How to Build a Summer Bucket List That Rocks
This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon.com. Click here to read my affiliate policy.Creating a summer bucket list is a smart way to help you live intentionally in the…
Baby Boy Meets World (Our “Semi-Natural” Hospital Birth Story)
Giving birth for the first time is magical, but it’s also unpredictable. The natural birth I wanted didn’t exactly happen! Here’s our “semi natural” hospital birth story (no epidural, but…
3 Steps to Clean Eating: How to Start Clean Eating for Beginners
Want to get started with clean eating? Here’s the beginner’s guide to clean eating, with three first steps you can take to improve your diet and your health. Hello! Today…
Finding Simplicity in a Complicated World: 10 Strategies for New Moms
As a new mom, it’s more important than ever to keep things simple! Here are 10 ways to find simplicity in the newborn season, so you can savor this time…
FREE Printable Spring Produce Guide
Eat seasonally with this spring produce guide! Choose your region of the U.S. and download your free printable to learn what fruits and vegetables are in season now. You can…
Simple Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Sauce
Panna cotta is an impressive dessert–but it’s so easy to make! You can even prepare it ahead of time, which makes panna cotta the perfect dessert for company. Try topping it…
5 Space Savers for Tiny Kitchens
Maximize space in a small kitchen with these space-saving ideas! Here are my top 5 favorite ways to save space in a small kitchen so you can stay organized–and still…
35+ Homemade Coffee Shop Hot Drinks
Make these fancy coffee shop hot drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen! You can save a lot of money, and have fun coming up with your own custom…
Creamy Pulled Chicken Sandwiches in the Crock Pot
These crock pot pulled chicken sandwiches are a family favorite. With a dash of hot sauce and plenty of cream cheese, these pulled chicken sandwiches are creamy but have a…
The Busy Girl’s Guide to Keeping the Home
You CAN be a great homemaker–even when life is moving in the fast lane! Here are 5 practical ways to maintain your home in the midst of busy seasons. It’s…
21 Healthy Snack Ideas for Pregnant Mamas
When you’re pregnant, snack foods are a must! Here’s a list of 21 healthy, frugal pregnancy snacks to keep you and your baby full and happy! These snacks will satisfy your…
10 Make-Ahead Breakfast Freezer Ideas
Breakfast Freezer Meal Ideas for Busy Mornings Freezer cooking is an awesome way to enjoy a little convenience at your fingertips, without having to resort to unhealthy, processed foods. If…
Easy Weeknight Shrimp Pasta
Quick pasta suppers have saved us more than once from ordering takeout! Here’s an easy shrimp pasta we like to make on busy weeknights for a simple supper. It’s the…
A Peek At My Minimalist Maternity Wardrobe
Want to see what a minimalist maternity wardrobe looks like? These are the 27 staple pieces currently in my simple maternity wardrobe! Last week when I shared my top 6…
6 Tips for Building a Minimalist Maternity Wardrobe
I’m not being the least bit sarcastic when I say that I’ve loved being pregnant! However, there have also been a few small challenges–the difficulty of staying fed and full,…
Maple Custard Cups
Traditional custard recipes use eggs to achieve both thickness and a richness of flavour. This rich maple custard dessert recipe is sweetened entirely with maple syrup! Some people scream for ice…
How I Organize My Recipe Collection
Last year, my recipe collection was a mess! I had dozens of magazine clippings or recipes scrawled on scraps of paper, tucked away inside cookbooks or crammed into the pockets…
Greatest Hits of 2014 (My Top 10 Posts)
This past year was a biggie. My husband completed his Master’s degree in Kalamazoo, Michigan (where that snowy picture was taken!) and in July we headed south to Alabama for…
A Year of Simple Living
My New Year’s Resolutions usually involve a few goals that center around simplifying. One of my hobbies is pursuing a simpler life. In fact, I’ve even written a book about simplifying…
Clove and Cardamom Poached Pears
These spiced, poached pears are cooked in honey water, and flavoured with cardamom, cloves, and lemon. They’re perfect for an elegant dessert on their own, or served with ice cream!…
Why I’m NOT Giving Up on Presents this Christmas
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Some families are skipping Christmas gift-giving this year. Tired of “rampant consumerism,” “materialistic gain,” and “unnecessary stress” they decide it would be best…
How to Get Started with Natural Skin Care
Let’s say you want to cut back on the toxic chemicals you put in your body. Let’s say you’re already avoiding those Red #4 maraschino cherries, as well as many…
12 Holiday Ingredients to Make from Scratch
For every store-bought processed food, there’s a homemade, nourishing version of that item that you can make in your own kitchen! You can make anything from scratch. And usually it’s…
Perfect Pie Crust
Homemade pie crust is frugal and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Here’s how to make a perfect pie crust from scratch using just flour, salt, butter, & water. Have you mastered the homemade…
Til There Was You
Dear readers, this is not the kind of post I normally write. But God gave me a passion for writing since I was little, and today I want to use…
Loaded Breakfast Biscuits
These filling, savory breakfast biscuits are baked with sausage and cheddar cheese, and seasoned with bell peppers, chili powder, and sage. Serve these easy sausage breakfast biscuits for brunch or…
How I Organize My Tiny Cabin Kitchen (a Photo Tour)
A few months ago I took you on a photo tour of our 600 square foot cabin in Alabama. Today I’d like to invite you back inside for a more…
French Onion Soup (Fall Comfort Food Series)
Some people might not consider French Onion Soup a comfort food, but I’m not one of those people! Simple, fragrant, with a light savory-sweet flavour, I think it’s the perfect…
20 Ways to Save Money in Your Kitchen (at Don’t Waste the Crumbs)
For us, eating real food and being frugal go hand-in-hand. They have to! Health food stores like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market, while wonderful places, make it seem like…
My Homemaking Command Center
I’ve relished the journey of simplifying our home, and now I’ve found an awesome tool for simplifying my schedule and to-do lists! The Homemaker’s Friend Planner is a command center…
Cheddar and Gouda Mac & Cheese with Bacon (Fall Comfort Food Series)
We can’t talk comfort food without macaroni and cheese! Make this homemade version instead of the boxed convenience food, and you’ll never want to go back! Homemade mac and cheese…
50 Real Food Soups for Cold Winter Nights
I find it supremely satisfying that a bowl of steaming hot soup has the power to assuage, even in a small way, a dark night of the soul. Soup is…
The Best Time of the Week to Simplify
I bet more of us would simplify, more often, if we had the time. But simplifying your whole home feels like quite the project, and if you look at it…
Deep Dish French Apple Pie with Salted Dark Caramel Sauce
‘Tis the season for comfort food! Last week I shared a recipe for Cheeseburger Skillet, and today we’re jumping to dessert with a Deep Dish French Apple Pie, drizzled with…
7 Simple Ways to Live More Abundantly, Right Now
Here are 7 simple ways to live more abundantly so you can thrive in everyday, normal life. These are things you can enjoy on any budget, with any schedule–you just…
Cheeseburger Skillet (Fall Comfort Food Series)
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As October days pile up and temperatures slope down into cozy blanket season, I find myself craving heartier fare at the dinner table. I…
Easy Salmon Patties
These salmon patties are a nutritious, frugal real food supper that you can whip up in under 20 minutes! Serve on toasted buns as a hamburger alternative. Hunger pangs set…
FREE Printable Autumn Produce Guide
Eating more produce is #5 on my list of things to improve and nail down. Bringing more produce to the table fits one of my other goals, too–living, and eating,…
26 Things I Need to Nail Down Before I Get Any Older
Twenty-one days ago I turned twenty-six, and my life was forever changed. But not much. I’m still loving life as a mid-twenties girl who’s finally pretty much okay with living…
25 Things I Don’t Buy in the Grocery Store (And What I Use Instead)
Last week when I shared a list of our typical pantry and fridge staples, I mentioned that there are a lot of items that we simply don’t stock. Today you…
Stocking the Real Food Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer (with Printable Checklist!)
When I got my first apartment in college, I said goodbye to the school cafeteria and eagerly stocked up on my own pantry and fridge staples. I tried to “eat…
How We Simplified
A few weeks ago I took you on a room-by-room tour of the little cabin in Alabama where we recently moved. To be honest, I don’t think we would’ve been…
50+ Real Food Camping Recipes {At Keeper of the Home}
Summer isn’t over yet, you know. I don’t care if you’re back in school (ahem, Alabama) or living it up for two more weeks (thank you, Michigan). But summer is…
Rule of 10: An Easy Formula for Simplifying Your Wardrobe
Want to declutter your closet but aren’t sure where to begin? Use the “Rule of 10”! This formula for simplifying your wardrobe is easy…and it works! I’ve simplified the clothes…
3 Years a Real Foodie: What I’ve Kept Up, and What I Haven’t
When I started this blog as a newlywed three years ago, my goal was to share my recipe creations and talk about what I was learning about real food and…
Our Country Cabin: A Photo Tour
The backdrop of our lives changed drastically just two weeks ago. But it already feels like two months. After calling Michigan home for three years, we’re learning to fall in…
67 Things to Make with Tomatoes!
Got tomatoes? August is the Month of the Tomato, so I thought I’d celebrate this luscious fruit with a roundup of delicious, real food tomato recipes from around the web!…
Garden Gazpacho (A Cold Soup for Summer)
A chilled gazpacho is the perfect lite soup for a hot summer day. Serve this garden gazpacho for a refreshing meal! Fresh. Delicately spicy. Ever so easy. A chilled gazpacho…
Cats Need Real Food, Too!
I check ingredient labels for myself, so why not for my cat? It’s important that Sophie eats well, too! When I got the opportunity to try out Fancy Feast® Broths as…
Strawberry Cantaloupe Summer Smoothie
Here’s a recipe for a creamy, naturally sweetened strawberry cantaloupe smoothie made with banana, raw honey, and yogurt. A delicious snack or breakfast! I hereby give full credit to my…
Fresh Strawberry Pie
I can’t think of a more delicious way to showcase fresh strawberries than in a cold, lightly sweetened, bursting-with-juice strawberry pie. This dessert will be the show-stopper at your 4th of…
The Busy Girl’s Guide to Staying Healthy
I’ve learned that you have to take your health one day at a time. That means that you don’t worry about your health six months or six years down the…
One Small Change: Ditch the Canned Goods!
My experience with switching to a real food diet? It was fun and interesting, but at times overwhelming. I honestly didn’t mind the onslaught of changes and new information, because…
Rich Strawberry Shortcake with Cream Cheese Filling
Here is a recipe for strawberry shortcake with a rich egg biscuit base and whipped cream cheese filling. It’s easy to make and not too sweet! Berry picking shouldn’t be…
Let’s Stop Picking Apart Our Food
Have you noticed? The way we talk about food has changed. Everywhere I look in newspapers, blogs, magazines, even cookbooks–food is packaged with buzzwords: “protein,” “low fat,” “heart healthy,” “antioxidants,”…
Crafting Morning and Evening Routines
When I became a teacher, I learned how important it is for students to have routines. Instead of trailblazing the challenges of every new day, routines carve a course that…
Raspberry Ginger Iced Green Tea
Here is a refreshing iced green tea flavoured with fresh red raspberries and ginger, and sweetened with raw honey. Serve over ice on a hot summer day. I’m from the…
16 Summer Reads for Young Adults
Around age 11 or 12, I starting tailoring my reading material to the weather. I read mystery stories and Gothic novels on dark and stormy nights; quest stories on April…
Chilled Cucumber and Avocado Summer Soup
Make this chilled cucumber and avocado summer soup when it’s hot outside! There’s no cooking involved! Combine the ingredients in a blender and serve! As the temperatures climb, it’s a…
Taking a Freezer Inventory (Get Organized and Save Money!)
I like to organise or simplify at least one area of my home every week. Last week I organised by taking a freezer inventory. I tend to lose things in…
Seasonal Produce Guide, Summer Edition (FREE Printables!)
One of the things I love about living the rhythm of the seasons is enjoying produce at the peak of freshness. When I first got married, I had a vague…
The Ultimate Ice Cream Recipe Roundup
Summer is my favourite season, but it whirls by so fast that sometimes I can hardly soak it in before it seeps into autumn. This year I’m getting a jump…
How to Do Laundry (for 8 People) in One Day
Washing all your laundry in one day creates a simple, effective routine to help keep laundry in check. Laundry is one of my least favourite chores, so the last thing…
How to Make Any Kind of Berry Pancake Syrup
You can make berry pancake syrup with any kind of fresh or frozen berries you have on hand! Say goodbye to syrups with High Fructose Corn Syrup and say hello…
15 Ways to Switch from Disposable to Reusable
Here are 15 reusable versions of common household items. Get rid of disposables to keep your trash out of landfills, save money, and enjoy better quality! When I hear the…
Strawberry Lemonade Foot Scrub (Get Your Feet Ready for Summer!)
Who’s ready to break out their flipflops and sandals? After a loooong Michigan winter, I am quite ready for summer. Actually, spring isn’t even in full bloom yet here in…
Coconut Fried Shrimp with Sweet Coconut Cream Dipping Sauce
Here’s a recipe for coconut fried shrimp with a sweet, creamy dipping sauce made with rum and a twist of lime. The shrimp is fried in healthy coconut oil! Let…
Busyness is Not a Sin
Dear Busy People Everywhere, Being busy is not a sin. So if you’ve been too busy to do the dishes lately, make doctors’ appointments, or call your friends (sorry, friends!),…
Save Money on Groceries without Buying in Bulk or Clipping Coupons
Buying in bulk and clipping coupons can be great strategies for saving money on groceries, but sometimes their effectiveness depends on other factors–like how many people live in your house,…
Thick Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These chocolate chip cookie bars are the perfect all-occasion dessert. They’re sweetened with sucanat and studded with walnuts and chocolate chips. Some things turn out just the way you want…
More Than Square Feet: Why I Don’t Want to Live in a Tiny House
Tiny houses are all the rage right now, but large-space living and simple living are not mutually exclusive! Tiny houses seem to be all the rage right now. A lot of…
Practical Ways to Practice Real Food Hospitality
You don’t have to be far along on your real food journey to open up your kitchen to others. Love people, and let them in. Serve them food (however simple)…
How to Meal Plan When You Don’t Have Time
Are you in a busy season of life and simply don’t have time to meal plan? Here is a new, simple strategy for menu planning when you’re short on time!…
Build a Natural Spring Cleaning Arsenal
Spring clean your whole house naturally with a few simple cleaners and tools. Here are the supplies you need to build a toxin-free cleaning arsenal. Last week when I shared…
Your Deep Spring Cleaning Game Plan (with Printable Checklist!)
Here is a spring cleaning strategy guide, plus a checklist to help you keep track of your cleaning tasks! There is something supremely satisfying about a clean, well-ordered home. It’s…
5 Recipes to Save for Summer
I will enjoy hot drinks and warm soups for a little while longer, but my thoughts are already turning towards summer! It’s my favourite season. I welcome the heat, the…
7 Ways to Stop Being Yourself
“Just be yourself.” It’s one of those phrases that’s sorta true but irksomely trite. “Just be yourself.” How is that helpful? What does it even mean? What I want to…
20 First Steps to a Real Food Diet
If someone told me that they wanted to eat a real food diet but didn’t know where to start, this post is what I’d tell them. These 20 first steps…
Frugal Split Pea Soup
I love split pea soup because it’s extremely frugal and I enjoy the hearty, homespun taste. If you’re not big into cooking, you’ll also love it because it’s very easy…
10 Gmail Hacks to Optimize Your Email Inbox
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Sometimes we…
Hearty Clam Chowder
Here’s a recipe for hearty clam chowder made with clams, chicken stock, potatoes, onions, and fresh milk. Enjoy with buttered cornbread on a cold day. Do you associate certain food…
Cleaning Out the Corners
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. I have…
Magic Chicken Noodle Soup
Here is a recipe for classic, nourishing chicken noodle soup made with whole chicken pieces, carrots, celery and garlic. Use fettuccine or your favourite pasta. January was all about the…
7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel
If you loathe adventures, whatever you do, don’t step outside your front door. That first step may eventually lead you off the edge of the map of everything you know…
In Summer We Play, In Winter We Stay: Living the Rhythm of the Seasons
Creation follows a sustainable rhythm, year after year, but we charge on in cycles of our own making: productivity, busyness, stress, burnout. The pulse of the land beats undetected while…
Undress Your Food
Fact: I like Coke. Also fact: My body doesn’t. How in the world do I reconcile these two? There’s that taste…that spicy sweetness. And the memories. Poking a Coke float…
Warm Up with a Hot Toddy (Good for Colds and Flu!)
This hot toddy recipe, made with cinnamon and tea, will banish the chill of winter! Drink it when you have a cold or flu; it will soothe your throat. Have…
Taming the Email Monster: How to Simplify Your Email Inbox and Eliminate Virtual Clutter
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Welcome to…
How to Make a Mocha
Here is a recipe for rich, creamy mocha made with milk and naturally sweetened with sucanant. Enjoy it for breakfast on a cool morning! Do you ever go through phases…
How to Create Margin in Your Life for a Simpler Schedule (2 Methods that Work)
Margin. We all need it, but we’re too busy to slow down and carve it out. Here are two methods for creating margin in your life so you can breathe…
Spiced Vanilla Milk
This warm, spiced vanilla milk is a cozy drink to enjoy at breakfast with muffins or scones. Drink hot vanilla milk before bed to help you sleep at night! Last summer…
A Year in Review, and My Most Popular Posts of 2013
This blogging year was rich with God’s blessings! Admittedly, blogging has taken up far more of my time, creativity, and emotions than I ever thought it would, but it’s been…
14 Healthy Salads to Boost Your Energy
One of my goals for the new year is to eat more salads! Salads are a challenge for me because I’m not a big fan of putting them together. But, I…
Being an Early Riser Means Giving Some Things Up
I wanted to write a post on sleep, but instead I went to bed. I’m completely okay with that irony, because the whole point of my last two Wellness Wednesday…
Simplify Your Linen Closet
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. What happens…
Gooey Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
This completely from-scratch, cream cheese filled gooey butter cake is lightly crispy on the edges and deliciously chewy as you get further in. My journey to gooey butter cake began…
Becoming an Early Riser
The Wellness Wednesday theme for December is sleep! Last week I shared 20 Ways to Induce Sleep Naturally. 6:00 a.m., the alarm goes off. Am I seriously going to do…
5 Things You Can Simplify in 20 Minutes or Less
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. You’re busy….
How to Celebrate Christmas When You Don’t Have Kids
I enjoy reading about my blogging friends’ Christmas activities, but I feel like I don’t have many good ideas to offer in return. You see, a lot of times holiday…
20 Ways to Induce Sleep Naturally
Sleep better at night with these 20 ways to induce sleep naturally and get well rested. If you have trouble falling asleep, these natural sleep aids will do the trick…
Sausage and Butternut Squash Gnocchi Sauce {at Fruitful}
Back in August, Grace shared these fabulous Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts here on Richly Rooted. Since tomatoes are an iconic produce pick for August, I thought I’d reciprocate with a recipe…
Moisturizing Honey Vanilla Body Polish
This honey vanilla sugar scrub will soften and moisturize your skin instantly! Whip up a batch of body polish for your own at-home spa night, or make it to give…
My Minimalist Makeup Routine
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons…
5 Reasons to Simplify Your Makeup Drawer
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Don’t be…
Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare Products
Your skin is worth taking care of! Here are five common ingredients in conventional skincare products, and why you should avoid them and look for more natural skincare alternatives. Our…
Saying Goodbye to the Over-Stuffed Handbag: Simplify Your Purse
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Today’s simplifying…
Is Your Skincare Safe Enough to Eat?
When you ditch processed foods you start scanning ingredient lists on food packages. Chances are, this new ingredient awareness will spill over into other areas, like your skincare products. The…
Simplifying the Bathroom
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. I want…
Boost Your Immunity with Apple Cider Vinegar
The Wellness Wednesday theme for October is immunity! So far, we’ve covered elderberry syrup, garlic and cod liver oil. Today I’m talking about apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is an old, old brew….
Simplifying the Shower
This post is part of a Monday series on simplifying. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. I’m enjoying this mission of simplifying my home. I find…
Watching the Days: A Michigan Fall Bucket List
My goal was to hold sacred the last, long days of warm summer. I drank iced tea and wore flowery skirts and swam in the lake–but somewhere, in the middle…
Boost Your Immunity with Cod Liver Oil
The Wellness Wednesday theme for October is immunity! So far, we’ve covered elderberry syrup and garlic. Today I’m talking about cod liver oil! We started taking cod liver oil a…
Simplify Your Accessories
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Today’s simplifying mission…
Boost Your Immunity with Garlic
Steel yourself to cold and flu season this year with garlic! There are many purported health benefits of garlic (such as reducing cancer, lowering bad cholesterol, and warding off ticks),…
Simplify Your Shoes
This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book, Your Simple Home Handbook. The series began with 10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now. Confession: I’ve never…
5 Things I Learned as a Brand-New Homemaker
Homemaking is meaningful and pleasant work, but there are many lessons to learn along the way. Here are 5 things I learned as a brand-new homemaker. When I got married…
Boost Your Immunity with Elderberry Syrup
Are you braced for the 2013 edition of cold and flu season? Â The Wellness Wednesday theme for October is immunity! One of my favourite immune boosters is elderberry syrup. It’s…
Simplify Your Wardrobe…So You Can Feel Fabulous Every Day
Simplify your wardrobe and love what you wear–any day of the week! This post is part of the Monday series on simplifying that inspired my book,Your Simple Home Handbook. The…
Ultimate Chef Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Here is a recipe for hearty chef salad with a sweet honey mustard and sesame dressing. Eat this for a healthy meal salad that will energize you and keep you…
10 Reasons to Start Simplifying Now
Stuff. Why do we let it take up so much of our money, thoughts, and space? Maybe your closet is stuffed with clothes that make you feel boring or that…
Learn to Say Thank You: How to Accept Gifts Graciously
This post is the last in a series on hospitality. Begin the series here. Sometimes the biggest challenge of hospitality isn’t giving it, it’s accepting it graciously when others choose…
Sweet and Sour Chicken
My husband looooves Asian food. If it were just up to him, he’d choose to go to the local Chinese restaurant for every single date night! Since he’s very good…
Top Books and Devotionals for Spiritual Health
Spiritual health is just as important to our lives as our physical or mental health, but often when life gets busy it’s the first thing we push to the back…
How to Make an Overnight Guest Feel at Home
This post is the sixth in a series on hospitality. Begin the series here. Do you get many opportunities to host guests for overnight stays? I love having guests stay over,…
Company Menus for Any Occasion
 This post is the fifth in a series on hospitality. Begin the series here. Sometimes schedule constraints or budget concerns hold people back from practicing hospitality. But they don’t need…
Cheesy Pasta with Sausage and Herbs
Here’s a recipe for a cheesy pasta with sausage and fresh summer herbs. Make it in the wok to mix up a large batch; you’ll want seconds! This is better…
25 Things About Me
Today I turn a quarter of a century old! Just for fun, I’m sharing 25 things about myself. Sometimes it’s nice to know a little more about the person on…
What to Eat While Camping
I got the camping bug when I was little. I gotten bitten bad. I think it was somewhere along the old Oregon Trail, or perhaps near northern waters where the…
Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones
These orange white-chocolate chip scones are fluffy, moist, and bright with the orange zest and juice. They’re divine when served warm with a cup of tea! I’ve missed baking this…
Easy Orange Julius Breakfast Drink
The sweet Orange Julius drink you grew up with is easy to make at home–and much better for you! Here’s how to make fresh-squeezed Orange Julius from scratch. Orange Julius…
Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts
These fresh, tasty tomato and goat cheese tarts are perfect for casual, outdoor entertaining! Serve them as appetizers or alongside a garden salad. Hello! I am Grace from Fruitful and…
Why I Love My Rice Cooker
Some of the appliances in my kitchen are literally genius inventions. The refrigerator keeps me from going down into a sawdust-filled cellar to rummage amongst the ice blocks. The oven…
10 Herbs (And 30+ Recipes to Use Them In)
The balcony herb garden we planted earlier this spring has grown into a lush jungle. While we’ve had some issues with the spinach dying and the kale being eaten by green…
How to Host Guests for a Meal
This post is the fourth in a series on hospitality. Begin the series here. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to know how to host guests for a meal….
Simplify Skincare with the Oil Cleansing Method
Two years ago I ditched all storebought facial cleansers and lotions. Now I cleanse and moisturize my face exclusively with oil. I know, if you haven’t heard of the Oil…
{In Season} Black Raspberries
What’s in season… Black Raspberries Scientific name: Rubus occidentalis (eastern North America variety) or Rubus leucodermis (western North America variety) Harvest season: July (usually just a short three weeks!) Special properties:…
Sweet Strawberry Milk
Homemade strawberry-flavored milk is a cinch to make! Here’s how to make strawberry milk with just three ingredients–ready in minutes! Serve it to your kids for a special treat with…
Starting a Balcony Herb Garden
When the ice caps first began to melt here in Michigan a couple of months ago, I compiled some garden resources in anticipation of planting season. My husband and I…
7 People Who Need Your Hospitality
This post is the third in a series on hospitality. Begin the series here. Last week I talked about how my mother was instrumental in teaching me what hospitality means…
Why Every Homemaker Should Practice Hospitality
Practicing hospitality is an important aspect of your role as a homemaker! Here’s a look at why homemakers should practice hospitality, even when it seems a little uncomfortable at first….
What My Mother Taught Me About Hospitality
My mother is an expert at hospitality. She has a knack for drawing people in–for making them feel valued in a conversation, welcome in her home, and understood no matter…
Creamy Chicken Curry
This chicken curry is packed with vegetables and cooked in a creamy coconut milk sauce with curry paste. Serve over rice for a satisfying meal! We pulled out the wok…
April is for Asparagus
Spring-fresh asparagus is the vanguard for ranks of abundant produce to come. Be sure to get some and enjoy it now in the glory of its season. Asparagus is, interestingly…
Smithsonian Food Exhibit Inspires Questions
Eric and I spent last week in Washington D.C. My brother, formerly a guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, was doing his last walk before transferring jobs. Neither Eric…
Vegetables For Breakfast
Good morning! What did you have for breakfast? I’m sure you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You’ve probably also heard how many billion servings…
Revealed: Our Grocery Budget
I mentioned yesterday that I’m going to start posting our twice-monthly grocery shopping list for all to see. I have two reasons for this. Primarily, I want to give readers a…
Making Sushi at Home
Eric and my first official date was to a sushi restaurant overlooking Coolidge Park in Chattanooga. I might’ve had sushi once or twice before (I think at a Chinese buffet…
14 Easy Meals for Peter and Other College Students
Readers, this post is for my brother Peter but I’m going to let you listen in. First I have to tell you about this awesome guy. He’s got looks going…
Easy Fried Fish
Fried fish is easy to make, and a great meal choice when you need to get dinner on the table fast! Here’s how to make fried fish crusted with Panko…
Gearing up for Gardening
It’s like magic: March arrives, and suddenly the snow is melting and temperatures are rising. Not that we don’t expect more snow–especially if this year we actually get the “typical”…