reviewed YETI products in his How to Choose the Right YETI Cooler for You video. See if you’d like to add a YETI product to extend your refrigerator and freezer store.

Home Baker Tools

These tools help bakers create everything from rustic loaves to holiday treats, all with cozy old-fashioned charm.

Baking with ancient grains, such as Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt, can be more nutritious and easier to digest. Here are a few recipes using ancient grains:

Bake with Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt from Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Looking for a great deal on ancient grains, including einkorn, emmer, and spelt? Be sure to sign up for my FREE newsletter, where you will receive an exclusive discount for Grand Teton Ancient Grains!

Check out the organic berries and flours available from Grand Teton Ancient Grains. I love their high-quality Einkorn, Emmer, Spelt, Millet, and more you can get to create nutritious and delicious baked goods.

Exclusive Newsletter Discount Code

Sign up for my Mary’s Nest newsletter for an exclusive discount code you can use on your order of berries and flours. This discount is available for a limited time, so be sure to stock up on the Ancient Grains you would enjoy using to bake delightful breads, desserts, and more.

And if you’re looking for a grain mill to make fresh flour from your wheat berries, I recommend the Mockmill electric grain grinder. (See below.)

Grind Your Own Flour with the Mockmill

When it comes to electric grain mills, after I did A LOT of research, I decided to buy a Mockmill. And am I so happy I did! The Mockmill is a very affordable but beautifully crafted German-made mill that stone grinds grain with settings ranging from 1 to 10—fine to coarse ground grain.

Learn more about Mockmill electric grain mills for making fresh flour and their Flake Lover’s Flaker that flakes whole grain in minutes.

See the Mockmill in action with my How to Make All Purpose Einkorn Flour at Home video.

Find a Manual Grain Mill at Lehman’s

If you’re looking for a manual grain mill that operates without electricity, check out two from Lehman’s:

You’ll find these grain mills, home canning supplies, pressure canners, and more at Lehman’s. (Use this link and promo code NEST15 for 15% off orders at Lehman’s.)

Books and Magazines for the Traditional Foods Bookshelf

Inspiring, educational, and deeply practical—these books and magazines are perfect for anyone who wants to grow their knowledge and build a well-stocked traditional foods reference shelf.

Get a Signed Copy of The Modern Pioneer Pantry

Surprise your favorite home cook (or yourself!) by ordering a signed copy of my latest cookbook over the phone from the kind folks at the Arboretum Barnes and Noble (B&N) in Austin, Texas.

Looking for more ideas beyond your kitchen bookshelf? Hop to my cozy reads section.

Amazon Kindle Devices and Books

Sometimes it’s easier to carry your kitchen books on a single device that’s specialized for reading. Plus, with electronic readers, like an Amazon Kindle, you can enlarge text to make it easier to read and search for keywords and phrases. You can also read at night without having an external light on.

The good news is that for a limited time, Amazon’s latest Kindle device is on sale, along with other traditional foods Kindle books, including my bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook:

Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance Magazines

The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.

Order YOUR COPY Now!

The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

Order Now!

Lovely—and Tasty—Supplies for a Cozy Tea Station

Because every traditional cook needs a calming corner for tea, reflection, and a little afternoon comfort, these gifts make that space extra special.

Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)

If you are looking for an excellent source of tea blends and dry herbs, look no further than Farmhouse Teas. And even better, they are offering my sweet friends a 10% discount off their wide selection of herbal tea blends, black and green teas, and individual dry herbs.

UPDATE: Farmhouse Teas Black Friday – Cyber Monday Sale: All teas, artisan foods, kombucha supplies, and gift sets are on sale for a limited time only. Receive 20% off when you use my link and the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2025 at checkout. (This special discount ends at 11:59 pm PST on Monday, December 1, 2025.)

Farmhouse Teas logo

You can also use my discount code and links below to get the ingredients to make the following natural remedies that I’ve shown you how to make in earlier recipe videos.

Kitchen Garden Items

It’s never too early to start thinking about Springtime gardening! Help the kitchen gardener in your life enjoy fresh herbs, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants right outside the back door. And don’t worry if your garden space is limited. GreenStalk will come to your rescue!

Survival Garden Seeds

In my research into the best vegetable seeds, I discovered Survival Garden Seeds and their extensive collection of heirloom seeds. If you’re looking for high-quality, open-pollinated, non-GMO, and non-hybrid garden seeds, be sure to use my special MARYSNEST discount code to be able to get 10% off any of the following products:

GreenStalk Garden

I love using GreenStalk’s vertical planters to maximize the space where I can plant vegetables and herbs for my kitchen. Visit their site to see their Thanksgiving and Black Friday sale offerings, and be sure to use my coupon code too! (See below.)

Learn more about GreenStalk with the following videos:

Exclusive Newsletter Discount Code

Sign up for my Mary’s Nest newsletter for an exclusive discount code you can use on your GreenStalk Garden order.

For Home Cooks Looking for Sources for Meat on the Bone and Stewing Hens

In addition to US Wellness Meats, I have a few select suppliers as trusted sources for nutrient-rich, old-fashioned ingredients that elevate every traditional foods kitchen.

Get Bone-In Meats from Shirttail Creek Farm

I’d like to introduce you to Shirttail Creek Farm that’s located in Brenham, Texas. They offer a wide range of grass-fed and finished beef, pastured pork, chicken, and eggs, and lots more through their online store.

In my 10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Meat On the Bone: Nature’s Original Collagen Boost and Multivitamin video, I talk about how important it is for us to cook with and eat meat that’s on the bone. And if you can’t find meat on the bone at your local grocery store, I encourage you to get your meats from Shirttail Creek Farm.

Make my traditional foods recipes with products from Shirttail Creek Farm:

Northwest Wild Foods

Cozy Reads, Movies, and Family-Favorite Board Games

There’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book, a classic movie, or gathering around the table for a lighthearted board game after a warm, home-cooked meal. These are some of our favorites—simple delights that bring comfort, connection, and a touch of old-fashioned joy to the fall and winter season.

Cozy Reads

I love reading Jane Austen from Pride and Prejudice to Persuasion and more. Her stories bring me back to the Georgian and Regency eras in England, from around the 1790s to the early 1800s. From her many books set during that time, the following is one of my favorites:

For a listing of these favorite reads and more in my Cozy Fall Companions: Books, Movies, and TV For Autumn Evenings, Episode 1 blog post.

Cozy Games

  • Fromage – This cheese-themed game is perfect for foodies. It combines strategy with creativity as players compete to craft the finest French cheeses and impress their customers. (Read my Fromage board game review.)
  • Formaggio – Don’t miss this latest game from the creators of Fromage. Formaggio takes you to Italy, where you can craft Italian cheeses to the delight of your customers. You can play this recently released game standalone or in combination with Fromage.
  • Charcuterie – A delightful pairing with Fromage, this game lets you design the ultimate charcuterie board while navigating fun challenges. It’s a feast for the imagination! (Read my Charcuterie board game review.)
  • 7 Wonders – A classic game of strategy and resource-building, 7 Wonders is excellent for older kids and adults. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and has endless replayability. Plus, there are a whole host of expansions for this award-winning board game!
  • Everdell Standard Edition – Step into a whimsical woodland world with this beautifully designed 3-D board game. Players build villages and explore a charming storybook setting, making it perfect for young and old alike. (The Everdell Collectors Edition has fancier bits, but the basic gameplay between the two versions is the same.)
  • Bang! – Channel your inner sheriff or outlaw in this Old West-themed game. It’s a fast-moving card game with plenty of surprises, making it a hit for larger groups.
  • Saboteur – Work together to mine for gold—but watch out for a sneaky saboteur! This card game is all about bluffing and teamwork, and it’s guaranteed to keep everyone laughing. This is another fun game for groups and young adults too.

Get a 30-day Audible Trial with Free Audiobook

If you’d rather listen to your books, especially while you’re resting, exercising, or working on other tasks around the home (or driving into town), you’ll want an audio version of a book that’s read by a trained reader’s voice, rather than computer-generated. And the best human-read audiobooks I’ve found have been with Amazon’s Audible service, which you can try for 30 days with a free audiobook!

I love listening to audiobooks when I’m working in the kitchen or relaxing in the evening. Give Audible a try with their free trial, and I’m confident you’ll love them too!

I chat about a book I listened to with Audible earlier this fall in my Fall’s Here But the AC Is Still On blog post.

Mother Earth News

Guideposts

Guideposts is a faith-based inspirational magazine with stories about ordinary people who overcome life’s challenges through faith and hope. An earlier issue of Guideposts magazine featured my Faith, Love, and Grace story. I’m a subscriber, and I know you’ll enjoy this uplifting publication

Lifestyle Photos

More Christmas Shopping and Recipes

See all →

Order YOUR COPY Now!

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 homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!

Order Now!

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

JOIN NOW
And become a Traditional Foods Kitchen Pioneer

Kitchen Academy Videos

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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. Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook 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!

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