Back to the Root

08/15/2025

This is the dream 🦆🥚🐔🐮🍅🌸🍞

08/10/2025

Sunday—sourdough day!
Blueberry lemon, jalapeño cheddar, and bacon cheddar still in the oven. 😋

08/08/2025

07/13/2025

Jalapeño cheddar sourdough and chicken tortilla soup! Recipe for the soup in the photos 🥘

07/13/2025

Small garden haul!

07/13/2025

Chicken loves on the walk back from the garden 🐤 🌱 ♥️

07/10/2025

Zucchini and cheddar sourdough!

415g flour
250g water
80g sourdough starter
8g salt
Add 1 cup each shredded zucchini and shredded cheddar (more or less depending on how much you want!) during stretch and folds

450 F for 30 mins (covered)
15 mins uncovered or until inside temp reaches 200 F

07/10/2025

4.9 lbs of shredded zucchini from the garden, now in 5 loaves of bread and it’s only 9:30am 🙃
GLUTEN FREE recipe below (you can use regular flour if you prefer, omit the xanthan gum) ⬇️

🍞 Easy Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

Moist, one-bowl, freezer-friendly
🕒 Total time: ~1 hour
🍴 Yields: 1 loaf

⸻

✅ Ingredients:
• 1½ cups gluten-free flour blend (with xanthan gum, or add ½ tsp separately)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg (optional)
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup oil (avocado, coconut, or light olive)
• ½ cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar or maple syrup)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ cups grated zucchini, moisture squeezed out
• Optional: ½ cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips

⸻

🔪 Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease a 9×5 loaf pan or line with parchment.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl:
GF flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg.
3. Whisk wet ingredients in another bowl:
Eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla. Stir in the grated zucchini.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir until just combined — don’t overmix.
Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using.
5. Pour into pan and smooth the top.
6. Bake for 45–55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
(Check at 45; cover loosely with foil if browning too fast.)
7. Cool in pan for 10 mins, then transfer to a rack.

⸻

🌱 Tips:
• This bread freezes beautifully! Wrap slices in parchment and freeze in a bag.
• You can also make muffins: Bake at 350°F for 18–22 minutes.

03/30/2025

The Midwest is finally starting to bloom!
Where are YOU located? ⬇️

03/30/2025

Azodicarbonamide, or ADA, is a “chemical foaming agent” used in plastics… and baked goods.

While the FDA deems this industrial chemical safe in moderation, the World Health Organization has raised concerns about its safety and associated health risks.

Some tips to reduce ADA exposure:
🥖 Buy local – smaller bakeries are less likely to use ADA.
🥖 Go organic when possible – ADA is not allowed in USDA organic foods.
🥖 Check ingredient labels – look for ADA, either spelled out or abbreviated.
🥖 Consult EWG’s Food Scores database to find ADA-free products.
🥖 Support any local legislation to ban ADA.
🥖 Advocate for food manufacturers to remove ADA from their products.

Read more: https://ewg.life/3FLM8ao

02/20/2025

Herb of the week!
Plantain 🌱 Plantago major

Medicinal Uses and Benefits:

Wound Healing: Plantain leaves can be applied topically to cuts, bruises, and insect bites to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory Properties: The herb contains compounds that may help reduce inflammation in the body, making it useful for conditions like arthritis.

Antimicrobial Effects: Plantain has been shown to possess antimicrobial properties, which can help fight infections.

Respiratory Health: It is often used in herbal remedies for coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments due to its soothing effects on mucous membranes.

Digestive Aid: Plantain can help soothe the digestive tract, making it beneficial for conditions like gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Diuretic Properties: The herb may act as a mild diuretic, helping to promote urination and support kidney function.

Skin Health: The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it effective for treating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Rich in Nutrients: Plantain leaves are high in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and potassium, contributing to overall health.

Culinary Uses:

Edible Leaves: Young plantain leaves can be consumed raw in salads or cooked as a green vegetable. They have a mild flavor.

Plantain Seeds: The seeds can be ground and used as a nutritional supplement or added to smoothies and baked goods.

Teas and Infusions: Dried plantain leaves can be brewed into herbal teas for their health benefits.

Other Uses:

Natural Dye: The leaves can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics.

Animal Feed: Plantain is often used as forage for livestock due to its high nutritional value.

Gardening: Plantain can be used as a cover crop to improve soil health and prevent erosion.