Return to the Kitchen: How Americans Are Saving Money and Building Resilience

Something remarkable is happening in American kitchens. As I pull two dozen Madeleines from my oven, I'm reminded that we're witnessing a return to fundamentals — 71% of Americans are embracing home cooking with purpose, saving an average of $91 monthly while building skills that matter.

This culinary renaissance spans all demographics. Families like Sarah's prioritize chemical-free meals for their children, while singles discover cooking as self-care, with more than half learning techniques through social media. The benefits extend beyond health and savings — cooking creates community resilience. In my own Northwoods cabin, I've experienced how homemade treats become valuable currency, bartered for fresh eggs and produce from neighbors. These exchanges strengthen local bonds while providing a hedge against uncertainty.

The heart of this episode is my family's cherished Madeleine recipe — delicate French sponge cakes that are surprisingly simple to master. I walk you through each step, from properly preparing the shell-shaped molds to achieving that perfect golden color. These buttery treats require minimal sugar and basic ingredients, making them an ideal introduction to scratch cooking. Between recipe instructions, I share how my adventure sports lifestyle complements my cooking practice, creating a holistic approac

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Chapters

• 0:00 The Home Cooking Revolution
• 3:18 Micro Story: Adventure Sports Lifestyle
• 3:57 Madeleine Recipe and Instructions
• 6:53 Emergency Preparedness with Ready Hour
• 9:02 Episode Closing and Call-to-Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

As two dozen Madelines cool in my kitchen counter, I reminded that in 2025, families and singles are cooking whole foods to save money. And if you eat healthier and prepare for uncertainty? Research shows 71% of Americans cook at home, saving $91 per month per the Seattle Obesity Study. Moms like Sarah prioritize chemical, disaster strikes and chaos. Single learned to cook via social media. The odds are cooking again life skill and a survival skill, food and gear. Folks like emma and me barter homemade goods. My try, my family's madeline recipe. It's delicate. Ready hour has a long history of to start your scratch cooking journey. Subscribe to the new mobile newsletter and podcast wherever you get your podcasts for more recipes to thrive in any crisis. Hi friends, welcome to the New Normal Big Life podcast. We bring you natural news and stories about nature that we hope will inspire you to get outside and adventure Along, with a step-by-step plan to help you practice what you've learned and create your own new normal and live the biggest life you can dream. I'm your host. Antoinette Lee, the wellness warrior, as two dozen Madelaine's cool women kitchen counter reminded that in 2025, a quiet revolution is simmering in kitchens across America. Families, singles and especially women with children are embracing whole foods and homemade cooking to reclaim health, save money and prepare for uncertain future. Research backs this shift 71% of Americans plan to keep cooking at home post-pandemic. Driven by cost savings, 67% said, and healthier eating, said 56%. According to a Hunter survey, cooking at home is associated with better diet quality, notes the Seattle Obesity Study, linking frequent home-cooked dinners to higher healthy eating index scores. For families, it's about nurturing. I want my kids to grow up with real food, not chemicals, says Sarah, a mother of three from Ohio. Singles are finding self-care in cooking, with 54% learning recipes via social media. Per the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association. Eating out less saves money Frequent diners spend $364 monthly versus $273 for home cooks, per the Seattle Obesity Study.

Speaker 1: 2:33

In rural communities, homemade treats foster connection. I trade my sourdough for fresh eggs, shares Emma, a Montana homesteader, and I do the same for my cabin in the Northwoods. During the 2020 lockdown, supply chain distributions reminded us self-reliance matters. Cooking from scratch equips you to thrive even in a societal breakdown, and surplus goods can be bartered To get you started. I'm sharing my family's favorite recipe from Madeleine's Delicate French sponge cakes. Baked in shell-shaped molds, they make an elegant low-sugar morning treat with coffee. These buttery treats are perfect for sharing with neighbors or savoring as a moment of self-care.

Speaker 1: 3:18

Before we cover the next topic in this episode, I want to introduce you to the Adventure Sports lifestyle with what I call a micro story about an adventure that I've had. The adventure sports lifestyle and my deep connection to nature is essential to my good health. So here's the story. Knowing how to fish from shore in a kayak or motorboat and on a frozen lake means I'll have a source of fresh, omega-3 rich fish year round. I did that. I hope this inspires you to get outside and adventure alone with friends or the people you love most.

Speaker 1: 3:53

Now back to the show for my family favorite madeleine recipe. Here's how you make it. Here's your ingredients list, which you can also download in the show description using the link to the New Normal Big Life blog blog. Ingredients to make 12 madeleines. You can double it to make 24 four tablespoons of butter, two large eggs, three quarter teaspoon vanilla extract, one eighth teaspoon salt, one third cup of 1⁄2 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest that's just grated lemon peels and optionally you can use 1 3rd cup of granulated sugar for decoration. I leave this out because I don't need the extra sugar. The equipment you need a madeleine pan it's a shell-shaped mold. You can find one on Amazon pretty inexpensively. A pastry brush for greasing the mold. Flour sifter for flouring the mold. An electric mixer you can also do this by hand with a whisk, but it takes a lot of effort A large spoon and a tablespoon. So here are the directions Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees Celsius and butter and flour each of your 12 madeleine molds.

Speaker 1: 5:20

Melt your butter and cool it to room temperature. Beat your eggs, vanilla and salt in a mixing bowl on high until it's light and fluffly. Gradually add sugar and continue beating at high speed until the mixture is thick. Lift the beaters out of the mixture and pale ribbons should form after about five to ten minutes of mixing, if not, mix a little longer. Sift flour into the egg mixture one third at a time, gently folding after each addition. You don't want to use the electric mixer for this step. Add lemon zest to the center of the mixture and then pour melted butter around the edge of the batter. Quickly but gently, fold butter into the batter. Use a tablespoon to spoon batter into the molds. You can expect it to slightly mound over the top. That's okay. Bake until the cakes are golden. It takes about 14 to 17 minutes. And here's a tip Share extras with neighbors to build community or barter for local goods like fresh produce Ready to level up, the new Normal Bake Life blog shares more family recipes to master scratch cooking.

Speaker 1: 6:33

We'll even show you how to make delicious meals with your long-term storable foods, because your family will tire of the same old meal, even in an emergency. Start with Madelaine's. Then explore our future recipes for soups, breads and more to build resilience, health and community. One dish at a time Until next time. Friends, I'm Antoinette Lee, your wellness warrior here at the New Normal Big Life podcast. I hope one day to see you on the river in the backcountry or in the horse barn living your best life. Tag New Normal Big Life or nnblblog on social media so we can celebrate your good health and big life. If you're a visual learner, coming soon you can watch an informative and entertaining version of this video on YouTube at new normal big life channel, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with someone who needs it, comment on our posts and drop us a message or email Nothing personal or too specific when you have a health or adventure sports topic you want us to cover and support others in this community.

Speaker 1: 7:35

World events are constantly teaching everyone some very painful lessons. Without warning, everything we take for granted can suddenly fail, and if you're not prepared in advance, you really don't have a chance. The fact is, the modern world runs on a just-in-time supply schedule. Even the biggest grocery stores can carry only enough food for a few days' worth of normal shopping. So when disaster strikes and chaos ensues at your local stores, the odds are simply against you. If you don't have emergency food and gear stockpiled in advance, you will probably suffer.

Speaker 1: 8:10

My partner, ready Hour, is here to help you ahead of time. Ready Hour has a long history of providing calorie rich, reliable and delicious nourishment for life's unexpected situations and critical emergency gear too. They're part of a family of companies that have served millions of people like you for decades. My family and I use Ready Hour products for camping, mountaineering and disaster preparedness for five years now. They're not just reliable, they're also your affordable option too. Long-term survival food shouldn't break the bank. That's why they have great sales and payment options for you. It's your bridge to safety and survival when things just aren't normal anymore, so make your next decision, your smartest decision. Be ready for tomorrow, today, trust Ready Hour, ready to shop. Use my affiliate link in the show description. Thank you, no.