All Natural Recipes
Real, honest to goodness food
Homemade Gummy Worms (only 3 ingredients!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsIf you’re like me, you’d like to keep as much processed junk away as possible. Sometimes it can be harder than you think. A fun solution for sweet treats can be to make your own candy. Not only are these slimy and sour homemade gummy wor...
Instant Pot Indian Chana Masala
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, RecipesOne of my all-time favourite dishes in the world is the slightly spicy, slightly tangy, and wonderfully comforting Indian chana masala. If you’ve never had this, it’s basically a chick pea stew with tomatoey sauce seasoned with war...
Instant Pot Vegetable Broth
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Mains, Recipes, Special DietsWell folks, it’s fall and if you’re not talking about pumpkin spice everything, then you must be suffering from the first round of bugs making their way around this time of year. September in my area is when kids go back to school. It i...
Easy Fermented Pickles
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Simple Life, Homesteading, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsSo, what’s the Big Deal with Fermentation? I’m sure at this point in your life you’ve heard of fermentation, like these easy fermented pickles. It’s all the rage in the “health” food world *real* food world. The funny thing i...
World’s Fastest Lasagna Soup (Instant Pot Lasagna Soup!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Mains, Recipes, Special DietsQuestion: What do you do when it’s an hour before dinner, you have nothing planned, you haven’t gone grocery shopping yet, and the baby is about to wake up any minute (which will inevitably coincide with the 4 year old’s meltdown over th...
AIP Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (grain-free, dairy-free, & oat-free!)
Recipes, Scratch Mommy Community, Special Diets, SweetsThese perfect grain-free, dairy-free AIP Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (which are made without oats!) were inspired by my long-term health journey. Several months after the birth of my son, my anxiety and depression hit me full force, and I beg...
How To Do A Detox Juice Cleanse (& why you should + 3 juice recipes!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, For the Body, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsJuice bars are everywhere, and this health trend seems to be here for the long haul. Maybe you’ve been intrigued by doing a juice detox, but don’t know where to start. Or maybe you’d like to, but are scared off by the high price t...
Fresh and Fragrant Indian Mint Chutney
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Special Diets, IndianThe writer Jonathan Safran Foer once said, “Food is not just what we put in our mouths to fill up; it is culture and identity.” I couldn’t agree more, and perhaps that is why, as I grow older, I have begun to appreciate and enjoy I...
How To Make Smoothie Bags (+ An Energizing Spinach Berry Smoothie Recipe!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special DietsSome recipes are so simple and delicious, they call for poetry… Smoothie bags for all. Strawberry and blueberry. Spinach, banana. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on writing this whole post in haiku, but the haiku expresses the smoothie bag...
Plan a #FromScratch Birthday Party
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Simple Life, Holidays, Kid Friendly, Parenting, RecipesPop quiz time: It’s your child’s birthday. You’re planning a party. Do you: Panic, scream, and then hide Spend hours meticulously planning every detail and cross-referencing your plans with your Pinterest posts Jump on a plane to s...
Red Potato Salad Recipe (with bonus step by step video!)
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsThere are so many delicious potato salad varieties and this combination is right up there as one of the best! This beautiful red potato salad recipe is like a cross between a traditional potato salad and a creamy egg salad. The made from...
Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsNo matter what part of the country you live in, it’s right about now that people start itching to get outside and start entertaining! If you’re in a cold spot, you’re probably soaking in the sun while also wearing a scarf, and if y...
Easy Peasy Smashed Potatoes (4 ingredients for a scrumptious side)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesWho doesn’t want a heartwarming, soul pleasing, deliciously warm breakfast in the morning? Sounds good, right? How about all the work that goes along with it? Hmm, not quite as good. Well, worry not, because while I love scrumptious me...
The Best Way To Pop Perfect Popcorn On The Stove
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, RecipesLike pretty much every kid on the planet my kids love to snack. Luckily for me they love fruit and that’s our number one go-to snack around here. But sometimes they want something crunchy and tasty and a little more fun. And of course ...
Cooking with Carob Powder: 5 Reasons To Switch From Cacao To Carob
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Body, Recipes, Special DietsA few months ago I introduced a new ingredient to my kitchen: carob powder. I’m extremely sensitive to caffeine and the dark chocolate in which I sometimes indulge has a negative impact on my nervous system, causing jitters and poor sl...
Red Raspberry Leaf: Why it’s for ALL women (plus, a smoothie recipe!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, Parenting, RecipesI grew up through my childhood and early adult life thinking herbs were something you cooked with and that was all. I had no clue when I was younger that herbs could have a huge impact on my health. In fact, it wasn’t until I was preg...
How To Cook A Whole Chicken FAST!
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Simple Life, Holidays, Kid Friendly, Mains, RecipesOne of my intentions for 2016 is to try to really focus on having almost everything that I consume be grown locally. My husband is on board as well (after we drafted up a list of list of a few nonnegotiable items like coffee. And, chocol...
Vegetarian Power Bowl (layered with colorful vitamins!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsThere’s no denying that a diet rich in fresh, local, organic, in-season produce is a diet that will be nutritious and vitamin rich. In the summer it’s easy to eat this way, whether picking fruit or veggies from your backyard or headi...
Homemade Root Vegetable Chips (aka Terra© chips)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesThis past summer I picked up a couple pots of sweet potato slips for the garden at a road side stand. Before this summer, I had never grown sweet potatoes and I could have never imagined just how many sweet potatoes I would yield come fa...
Homemade Playdough (customize with natural colors and scents!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Simple Life, Kid Friendly, ParentingWhat kid didn’t play with playdough growing up? I remember opening up a brand new tub of playdough and squishing it, rolling it, and molding it for hours on end. Growing up, I never thought about the ingredients that are used to make sto...
Whole Wheat Gingerbread Pancakes
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, Holidays, Kid Friendly, RecipesHappy December everyone! While I love the fall and pumpkin everything — pumpkin crepes! pumpkin pancakes! pumpkin muffins! — I’m ready to say hello to the flavors of the holiday season. For me, the holidays mean eggnog and gingerbread a...
Thyme Infused Honey (and how to use it!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, For the Body, Kid Friendly, Parenting, RecipesAs a mother, there is nothing worse than having a sick kid. You want to make them feel better, but there is only so much that you can do. When that sick child has a cough, you feel even worse. If you are like me, coughing is one of your ...
Dry Roasted Chickpeas (a snack or side dish!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, SweetsMy daughter started full day kindergarten in September and while I knew she’d be tired after school, I had no idea she would also be ravenous. She bounds off the school bus and heads straight for the kitchen. After a few weeks of the sam...
Hot Cocoa and Homemade Marshmallows
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsA couple of weeks ago I shared that I am expecting a baby on my personal blog. Come April, I am going to be a real Scratch Mommy…not just a proud chicken mom! While I am completely overjoyed and loving this time (particularly since I am ...
Turkish Style Sandwich Bun Recipe
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Turkish Style Sandwich Bun Recipe, TurkishNothing beats fresh bread. Nothing. No store bought, mass produced package can compare to a fresh, warm loaf, especially when that loaf is pulled fresh from your oven at home! I could live on that blissful combination of yeast and flour....
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe (Kid and Adult Friendly!)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, BreakfastThe hardest part of my #LifeFromScratch journey is always being prepared — especially when it comes to mealtime. I’m a working mom of two and while I do my best to be organized, it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes I find myself ...
Healthy Homemade Ketchup Recipe with Easy Canning Instructions
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, CondimentOn my personal blog I share a lot about my “city girl” background. It’s true that I was born in downtown Chicago and spent much of my young adult years at a country club pool with no clue to how food was produced. But my mom also had a l...
Grain-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll in a Mug Recipe (Paleo, Gluten-free)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Special Diets, Sweets, DessertIt’s fall, y’all! The bewitching time of year when we pumpkin spice all the things and grocery stores and shopping malls turn into autumn wonderlands, smelling of cinnamon sticks and cider with glittering pumpkins and country apple candl...
Raw Brownie Bites Recipe (Featuring Coconut Manna)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Sponsored, Sweets, DessertI absolutely LOVE all things chocolate. On the day I was born I was given a box of chocolates and a teddy bear. True story. My mom of course got the chocolate, but it’s always been my favorite candy for as long as I can remember. These...
A New Cookbook for REAL Broth and Soup… Plus A Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, RecipesI’m a broth and soup making fiend. Can’t get enough of ‘em. Love love LOVE ‘em! But it hasn’t always been that way. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I don’t think I even knew what a real bone broth was. I don’t recall my moth...
Hearty Vegetarian Black Bean Enchilada Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Special Diets, Main CourseDo you believe in the power of tarot? I do. Err, I mean, I did. Sort of. Once. I’m not really sure, to tell you the truth. What I do know is that tarot predicted my stint as a vegetarian. Years ago, on a Friday afternoon, when this Scr...
How to Make a Stir Fry in Three Simple Steps
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Main CourseBack-to-school time is upon us, and for most of us that means a return to a super busy schedule. Even though we all desperately want to provide our families with home-cooked, nutritious meals, that seems to fall by the wayside when we’re...
The Basics to Lactofermentation and Whey Making
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Special DietsSometimes learning something new can be intimidating. We can feel a bit out of control the first few times because we don’t know the steps and are not quite sure what the outcome will be. Perhaps you recall the first time you made a ca...
Savoury Jalapeno Cheese Bun Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Sides, AppetizerSmell. Scent. Aroma. No matter which word you use, the sense of smell can cause the most amazing and immediate reactions (good or bad). Chocolate chip cookies baking on a cold and rainy day. The slightly salty, fishy smell of a riverside...
Naturally Free Spice Blends: A Cook’s Favorite “Easy Button” {Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Recipe}
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Sides, Sponsored, Side DishPublisher Note: Today’s post supports a good friend to Scratch Mommy in her new business endeavor. Loriel has been one of the biggest cheerleaders for Scratch Mommy, pretty much from the start. I hope that you enjoy the recipe that Contr...
Allergy Friendly Fruit Pizza Recipe {NO: grains, dairy, refined sugar, nuts!}
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Special Diets, Sweets, DessertAt this very moment, while I type this blog post, there are crumbs on my keyboard and blueberry juices on my face. Why? Because I can’t stop myself from eating every last bite of my latest yummy #fromscratch concoction- a delicious grain...
Introducing a Cookbook…and a New Grain-Free Baking Technique!
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special Diets, SponsoredPublisher Note: Hey friend! It’s Jess, the original Scratch Mommy, here to share something very special with you. Megan has been a Scratch Mommy Contributor for a while now, so you might have read some of her posts here on our site (lik...
Lemony One-Pot Chicken and Roasted Potatoes Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, RecipesWeekends are made for relaxation. Rejuvenation. Late nights and lazy mornings. Big, hot mugs of coffee and long, drawn out breakfasts. This isn’t just about leisure. This is about what is essential to making the upcoming, possible. Mon...
Are Juices Making You Cranky? Learn the Secret to {Sweet} Balanced Green Juice
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Breakfast, RecipesIt was my birthday last month and as I sat there ripping open a box freshly delivered from Amazon my heart raced. The anticipation and wonder was so exciting. Then the box popped open and what was it? Something I had been eyeing for over...
Cooking with Cocoa Butter + Sprouted Hazelnut Cocoa Butter Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, SweetsI could not be more excited about writing this post! Why? Cocoa butter is suuuper healthy and yet under-utilized in the cooking world. Perhaps many of you have used cocoa butter in DIY skin care products. Yes, it’s a nourishing butter f...
Fruit Salsa Recipe {Easy, Fresh, Delicious!}
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, SweetsPlease give a warm welcome to our new contributor Krista Quinn from The Quinntessential Mommy! Confession time! I have a major sweet tooth and my favorite part of any meal is dessert. I love to make my own desserts because anything homem...
Cherry Kombucha Popsicle Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsIt doesn’t matter if you’re a grown-up or a child, a popsicle on a hot day is the best! Am I right? I pulled out the popsicle molds early this year because we have already hit a 90 degree day here in Oregon and it’s only halfway through ...
Chilled Mixed Berry Soup Recipe {Dairy-Free}
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsI’m a Michigan girl, born and raised (er, actually I was born in Texas but we moved back to Michigan when I was 14 months old so I don’t really count that). If you’re familiar with Michiganders at all, you know that we refer to any weeke...
Quinoa Burger Recipe {Vegan}
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, SponsoredI was so excited to receive some amazing products from NOW Foods as part of this campaign, and my first post since starting work with Scratch Mommy as the e-magazine Editor-In-Chief! It was fun to develop a recipe to share with our l...
Black Raspberry Sweet Corn Ice Cream Recipe
Recipes, Scratch Mommy Community, SweetsI absolutely love driving through the country this time of year. Around every corner there is a “You Pick” sign encouraging travelers to hop off the main interstate and head down a dirt road to a field to get back in touch with nature. W...
Grilled Eggplant and Hummus Wrap Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, Special DietsHot summer days call for easy, portable, make ahead meals, perfect for picnics, road trips, or casual get-togethers. What is the one type of meal that is perfect for those kind of days? Wraps! Wraps are one of my favourite quick and easy...
Cleansing Quinoa Salad Recipe – Detox with Superfoods
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Mains, Recipes, SidesSome days, you just need to cleanse. Detox. Reboot. But when you’re like me and a total food lover, you know you’d never last on a juice cleanse. (Especially now that this food lover is pregnant…and boy, oh boy, does this baby love...
Raw Lemon Bites
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, RecipesIt has been an unusually warm spring here Oregon this year. We are used to being cooped up and having gray days to no end come springtime, but instead we have been privy to dry days and evening sunsets. Bliss. The neighbors have been out...
How to Make Turmeric Milk
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special DietsGrowing up in an Indian household, there was no such thing as a spice rack — there were spice cupboards. Yes, plural. Where else could we store our multitudes of seeds, leaves, and powders? Many of them were homemade blends suited perfec...
Breakfast at Tiffany’s Maca Smoothie
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, RecipesIt seems like every few months there is a new super food that everyone is raving about. As food buzzwords go, “super food” is one of my favorites. Super food is defined as a “nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for ...
Immune Boom Juice
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, RecipesWelcome to spring! It’s near summer – our plants are blooming, we are itching for sandal season, and we’re almost clear of that terribly long cold and flu season. Help get yourself through the rest of the season with this delicious...
Rhubarb Jello + Tips on How to Make Your Own Homemade Jello
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsI didn’t grow up eating Jell-O®. Flavors like blue raspberry weren’t a turn-off. Hey, I was a kid; my imagination could have handled that leap but my mom didn’t buy it. She was a gourmet and purchased only a few factory-made foods. I’ve ...
How to Make Homemade Coconut Flour
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special DietsCoconut oil, coconut butter, coconut flakes, coconut milk, coconut flour, oh my! It’s all coconut all the time, folks. It feels like the world has just discovered this brand new amazing thing in the last few years. It’s called the coconu...
How to Make Beef Broth
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesMineral, collagen, and gelatin-rich bone broth is catching on. Its health benefits are irrefutable; and the gentle nutrition it provides is now being recommended by health practitioners in every field. My family and I own three gut-healin...
Homemade Rib Rub Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, Recipes, SponsoredI drive a lot for work so I am a big fan of audio books. Currently listening to “The End of Overeating” in the car. In the book the author, David Kessler, shares his research on how our brains have been hardwired to crave food full of fa...
How to Make Homemade Hummus (Basic Recipe)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SidesIn my continued quest for urban homesteading, foods made from scratch fit nicely into the equation. The more real, unprocessed food I can provide my family, the better Today I am sharing about some homemade hummus I am now adding to my c...
Kid-Approved Prune Juice Smoothie (to help with constipation)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, RecipesA prune juice smoothie? Why would anyone want to drink one of those? Well, for our daughter, she doesn’t have much of a choice. She has struggled with chronic constipation for at least a year, and for her it’s either a laxative or a ...
Orange Cream Chocolate Scones
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsTraditionally when one thinks of scones, a firm biscuit with a dense crumb comes to mind. Often studded with currants and citrus zest, they are eaten with jam and clotted cream. Served at tea in the United Kingdom, scones are considered ...
Gluten-Free Chocolate Donut Holes
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsIt was a tasty tradition. Every Sunday we would head to church then stop at Dunkin Donuts for some Munchkins….their scrumptious donut holes. It was our treat for the week and the kids (and myself) looked forward to it. Then our daughte...
Cooking Beans From Scratch 101
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SidesWithin the past several years I have been on a journey — a journey that includes living with intention. I evaluated my life and I wanted something better, not only for myself, but for my family. Living in the Pacific Northwest provided a...
Easy Tandoori Masala from Scratch + Tandoori Chicken Wings Recipe
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SidesOne of my favourite ways to cook is to stand out by my clay oven, or tandoor, with the fire reaching 100’s of degrees as I carefully and skillfully make the most amazing tandoori dishes. Hmm, or not. I’ve never actually ever used a ta...
How to Make Raw Milk Yogurt
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Recipes, SidesI began my real food, #LifeFromScratch journey in middle school; the same time I stopped shaving my legs and wearing make-up. My mom called putting on make-up putting on her “face.” She’s a beautiful lady but didn’t want people to see ...
How To Break Down a Whole Chicken Into Pieces
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesWhen I look back on my #LifeFromScratch journey and try to pinpoint the beginning, I have to ask myself not, “What came first: The chicken? Or, the egg?” but rather, “What came first: The chicken? Or, the garden?” After interning at a ...
How to Make Water Kefir
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special DietsThanks to Cris for sharing her recipe back in 2015 for how to brew water kefir (similar to how I brew my own water kefir). You can read more from Cris on her blog, The Homestead Garden. ~Jess My journey into a #LifeFromScratch has been...
How to Make Almond Milk From Scratch
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special Diets#LifeFromScratch… So….what does that mean anyway? To be honest, it means something different for everyone. You can be a totally from scratch person, a somewhat from scratch person, an eh, I’ll do a little bit from scratch person…...
How to Make Enchilada Sauce From Scratch
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SidesI grew up in a large family where everyone was a part of the dinner-making process. From prepping to cleaning, all hands were on deck during dinner preparations. Our recipes were usually formulas that we had come to by trial and error. W...
How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsWhat’s one of the first things you felt when you began to make the switch and live #LifeFromScratch ? Were you overwhelmed? Excited? Anxious? Defeated? Happy? For me, it was a combination of all of those things. Some days I’d feel overwh...
How to Make Gingerbread House Dough from Scratch
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsLet’s see how many of you remember this complicated recipe from your childhood: Take 6 graham crackers, glue them onto a clean milk carton with royal icing, decorate, let dry, and eat. If you do, maybe you went to elementary school wit...
Left Over Turkey Crunchy Chinese Salad
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesLast Thanksgiving, my husband was driving us to his parents for Thanksgiving and I was in the passenger seat scrolling through Facebook on my phone. In the midst of all the “I am thankful for…” posts, this not so fun-fact from one of th...
Easy One-Pot Turkey Noodle Soup
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesCold season, flu season, gross, germy season. Try as we might to avoid catching whatever bug is going around, it’s hard to escape the fall and winter without something getting us feeling down. For me it’s eternally laryngitis, an iss...
Allergen-Free Apple Pie
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsI’m really sensitive to sugar. Like really sensitive. Like, I break out from honey or dates sensitive and it’s very sad. I can’t do sugar alternatives, either. I tend to have a bad reaction to anything with added sweeteners. You know wha...
Gluten and Dairy Free Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsWe love a good, homemade cookie in this house and my husband delivered…again. Yes, these gluten and dairy free peanut butter and oatmeal cookies are another one of my husband’s creations. He loves creating great, from-scratch treat f...
How to Cook a Pasture Raised Turkey
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesThanksgiving is all about family, gratitude, traditions and, of course, a big bird. There are lot of ways to cook that bird; be it roasting, smoking, frying, grilling, stuffed with duck, done like beer can chicken and many more. (I mean...
Shrimp and Wild Mushroom Risotto
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesWhen my hubby and I first got married, we had all the time in the world. Anytime we had the chance, we would host our friends and prep a fancy meal. You see, my husband loves to cook. He went to the prestigious Johnson and Whales Univers...
Dairy-free Vanilla Bean Custard Recipe (Paleo and GAPS-friendly)
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Scratch Mommy Community, SweetsCustard… Did you ever think you’d taste it again once you went Paleo, GAPS or Dairy-free? If you answered no, and have been craving custard, I’m going to be your new favorite person. I know what you’re saying: “It can’t be done!” I’m her...
“Kitchen Sink” Budget-Friendly Lentil Stew
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, RecipesConfession time: I used to hate lentils. My only exposure to them was my mom’s lentil salad, which I thought was just the nastiest thing ever. However, when I was 21 I decided to expand my culinary pursuits in an effort to heal my body, ...
Gluten Free Pumpkin Crepes Recipe with Warm Apple Filling
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Recipes, SponsoredGrowing up, Saturday mornings were my favorite. My dad would come home early in the morning from a long night working as a fireman, my mom would make make these super yummy crepes, and we would eat breakfast together as a family before r...
Fall-Inspired Pumpkin Pancakes
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, RecipesAre you a morning person? I am definitely not a morning person, but the one thing I do love in the morning is having a big family breakfast. Sharing a yummy meal together starts off your day in a way that no other meal compares! Sure, fa...
How to Make Pectin from Apple Scraps
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, SweetsI’ve seen a lot of hate on for pectin from scratch foodies and organivores because they think pectin is an unnatural product. This is absolutely not true. Pectin is a polysaccharide and water-soluble fiber that is part of plants’ cel...
How to Make Oven-Dried Apple Chips (Seasoned 5 Different Ways)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, RecipesI love apples because they’re one of the quintessential fruits of fall that gently transitions us from the fresh tastes of summer to the hearty flavors of winter. Eating seasonally is so wonderful because it’s one way to naturally help o...
Vegan Pumpkin Brownies
Recipes, SweetsThis is my time of year. I don’t mean that my birthday is coming up, I mean this is the time of year that I crave. I bide my time in the summer, waiting for the heat to move on and for the glorious autumn to start. I live in Vancouver,...
Apple Tart (Grain, Nut, & Dairy Free)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsFall is officially here! I don’t know about you, but my absolute favorite time of the year is the fall! The crisp air, leaves turning colors, comfy sweaters, and yummy pumpkin spice latte’s! I can’t get enough. Another perfect fall food ...
Countryside Peach Bars
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Recipes, SweetsI love to freeze summertime fruits to enjoy them through the colder seasons. This summer we couldn’t resist the beautiful, fresh organic peaches at the farmer’s market so we stocked up until our freezers were full. There are tons of wa...
Allergen-Friendly Cranberry Apple Pie (Grain, Gluten, Nut, Dairy, Egg, and Refined Sugar Free)
(Placement) FEATURED POST, (Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsIn my mind, there is no more idyllic kitchen task than baking a pie. It brings to mind the holidays, or a family gathering, a warm house, and a sweet smelling kitchen. I think of grandmothers everywhere rolling out dough and slicing up a...
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Stars
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesFall is upon us. Cool sweater weather. The smell of smoke rising from a flue…or from an evening campfire. Leaves the colors of the rainbow dance above my head and crunch below my feet. And fall food? Yummo! My Momma’s spicy chili, a croc...
Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, RecipesToday I’m stepping back into the *real* food recipe realm again. I promise to bring you great new skincare DIY recipes soon…as in next week! That said…YOU are in for a real treat today, friend! Emily from Recipes To Nourish has stopped b...
Five Tips For Kidney Health (& A Tasty Dandelion Smoothie Recipe)!
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Life, RecipesWhen my son was in the NICU, just a mere 24 hours after he was born, I heard the doctors tell me he had “acute hydronephrosis and kidney failure.” I had no idea what hydronephrosis meant, but I could assume kidney failure was tragic....
Banana Bread Coconut Cookies
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsHello friends! Before we get to the Banana Bread Coconut Cookie recipe I wanted to let you know that while I am catching up on organic skincare orders from my shop I am still bringing all of you some of the BEST of the BEST blog posts fr...
Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken Recipe
Kid Friendly, Mains, Recipes, Special DietsI don’t think that I could be more excited about today’s post. Eeeek! One of my bestest blogging buddies (who quickly became someone I am proud to call a friend) has dropped by to share a *real* food recipe with all of you. Kristin, fr...
Soaked Oatmeal Cookie Muffin Recipe (& new baking cups AND a giveaway)
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, Sponsored, SweetsDisclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. Oooooo, what a treat I have for YOU today. Three treats, to be exact… A recipe, a product review, AND a giveaway!!! I’ve been on a mission to create a rich, yet soft, delicious mu...
Poor (Wo)man’s Cabbage Soup
Kid Friendly, Mains, RecipesAlrighty, friends. No fluff in this post…let’s get right to it. This is an unbelievably nourishing and tasty soup that is also very kind to your pocketbook, too. With just a few simple ingredients and a crock pot, you’ll be eating a love...
Seriously? Just Eat The Damn Cookie! & a homemade icing sugar recipe
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsOoooooo, do I have a treat for YOU today! Well, perhaps I do. Let me first ask… Do you like cookies? Haha…who am I kidding!? Between the toddler, hubs, and I, we actually go through a lot of cookies in our home. There are plenty of *real...
Secret Ingredient Creamy Tomato Pasta (DF, w/ GF option)
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special DietsI am stoked! My first guest post over at one of my favorite bloggers is now LIVE! I am honored and humbled to be guest posting for the lovely Kristin over at Live Simply. Over the past few months, I feel fortunate that I’ve had the oppor...
The BEST Pumpkin Nut Bread Recipe EVER (seriously, it really is)
Breakfast, Holidays, Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsYou may know that I’ve been on a journey this month with an absolutely amazing group of bloggers. There are 6 of us total and we’ve been bringing you a new treat each day this month in our ‘31 Days of Homemade Halloween‘ series. If you c...
The Sacred Cow: Memoirs of a Former Vegan
Homesteading, Scratch Mommy Community, Special DietsDo you identify with any particular style or have any type of definition or label for the way you eat? Paleo? GAPS? Vegetarian? Vegan? WAPF? Just plain old *real* food? Today I bring you a heartfelt story from a wonderful blogger and ama...
Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsI am participating in a fantabulous series this month called, “31 Days of Homemade Halloween.” I’ve partnered with five super-de-duper blogging buddies, now turned friends. We are sharing one treat for you everyday this month to celebrat...
Nourishing Smoothie Add-Ins
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, RecipesThis Machine Changed My Life My husband recently surprised with with a beautiful red Vitamix Creations GC. It was love at first sight (…for both my hubby & the Vitamix). 😉 I use my new machine at least once a day, sometimes 2-3 times....
Soaked Oats, Nuts, & Pumpkin Breakfast Bars
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special DietsWelcome to day 5 of the 31 Days of Homemade Halloween series in which I am grateful to be participating. If you don’t subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook, you might have missed this news. I am working together with five...
I hate meatloaf! …but, what about *REAL* food MEATBALLS?
Kid Friendly, Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsA quote from one of my favorite movies of all time… Randy: Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf. The Old Man: All right, I’ll get that kid to eat. Where’s my screw driver and my plumber’s helper? I’ll open up his mouth a...
2nd Birthday *REAL* Food Cake
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsIn the weeks leading to my toddler’s recent 2nd birthday, I ‘pinned’ several options while trying to decide on the ‘right’ birthday cake. I knew that this was something I wouldn’t tackle on my own and I wanted to use a tried-and-true rec...
Sprouted Breadcrumbs In 30 Seconds?
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Recipes, Special DietsYes, breadcrumbs in 30 seconds. And yes, sprouted grains (as, per WAPF’s solid guidelines, grains should be for proper digestion). OhEmGee…WHY did I not think of this sooner!??? Go From THIS… To THIS… In Only 30 Seconds!!! This post is g...
Broccoli, Cheese, & Bacon Donuts
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special DietsYes, you did read the title correctly. I’d like to introduce to you broccoli, cheese, and bacon…donuts. Hey, why not!?? Donuts are fun…especially mini-donuts. Don’t have a mini-donut pan!?? Oh my, you are reeeealllly missing out. Please,...
Guacamole In A Pinch (aka 5 Minute Guac)
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsThis seriously took me 5 minutes to make. Literally…5 minutes! If you are reading my blog, you are probably a *real* foodie, too; meaning, you likely strive to eliminate processed foods, GMOs, and other unsavory “foods” from your diet. W...
The 7 BEST Pizza Crust Recipes
Kid Friendly, Mains, Recipes, Special DietsPizza. Most of us really love a great pizza. Bold statement? Nah, I bet it’s true. Wether you believe it’s the toppings or the crust that really ‘makes’ the pizza, the fact remains that you must have a crust as the vehicle for the toppin...
Craving A Crunch? Here are 8 ‘Crunchy’ Recipes For You!
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesI love things that crunch. Unfortunately, most of the convenience crunchy food items at the grocery are made with very unsavory ingredients. Bummer. Never fear though…I’ve been searching my through some of my favorite blogs and have put...
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bread
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsI am back. You may have noticed that I took a brief two week hiatus from blogging and Facebooking, as I was out of town and spending time with my family. On Father’s Day last week my Papaw, who would’ve been 93 years old this week, peace...
Real Food Ice Cream Bar
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsToday I combined three of my favorite things: ice cream, cookies, and chocolate. Sounds good, right? Well, it was (and it was healthy, to boot)! One of these three ingredients is a convenience food. I don’t have an ice cream maker yet (w...
Very Simple Asparagus & Peppers
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesI wasn’t sure what I’d write about tonight. As we both worked together in the kitchen on dinner, I asked Hubby for some ideas for my blog post. He said, “That! That asparagus you make is amazing.” Oh…really!? I mean, we eat asparagus a f...
Ice Cream Cookies!
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsI’ve been whipping these cookies up for a while now and I’ve been eating ice cream I’m sure for most of my life. That said, it wasn’t until just recently that I realized that these cookies and a side of ice cream (I prefer plain old vani...
Perfect Steak – From The Skillet, To The Oven, To Your Belly!
Mains, Recipes, Special DietsSo, I wanted steak tonight. Specifically, I wanted steak on the grill tonight. Easy enough since we have a grill on our back deck and currently have a freezer FULL of meat. The reason for that is when I recently went to our local health ...
Why I Choose To Be A Criminal – Raw Milk
(Placement) FEATURED POST, Homesteading, Parenting, Special DietsThe following story is a true story. I pulled up to the dirty, rusty, old van parked all by itself in a random lot. I looked to make sure there were no 5-0 around. Things were quiet, so I approached and asked, “Are you Sam?” He smiled wa...
Easy Oat Flour Crackers
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesThis recipe grew out of a desire for crunchy things in my house…and easy to grab and eat, healthy food. Crackers have always been a hit here and these are no exception. These are so easy that you probably have all of the necessary ingred...
The BEST Chocolate Avocado Mousse (seriously!)
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsOkay, so maybe that title is a bit dramatic, but I’ve been perfecting this for a while now and I truly believe that it is just the bee’s knees. I love it, I think that my toddler loves it even more than me, and my (sometimes hard to plea...
Ooey Gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Mini Cake (with peanut butter icing)
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SweetsYesterday it was hot in my house. 84 degrees hot, to be exact. Our air conditioner went out almost three weeks ago…still not fixed. Now, I’m all for saving money and being as green as I possibly can, but since the last owners of our new ...
Breadsticks- No Fuss, Healthy, & Tasty
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesIt’s funny. Before having my *real* food epiphanies, I was never much of a baker, let alone someone to cook much of anything other than Ramen Noodles. Sad, but true. Now that I am “in the know” about *real* food and healthy living, it’s ...
Quinoa Blueberry Mini Loaf Bread (nutrient dense & delicious!)
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsWe love bread in this house. Like, love it. Like…really, really, really love it. Lucky for my husband (and son…and me), I realized that in order for us to continue eating bread, I had to learn to make it. This recipe has quickly become ...
Homemade Zesty BBQ Sauce
Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsAs you may remember, I’ve been working on a new ketchup, but I am still not quite happy with it (I’ll keep you posted). Meanwhile, I’ve also been working on a BBQ sauce. BTW…did you see my ketchup post? Well, unfortunately almost all sau...
…but what if my breasts don’t work?
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Parenting, Special DietsThat got your attention, didn’t it? Today’s post is one that some people may not agree with, but it’s something that’s been on my mind lately. If I get it off of my chest, maybe it won’t be so heavy....
Quick, Tasty Homemade “Almond Joy” Candy Bites
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsHow does inspiration for a new recipe come to you? Here’s a story of inspiration coming to me....
Homemade “Coffee”
Recipes, Special DietsJoe. Java. Liquid Gold. Cup of Sunshine. Make Me Function Stuff....
(Do not precook your bacon) Easy Oven Breakfast in a Ramekin
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special DietsIf you come here a lot, you may have noticed that lately I’ve been a bit more scattered and random than normal in my blog topics. There are a few reasons for this:...
Healthy Crock Pot Applesauce
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesThe first thing I had to do after learning about my son’s food allergies was figure out how to read food labels. At first, I was completely overwhelmed....
No Countertops & Homemade Pizza? Sure, Why Not!?
Kid Friendly, Mains, RecipesAs you can see, I am not operating at full potential right now; I am far from it and will be for up to three weeks. Yikes…not good for a Scratch Mommy! However, I know that it will all be worth it once we get out new countertops...
Homemade “Chocolate” Chips
Kid Friendly, Recipes, Special Diets, SweetsFor my loyal readers, you know that I just love chocolate (you may remember learning this in my Quinoa Carob Mini Loaves recipe). For my new or not so loyal readers, you may not know my love. Well, it’s pretty simple…I love it. I crave i...
Cheesy Quinoa Crackers
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesDo you ever just crave a crunch? I know that I do. When I gave up almost all store-bought chips and crackers, I was really missing that crunch in my life. Doesn’t it seem like you always want the things you can’t have!?...
Chipotle Hummus
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesI absolutely love hummus. I mean, what’s not to love? You can dip pretty much anything in hummus…celery, chips, peppers, crackers. You can use it as a spread on healthy tortillas and sandwiches....
Quinoa Carob Mini Loaves
Breakfast, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsI’ve made this one a few times with a few changes each time and I think that I finally have it down. These cute little loaves never stay around for very long in my house. This tasty treat allows my family to get in our sweet...
Healthy Pasta (toddler friendly!)
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesThis is a homegrown, completely (created in a pinch one day) Scratch Mommy recipe. That said, healthy pasta…sounds like an oxymoron, huh? Well, it depends on how you prepare said pasta!...
Crazy Creamy, Über Cheesy Potatoes
Kid Friendly, Recipes, SidesI make a lot of potatoes in this house, in many different ways. Yesterday, I wasn’t sure what to make for my son’s lunch side dish. I opened a cabinet and Oliver (my 17 month-old) pointed at the bag of potatoes. Okay,...
(Way better than store bought) Homemade Chicken Stock Recipe
Recipes, Special DietsHello friends. So, hopefully you read yesterday’s blog of how to make Crock Pot Chicken (the WHOLE chicken) and you are drooling and ready to go. We can’t let those delicious bones just go to waste though! Before you get started, you wil...
Crock Pot Chicken (the WHOLE chicken)
(Placement) HEADLINE BAR, Mains, Recipes, Sides, Special DietsTwo things that I love – chicken and saving money. Do you love chicken and saving money, too? Okay readers, then this recipe is for you....