Buffalo Home Cook Finds Success with Traditional Cooking Techniques

A Buffalo home cook’s passion for traditional cooking methods and sustainability has led to a growing online following and the release of her first cookbook.

Maria Watkins, a former journalist, began sharing recipes and cooking techniques on social media, focusing on homemade, additive-free meals. Her content, which includes skills like canning, bottling, and cooking from scratch, has resonated with a broad audience, leading to the publication of her book, From Scratch Restocks and Recipes.

Watkins, 27, was inspired to change her approach to food after experiencing food allergies. She turned to cooking from scratch, eliminating processed ingredients from her diet. The shift not only improved her health but also sparked a deeper interest in seasonal and sustainable food preparation.

“A lot of my recipes go back to the way our grandparents used to cook,” Watkins said. “Using those methods not only produces great food but is also cost-effective.”

Through her social media platform, @livingplanetfriendly, Watkins shares recipes and tips on using fresh, seasonal ingredients. She also grows her own fruits and vegetables, preserving and canning them for future use. While most of her recipes are vegetarian, she emphasizes that her goal is simply to provide alternative meal options rather than dictate dietary choices.

Her book, published by Found, compiles her most popular recipes and techniques into an accessible guide for home cooks. “It’s so exciting to do something I really love,” Watkins said about the release.

From Scratch Restocks and Recipes is available in hardback for $29.99 and softback for $24.99 at found.us.