Meet Your Ultimate Kitchen Multitasker: Homemade Greek Yogurt

In the world of handy homemade kitchen companions, Greek yogurt is a real stand out. In my home, we’re never without this indispensable multitasker. No exaggeration, I use it every day in one way or another. Greek yogurt’s lovely thick consistency makes it a versatile workhorse in both sweet and savory dishes — and everything in between.

Za’atar

Add a bit of Middle Eastern flare to your culinary creations with za’atar, a distinctive and complex spice blend that is both aromatic and savory, with yummy hints of tanginess and nuttiness.

Bella Limone Homemade Italian Dressing Mix

Anyone who’s been following Redheaded Herbalist for a minute, knows I’m a big fan of creating my own spice blends and dry mixes. All too often, commercial mixes come with a hefty price tag for what you get (not to mention a list of unpronounceable ingredients and additives). This Italian dressing mix is another kitchen staple that I’ve been making for a long time. It’s a lovely blend of traditional Italian herbs with just a touch of heat and a twist of dried lemon peel. Obviously, we use it to make a quick vinaigrette for leafy or pasta salads, but it also has tons of uses outside the salad bowl.

“Balanced Bliss” Adaptogen Hot Cocoa Mix

Commercial hot cocoa mixes, while convenient, typically contain high levels of refined sugar (and/or artificial sweeteners), corn syrup solids, GMOs, hydrogenated oils artificial flavors and other highly processed ingredients. We can do better than that! It’s super-easy and cost-effective to make your own healthier hot cocoa blends using high quality ingredients. This recipe combines cocoa powder and maple sugar (aka dehydrated maple syrup) with a selection of adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms, which create a lovely, complex flavor in addition to giving the hot cocoa an added health boost.

Fermented Hot Honey

Hot honey is one of those culinary wonders that is just as home in the medicine cabinet as it is in the kitchen. Melding the sweetness of honey with the spicy heat of peppers, fermented hot honey creates a unique and complex, yet well-balanced flavor profile. The result is a glorious spicy ambrosia that has countless culinary and medicinal uses!

Easy GAPS-Friendly Cranberry Sauce for the Instant Pot

Ready or not, the holiday season kicks off in 3… 2…. 1… Here’s another simple and clean recipe for your holiday spread: honey-sweetened cranberry sauce for the Instant Pot. This one also happens to be GAPS friendly for stage-6 introduction and beyond. (Woot!)

Ditch the Packets & Make Your Own Healthy, Homemade Ranch Mix

Calling all Ranch lovers!

Ranch is the all-purpose condiment most of us grew up dunking into. It’s a classic that goes with everything from dressings and dips to marinades and seasonings. Honestly, is there anything Ranch dressing can’t make better?

But have you ever actually looked at the ingredient list on those seasoning packets? Yeah… it’s not pretty.

Better than “Jiffy” Cornbread Mix​

This cleaned-up copycat cornbread mix is so easy to whip up in advance and store in a jar in the refrigerator until needed. Toss some vegetables in it for a quick breading (my Texas-born husband is crazy about pan fried okra!) or combine the mix with an egg and buttermilk, and you’ve got yourself a fast and easy cornbread, corn muffins, corn casserole or cornmeal fritters. The sky’s the limit!

Maple-Cinnamon Butter & Quick Baked Apples

For those nights when a little dessert would hit the spot, but you simply don’t have the time to throw anything complicated together, allow me to introduce you to your new secret weapon:

maple-cinnamon butter

Whip up a jar ahead of time and keep it on hand for creating quick, delicious and healthy baked fruit desserts in no time flat.

Quick Pickled Banana Peppers

The garden peppers are still rolling in! This week, we’re processing banana peppers, which are, hands down, one of my favorite mild peppers to grow.