This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon.com. Click here to read my affiliate policy.Wondering what to make with fresh berries? Here’s the ultimate list of berry recipes, so you’ll…
Creating a summer bucket list is a smart way to help you live intentionally in the season! Here are the five categories every bucket list needs, plus ideas for what…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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!…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
‘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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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!…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,”…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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!),…
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,…
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…
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…
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)…
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!…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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),…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…