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A Little About Me

I'm a Pediatric ER RN and mama of three, sharing life's beautiful chaos with my kids and our chocolate lab Stout. I started this blog to get back to the basics: real food, simple recipes, and intentional living. Sourdough, family adventures, or honest motherhood, you'll find it all here.

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From Scratch Kitchen

Ready to start your sourdough journey or looking for family-tested recipes? From creating your first starter to weeknight meals, all made from scratch.

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Mama Life

Real talk about motherhood: the beautiful chaos, family adventures, the hard days, and everything in between. Parenting tips, honest reflections, DIY projects, and the stories that connect us.

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Popular Recipes

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cooking

Sourdough Discard Butter Swim Cornbread (The Best Summer Side)

Sourdough discard butter swim cornbread baked in cast iron with browned butter and a crackly cane sugar crust. Tangy, buttery, and the best summer side.

August 5, 2026

cooking

Easy Sourdough Peach Cobbler (Discard or Active Starter)

An easy sourdough peach cobbler using discard or active starter. Load it with fresh peaches, long fermentation or bake right away, and serve it warm.

July 26, 2026

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Sourdough Discard Blueberry Scones (Flaky, Buttery, and Easier Than They Look)

Sourdough discard blueberry scones with bakery-style flaky layers from grated cold butter. An easy from-scratch breakfast treat that looks fancier than it is.

June 30, 2026

Sourdough Questions, Answered

Do I need a kitchen scale to start sourdough?

Nope! My starter method uses regular measuring cups, so you can start with what's already in your kitchen. The no-scale starter guide→

How do I know when my starter is ready to bake with?

Towards the end of the first week it should look bubbly and airy, smell pleasantly tangy, and pass the float test: drop a little in some water and see if it floats. If it checks those boxes, it's time to bake! Full day-by-day walkthrough→

What is sourdough discard, and do I have to throw it away?

Discard is the part you remove when you feed your starter, and you don't have to toss it! There's a whole recipe section for it, from crackers to banana bread. Browse discard recipes→

What tools do I actually need?

For the starter: a jar or two, a small spatula, measuring cups, and something to loosely cover the jar. For your first artisan loaf you'll also want a Dutch oven. My favorite kitchen tools are in my Amazon storefront (affiliate link). Shop my favorites→

My starter looks quiet or has liquid on top. Is it ruined?

Usually no! Starters often look quiet the first couple of days, that's normal. And liquid on top is just your starter's way of saying it's hungry: feed it and keep going. The Sourdough Starter Guide covers all the common problems and fixes. Get the free guides→

What should I bake first?

The no-stress artisan loaf. It's written for first-time bakers and pairs perfectly with the starter you just made. The first-loaf guide→

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