I challenge you to slow down and really look at the ingredients in your food.
- Do you recognize them?
- Are they processed? bioengineered?
- Do you know what the labels on your eggs mean?
- Do you know where your meat comes from?
- Do you know what the dirty dozen are?
If you’re rolling your eyes, I get it—but what you eat truly matters!
My MO is simple: I focus on what’s really in the food we eat—no guessing, no shortcuts.
Cooking from scratch makes it easier to know exactly what’s on your plate. Nothing makes me happier than knowing exactly what’s in the food I am eating, especially when there’s no need for added extras.
Most of my family and friends get me mistaken by thinking I eat “healthy” and restrictive when that’s not the case at all. I want all the carbs and butter…just not with preservatives and additives. I welcome all the treats and foods of life, just without the bad stuff.
Our goal is simple: eat whole foods, prioritize protein, and choose the least processed options possible. This means building meals around real ingredients, reading labels, and making sustainable choices we can stick with long term.
I promise you, it’s not hard. I actually believe my life has gotten easier than it was before now that I know how to make various staples, breads, dinners, and such. We are an “ingredient” household, so while it does take some effort and time (you must be willing!), it’s worth it. I am fortunate enough to have the time and enjoy doing it.
The first thing I truly made from scratch were english muffins! That is how we got here. The recipe I follow has 6 ingredients, whereas the brand at the grocery store has 14, and you won’t find those ingredients in your pantry. Many store-bought muffins include preservatives and emulsifiers, ingredients that go beyond what you’d normally find in a home kitchen. I think that is insane!
Why is it so hard to find good, simple food in our grocery stores? I’m not saying there’s no space or market for Oreos or Doritos—lots love them! But why are there so few clean, straightforward options? Why can’t I find a loaf of bread with just a few basic ingredients without paying an arm and a leg? It shouldn’t be this difficult. On the bright side, I’m loving this era of farm stands and farmers’ markets, nothing makes me happier than shopping local and supporting real people rather than a faceless corporation.
I used to doom scroll watching influencers online cook and bake from scratch thinking that it would require too much time and effort. I’m happy to report that some recipes do and some don’t! That’s the beauty. You get to choose what you’re willing to work for and what you would rather treat yourself to.
For example, a cheesecake is a lot of work. More of just a process. But a homemade cheesecake is always worth it.
The best cheesecake I’ve ever made was a cinnamon roll cheesecake, made at midnight with my boyfriend for our Friendsgiving the next day. So many fun memories and a damn good cheesecake. At said Friendsgiving, you could find us alone in the kitchen, cutting into it and tasting it ourselves before sharing with our friends — savoring one last moment together or selfishly wanting the first bite all to ourselves.
Anyways…this was more of a broad blog post introduction to what is to come!
If you sound interested and want to follow along, I would be glad to have you. I’m hoping to post weekly recipes, blog updates, grocery hauls, life hacks, kitchen hacks, and more.
Our Table Scratch Kitchen 
Happy you’re here!