The ingredient house / A little something made by hand
Good things.
Made simply.
I’ve always wanted to know what goes into the things we bring home. Ten years of homeschooling, plenty of kitchen experiments, and a whole lot of reading labels. That curiosity still lives here.
My elderberry-and-rosehip recipe is here, alongside useful methods from bakers, growers and makers. Start with a loaf, a pot of soup, or a simpler household ritual. Pull up a chair.
10 little places to begin.
A little jar of possibility.
Flour. Water. A little attention each day. That is where sourdough starts. A kitchen scale makes this much easier than guessing with cups.
Bread & fermentation · About 7–14 daysOpen the recipeYour first good loaf.
A crackly crust and a real loaf you made yourself. Start with an active starter. The jar begins with flour and water; the loaf gets salt, too.
Bread & fermentation · An afternoon, overnight rest, then bakingOpen the recipeCabbage, with a little patience.
A proper ferment begins with a measured recipe. This follows the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s cabbage-and-salt proportions. No freestyle salt guessing.
Bread & fermentation · 3–4 weeks at 70–75°FOpen the recipeAndie’s elderberry & rosehip syrup.
This is my own elderberry recipe. Dark berries, tart rosehips, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and raw honey. I love having a little of this kitchen ritual around when cold and flu season comes calling.
Kitchen comfort · About 1 hourOpen the recipeThe whole-chicken soup pot.
A roasted chicken does two good jobs: tender meat for your bowl, and bones for a flavorful pot. Carrots, celery, greens and a little lemon make it feel like home.
Kitchen comfort · About 30 minutes with prepared stockOpen the recipeA little bowl of pastina.
Tiny pasta, a vegetable-rich broth, and someone saying, “Here, eat a little.” The bowl often called Italian penicillin is a lovely comfort-food tradition. Let it feed you and feel like home.
Kitchen comfort · About 27 minutesOpen the recipePolarbear Spit.
Polarbear Spit was our name for a cooling rub. This version starts with a published butter-and-oil method, with a peppermint note and a little slip for massaging tired-feeling shoulders or legs.
Body & home · 5 minutesOpen the recipeA little mineral tooth paste.
Bentonite clay, coconut oil, and a good reason to keep asking questions. If you’re curious about homemade tooth paste, read the ingredient story and the dental research before you make a little batch.
Body & home · 2 minutesOpen the recipeThe everyday house spray.
A simple soap-and-water cleaner for the ordinary messes of living. Keep the concentrated soap in its own bottle and mix only what you need. Scent is optional.
Body & home · 5 minutesOpen the recipeA simpler laundry day.
One plain soap. A sensible amount. No giant mystery bucket to store. Start here if you want to explore a simpler wash, then pay attention to your water and machine.
Body & home · Measure at wash timeOpen the recipeInformed consent / The age of the know
Keep your curiosity.
Do your digging.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Follow the sources, ask your own questions, and choose what fits your household. There is a good rabbit hole waiting under each recipe.
My syrup comes from my own kitchen. The other recipes name the published method they start with, including any changes. Reader ratings belong to the linked originals. A popular home recipe and a clinically tested health benefit are different kinds of evidence.
Food stays in the kitchen. Blissed-Out stays on your skin. For cleaning and body care, check the ingredients, the directions, and who shares your home before you mix.
Tell me what you’d make