Archives for October 2024

The Best Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe

October 29, 2024

This sourdough cinnamon swirl bread is so moist, sweet and delicious- like a from scratch cinnamon roll without all the work! Enjoy this simple sweet sourdough loaf swirling with all the rich flavors of brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.

Benefits of Sourdough

“Of course it’s healthy! It’s sourdough!”

I won’t try to say this is a true statement but if it’s sourdough (even smothered in sugar!) and from scratch it’s definitely “healthier” than anything you will buy on the grocery shelf.

Here’s why…

• Probiotic content.

Even with added sugars (I always suggest cane or natural sugar), you are still getting all the benefits of the probiotics in sourdough starter. You could say that it balances out the bad with some good, or at least is counteractive when it comes to gut health and sugar.

• From scratch is always healthier.

Even the “good” and “organic” brands just do not come close to from scratch food made right in your kitchen!

• Breakdown of Gluten.

Because of the fermentation process you can add to all sourdough recipes most people with gluten sensitivities and/or allergies/intolerance are able to digest sourdough recipes- even if they are made with flour containing gluten. This is because fermenting the dough allows the gluten to break down before your body has to digest it.

• Cost.

For a loaf of bread that you are getting at this kind of quality you would have to pay quite a bit at a bakery or market. But you can make this in your own kitchen! It’s simple and cost effective to learn.

Making Cinnamon Bread without Sourdough

This recipe can easily be converted to a yeast bread recipe. If for whatever reason you do not have starter available or if you do not do sourdough you can still follow those recipe by replacing the starter with yeast.

Did you know that anyone can learn how to make and maintain a sourdough starter? It doesn’t have to be complicated and you don’t need much to start! If you are interested in making your own starter now click here for step by step, day by day instructions. Want to make it easier in yourself? Click here to get our dehydrated sourdough starter packets made right here in your kitchen and taken from our tried and true, active starter!

To turn this recipe into a yeast bread simply sun out the sourdough starter with 2 1/2 tsp active, dry yeast and 1/2 cup warm water. Follow all the other instructions in the recipe. Rise times may need to be adjusted. Baking time should be similar (give or take five minutes depending on oven).

Making Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Only Natural Sugar

This recipe calls for brown sugar. However, as in all my recipes I like to make sure variations are available for everyone! If you want to make this recipe with only natural sugar follow the instructions below….

Use only honey or maple syrup in the bread batter.
For the cinnamon swirl substitute brown sugar with brown coconut sugar.

Making this recipe healthier using only natural sugar does not have to mean it skimps out in the taste department! You can enjoy healthy, and good food.

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Ingredients List

Here is a quick reference for a list of ingredients you will need to make sourdough cinnamon swirl bread…

Sourdough starter- active and bubbly is best but discard will work as well (expect less rise).
Warm water
Butter- salted is always best!
Eggs- points if they are farm fresh
Honey, maple syrup, or cane sugar
Baking powder
Salt
All-purpose flour
Cinnamon
Brown sugar or brown coconut sugar

As always, I hope you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to sign up for our email list at the bottom of the page for more from scratch recipes every week!

Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Tori Ruckman

A deliciously moist bread filled with swirls of rich, buttery brown sugar and cinnamon!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

Course bread, Dessert, Snack

Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients

Bread Batter

½ cup sourdough starter active and bubbly
½ cup warm water
¼ cup butter melted
¾ cup honey or cane sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

½ cup butter melted
1 ½ cup brown sugar or brown coconut sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Combine sourdough starter and warm water. Allow starter to dissolve in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Combine all bread batter ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer or add one at a time by hand. Mix until all the ingredients form a thick, wet batter. (You want a more battery constancy, not doughy.)
OPTIONAL: Allow the dough to ferment in the refrigerator overnight or for 8-12 hours. (See the section in the blog post about the benefits of sourdough and fermenting.) This step is completely optional. If you do not wish to ferment the dough skip this step.
Place batter in a well greased bread pan. Preheat oven to 350℉.
Mix butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl or in the bowl of the stand mixer. Texture should be thick and sugary. You may need to add 1-2 tbsp more of sugar to get the right thickness.
Pour the sugar mixture straight into the center of the pan of bread batter so that you have a long line all the way through the center.
Next, take a butter knife and zig/zag as you drag the knife through the batter and sugar mixture. This will create those delicious swirls. Swirl until your heart is content!
Place into the oven and bake at 350℉ for 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown. The center of the bread should be cooked through at this point although it will have a somewhat gooey texture because of the buttery swirls. Enjoy topped with cream cheese icing, with ice cream, or simply sliced as is!

Keyword cinnamon bread, cinnamon bread recipe, cinnamon swirl bread, dessert recipe, easy sourdough bread, fall dessert recipe, sourdough bread recipe, sourdough cinnamon bread, sourdough dessert recipe, sweet sourdough bread recipe

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How to Enjoy Motherhood in the Little Years

October 25, 2024

Hi littles mama! We see you- running around trying to keep all these little people alive. You’re doing a fantastic job by the way! Ever feel like you’re just trying to survive another day of motherhood? That if you can just make it to bedtime you might stay sane another day? We’ve definitely been there!

We are Tori and Anna. Moms of little people just like you! Currently between us we have three children- just turned two, about to turn one, and a ten month old. We definitely feel the crazy!

Just like you, we long to enjoy these days, not just become survivors of motherhood. These days are short, precious, and let’s be honest- sometimes they are hard. We long to make the most out of them and truly say on the other side of this season- “Wow! Those were good days!”

We are not pros. We definitely are still learning this thing of mothering little people. But we truly love it- and so can you! We’ve compiled a list of very practical, everyday scenarios and pain points that may help you navigate this season of little…

Leaving the House with Littles

This can be a major pain point as a new mom with a little, or two! Each new child you add changes the dynamic of getting out the door, in the car, then to and through the destination. We all know those moms who always get a sitter for grocery shopping or errand running. And hey- if that’s you, I don’t blame you a bit!

However some of us who do not live close to family or find getting out of the house for a bit a refreshment have to figure out how to do it with these little people.

I will say at first I found this complicated and somewhat frustrating. Even with just one baby it seemed impossible to get out the door smoothly and run an errand without interruption. Then about the time I (Tori) got it figured out with my first baby a second one came along and it was time to learn all over again!

Here are a few things we learned about leaving the house with littles absolutely dread free…

Plan plan plan, but be okay with your plan not working! Where are you going? How long do you expect to be gone? Will the baby/toddler need to eat within that time frame? What can you bring along to keep them busy? Thinking through all these things will help you plan your outing. Think through things like when your baby will need to eat. Add a bit of time for a nursing stop if you are breastfeeding. Then be okay if your plan has to change. Motherhood is constantly pivoting!
Homemade bottle warmer. We all have a thermal cup somewhere (or ten!). Boil water and place it in a thermos with a lid. This will serve as a bottle warning station that will allow you to quickly heat up a bottle any time you are out. You can even hear it up while you are driving and have a bottle ready to go when you reach your destination.
Know it’s going to take twice as long and just go with the flow. Keep your expectations low. Do not think you can cram all the things into one day. Look at your list of errands. See what absolutely must be done. Do those things first and if things are going well continue through your list until everyone is done.
Practice! It gets better. The more you go out with a baby, the better you’ll be at it. It’s hard, it’s really hard at first actually, but you’ll get better and soon it’ll be second nature. I (Anna) remember being terrified the first time I took my baby to the doctor without my husband. But now, baby is just my little errand buddy.
Train your toddler for parking lot safety. This was a terrifying thought for me (Tori) when it came to leaving with two under two. In fact I didn’t go in any stores for a few months. The logistics of getting two babies out of the car and into a cart safely was a bit stressful. I began by training my toddler when we got in/out of the car to hold the back tire beside me and to not move while I buckled her sister in. Now she instantly, without even being told (although I still remind her plenty!), will place both hands on the tire and wait until I get sister out and grab her hand.

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Enjoying God with Littles

God has a special way of meeting women and mothers where they are if they’ll make the effort to draw near to Him first. As mothers, we rarely get the opportunity to go spend five hours in the woods communing with God. Especially when you’re in the season of having littles. He understands this and will still meet with you while babies crawl around at your feet, and toddlers are smearing snot across the window. Make the effort, and He will honor it.

If you are already communing with The Lord, you’ll be grateful for what you catch at the back door bouncing a baby or in the nursery listening to babies screams overpower the speaker for the service.

Just do. With them, without them. Quiet, not quiet. If you’re waiting on the perfect circumstances you’ll rarely have time with God!
-Tori

Enjoying Church with Littles

A big part of enjoying church with littles will revolve around your daily walk with The Lord. If you treat church as your lifeline thrown to you while you’re drowning, you’ll die spiritually every time you have to step out of service with a baby. You’ll feel empty if you require filling in every service just to survive until the next. If you’ve been walking with God throughout your week, church will feel like a bonus to your spiritual life, not the only thing keeping you afloat. I’m not trying to discount the importance of being at and in church. What I mean is this, if you as a mother have no daily walk with The Lord and treat church like your spiritual lifeline thrown to you before you drown in your week, then you’ll grow cold and die when you miss a service taking your baby out. It has never and will never be the churches job to keep your closeness with God alive.

If you don’t want to live in the nursery, don’t start in the nursery!! If your baby learns that all they have to do is fuss a little, and they’ll get to go play in the nursery, then they’re going to fuss every service. If you were a child, would you rather sit still and be quiet or go play with toys? Babies will need to be taken out. We understand that, but don’t reward a behavior you don’t want to encourage. If I (Anna) have to take my baby out (and I do often), I address the issue (diaper, feeding, etc), and then we go right back in service. I stay in the back to be as little of a disturbance as possible, but we’re still in service. I also don’t let them down most of the time. I don’t want my babies to think they can whine a little and get out of sitting through church. Adopt this mindset when they’re babies, and you won’t have to retrain toddlers. Now, there are exceptions I make at times if I know they’ve had a particularly hard day stuck in the carseat, traveling, and such. Know your child’s limit.

*I (Tori) can 100% stand by this statement and method of child training. It is hard, hard work in the beginning. However, now as a mom of a two year old I can already testify to the benefits of early, immediate church training. She certainly still has her days but our toddler can now sit through a two hour church service generally still and quiet for her age.

We realize that adopting this mindset is hard. Most of the child training years you will not be getting a whole lot out of the service as you try to train your baby to stay quiet, be still, and do so with a good attitude. However, it will be so worth it on the other end! Keep the end goal in mind. Don’t focus on the “failures” of yesterday’s church service. Just keep training. Keep working and soon you will look back to see the benefits of your efforts!

Bonus Tip:
For the last several years as I have tried to keep my babies in church, I have made my goal “one thing”. If I can just get “one thing” out of the service, one phrase of the message, one verse that was read, one testimony that encourages me- often I can take that one thing into my week and God will use it to feed my soul as I dwell and meditate on that “one thing”. Of course I often get more than one thing as I am faithful to God’s House but even in the rough services of child training and children acting up He is always faithful to give me “one thing” as I am faithful to listen.
-Tori

Enjoying Who the Are

Learning their little quirks and personality traits can be so fun. Some of them can also be annoying. Learning the difference between what is just them and what is unacceptable behavior can be tricky. When it’s who they are just embrace it. Try to shape them without braking who God made them, even if some of who they are is conflicting with your personality!

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For example, one of my (Tori) children is a hardcore extrovert (much like her dad!). I am most definitely not. Even as a baby this girl would attract so much attention and she absolutely loved it while I stood in horror at the fact that I had to talk to all these random strangers she was winning over! So much of me wanted to squelch that. Make quick exits away from people. Until I realized that this little girl has a gift and it is not mine to take away or to dampen. This is who God made her! She brightens people’s day in a way that only she can and that is not just for my enjoyment alone. It is a gift plenty big enough for all she meets!

Children change so often as they grow that sometimes it can feel like waking up to a new person each day. Get excited about it, look forward to learning more about this little person you birthed. You have the “best seat in the house” for this show.
-Anna

Enjoying the Pace of Littles

Embrace the fact that it is going to take you five times longer to do anything you did before having babies. It’s ok, in fact I believe it should be celebrated. I truly believe God designed this pace for mothers. When you embrace it, you will learn how to enjoy it. You will stay stressed and become bitter with your children if you have the mindset that they’re constantly slowing you down.

I (Tori) am a go-getter. I have to constantly have a project (or twelve!). As a new mom I almost felt so “held back” because this little person would not just let me do all the things! As the years have gone by I have both developed a flow so that I am able to have those life-giving projects while still keeping these little at the forefront of my priorities. After all, they are my funnest “project”!

I say all that for the mom who feels like she’s lost herself in motherhood. In many ways you have and that is not at all a bad thing. It is a beautiful, natural part of motherhood the way God designed it. If you feel a bit lost, just know, there are ways to develop a flow for those things that you enjoy. You may just find as your children get older those are the things they will adopt to enjoy as well!

“The more you fight against the season you’re in the less joy you will find in it.”

Embrace the slower pace, the night wakings, the sticky messes and you’ll find beauty in the hard places.
-Anna

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How to Make the Perfect Sourdough Pumpkin Loaf

October 15, 2024

This delicious sourdough pumpkin shaped loaf is the perfect mixture of soft inside with a slightly crunchy crust! Add pumpkin purée to make it a true pumpkin loaf or turn our regular artisan bread recipe into a beautiful pumpkin. Get all the instructions you need below!

Pumpkin Season

It’s pumpkin time!! I am fully determined to embrace the seasons this year and it’s no different in the kitchen. Every week I’m adding to my collection of fall recipes here on the blog in celebration of the “Fallidays”.

Whether you like pumpkin flavored things or you are firmly against, this sourdough loaf is for you!

Make it true pumpkin style by adding purée and pumpkin spice or keep it low-key with the looks. Either way, this loaf is delicious and the perfect addition to your favorite fall recipes.

Don’t forget to join our email list so you don’t miss out on all the tastes of fall this season!

Sourdough Starter

Unfortunately this is a sourdough only recipe. But the good news is if you haven’t quite boarded the sourdough train yet you are not too late! I sell dehydrated sourdough starter in my shop.

In just three days you can be making this sourdough pumpkin loaf and other delicious recipes right in your own kitchen!

Blog readers can get 20% off their order when you use code BLOG20 at checkout.

Click the link here to visit the shop!

Getting the Perfect Pumpkin Shape

This sourdough pumpkin loaf may look complex but achieving the perfect pumpkin shape is quite simple. Follow these instructions to get the best results!

Twine works best. Flexible twine works best for getting the right shape without leaving behind residue in your bread.
Coat your twine in oil. For best results removing the twine I highly recommend coating your twine in a bit of coconut oil or butter. The twine will somewhat bake into the bread, this is totally fine. However, the removal process can be quite tricky. The oil helps the twine slide right out without damaging your pretty pumpkin loaf.
Four strings is best. For an accurate representation, four strings or more for tying your loaf up is recommended. Anything under four seems to make the load look unrealistic. (Four strings makes eight indentations.)

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Click here to shop!

Make them slightly uneven. Placing your strings slightly uneven around the pumpkin gives it a more accurate appearance. Look at a pumpkin…the sections are rarely in perfect precision.
Allow the dough to refrigerate before tying. Getting the dough cool before tying and scouring is key in this recipe. The best way to do this is to allow the dough to chill for an hour while the Dutch oven is heating for one hour.

The Perfect Size

This recipe will make a standard size pumpkin loaf. It is perfect for slicing for sandwich bread or turning into a companion for soups/chilis during the cold seasons. A smaller loaf can be turned into a soup bread bowl (great for dipping!) as pictured below!

Simply cut out the middle and add whatever soup or dip you desire! Serve with the cut out middle portion, other bread, or tortilla chips.

Make a larger loaf by adding 1/2 cup more sourdough starter and 1/2 cup more water than what this recipe calls for. You will likely need to add more flour. Keep the other ingredients as is. You will achieve a very large pumpkin loaf about twice the size as the standard version this recipe calls for.
Make a smaller, soup bowl loaf by using only 1/4 cup sourdough starter and 1/4 cup water. You will need less flour. This gives you a small loaf perfect for a small family or a pretty pumpkin soup/dip bowl.

Adding Flavor to Your Sourdough Pumpkin

As stated, this sourdough loaf is as delicious as it is pretty- with or without -any added flavors. This recipe gives you the basic loaf but adding flavors is quite simple when you follow these guidelines…

Adding Pumpkin

When adding the pumpkin flavor you will keep everything in the recipe as is except for flour and honey/sweetener of choice. When you add the pumpkin purée this adds moisture to the recipe and you have to adjust the amount of flour so the dough is not too wet. Because you are going for a sweeter vs savory loaf adding about 1/4-1/2 cup more sweetener is recommended. I would also recommend adding 1-2 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin spice for additional flavor.

Adding other Flavors

This load would make a great chocolate bread as well. Simple add cocoa powder, cane sugar, and chocolate chips. Pecans would also be a great, seasonally appropriate choice. Try mixing apples into the dough during the stretch and fold process for delicious apple bread! The possibilities are endless.

Tips for Making a Sourdough Pumpkin Loaf

Making this sourdough pumpkin loaf is really quite simple but here are some tips to achieve the best results…

Use active, peak rise starter.
Allow the dough to ferment for up to 8 hours unrefridgerated or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.
Pre-heat Dutch oven for 1 hour on 400 degrees Fahrenheit before baking the bread.
After stretching and folding allow the dough to chill in the refrigerator for one hour (during Dutch oven pre-heat). Do not shape or score until after chilling.
Use at least 4 strings in the shaping process and arrange them slightly off center.
Bake for 20 minutes with the lid on and 20 minutes with the lid off.

Ingredients

As always I like to include an ingredients/shopping list so you know you have all you need before hand. You can copy and paste this list to your notes before you go to the grocery store.

Sourdough Starter (at least one cup)

Warm water

Baking Powder (3tbsp)

Honey or sweetener of choice (1tbsp)

Salt (2 tsp)

All-purpose, unbleached flour (up to 3 cups)

I hope you enjoy this recipe. This lovely loaf is great for parties, home decor, and of course- eating! Please share your thoughts, comments, and questions below. We love hearing from you!

Sourdough Pumpkin Loaf

A delicious, and beautiful loaf of sourdough bread shaped in a pumpkin! Perfect for parties, soup bread bowls, and more. Add pumpkin puree and extra sweetener to make it as a dessert!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Fermentation Time 8

Total Time 8 50

Course bread, Dessert, Side Dish, Soup

Servings 1 standard size loaf

Equipment

1 Dutch Oven

Ingredients

1 cup active, bubbly sourdough starter
¾ cup warm water
3 tsp baking powder optional; for softness
1 tbsp honey or sweetener of choice
2 tsp salt
2 ½-3 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour

Instructions

Combine sourdough starter and warm water. Allow to completely dissolve (about five minutes) then stir.
Add honey, baking powder, salt, and 2 cups of flour. Mix well. (Recipe has been tested by stand mixer and by hand.) Add 1/4 cup flour until the dough is slightly sticky but firm.
Cover the dough and allow to rise on the counter for one hour.
REFRIGERATION FERMENT: If you plan to refrigerate your dough throughout the fermentation process or longer than 8 hours shape your dough into a ball. Cover with a damp tea towel and allow to ferment in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. After the ferment begin 3 rounds of stretch and folds every 30 minutes to an hour. This is the best option for a loaf that is begun in the evening.
COUNTER FERMENT: If you want the process to go a bit faster you can skip the refrigerator fermentation and combine fermentation with stretch and folds. Shape the dough into a ball and place on the counter in a covered bowl for about 3 hours. Then begin a round of stretch and folds every hour for the next 3-4 hours. This will give a total of 8 hours fermentation time while stretch and folds are performed making it quicker. This is the best option for a loaf that is begun in the morning or early afternoon.
After fermentation and stretch and folds shape the dough into a ball. Allow the dough to chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
While dough is chilling, allow the dutch oven to pre-heat for 1 hour at 400℉.
While dough is chilling cut 4 pieces of twine. The length should be about 12 inches. Dip the twine into melted butter or coconut oil for best results (this helps the twine to come out easier and cleaner). Allow the butter or oil to solidify (this process can be sped up when twine is placed in the refrigerator or freezer). Now your twine is ready to use.
Place twine in a snowflake-like pattern (see pic). The shaping is best if they are slightly unevenly placed, it gives a more realistic look.
Flour the surface and string, then place ball of dough in the center (see pic).
Take the two strings opposite one another and tie around the dough in the center (see pic). Continue to do this all the way around the dough until all the strings have been tied. Transfer the dough to the pre-heated dutch oven.
Score the dough in whatever pattern you choose. You do not need a main score line because the strings will allow the dough to expand properly.
Cover the dutch oven with the lid and bake for 20 minutes at 400℉.
Bake and additional 20 minutes at 400℉ with the dough uncovered.
After the dough has cooled for around 15-20 minutes, remove the strings carefully.

Keyword artisan sourdough, fall sourdough recipe, pumpkin, sourdough, sourdough pumpkin bread, sourdough pumpkin loaf

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6 Reasons Knowing Jesus Makes Motherhood Different

October 11, 2024

I did not know when I got saved as a nineteen year old, unmarried young woman how much I would need God for motherhood. Today, as a young mom of two littles, I cannot even begin to imagine doing life apart from God- especially in this season of motherhood. Together, Anna and I compiled a list of just a few specific areas that knowing Christ has completely made a difference in the area of motherhood. We pray this will encourage you if you are a mother who knows Jesus. You are not in this thing alone! If you do not know Christ, have never trusted Jesus as your Saviour and repented of your sins, we pray this post will bring you to that place of understanding and that you will turn to Him.

-Tori

Salvation

Just knowing Him makes all the difference- in marriage, in motherhood, in all of life! I am no longer the person I was before I knew Jesus. I have the ability, in Him, to face every day, every challenge with peace, joy, and self control. Do I always choose this? No. But do I have this power in Him- yes!!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

Let me paint you a picture. As a nineteen year old girl I (Tori) was lost, confused, and so lonely. You would not know by looking at me. I looked pretty good on the outside. I grew up in church. I was honestly trying to be a good Christian. But I was doing it all apart from Christ. On the inside I was full of sun that I had no victory over. I was dirty and I knew it with no wat to cleanse myself of who I was- believe me, I tried! I was in constant turmoil with, never at rest. That is exactly the mother I would be today if it was not for salvation!

I cannot imagine facing all the challenges of life without a Refuge. Motherhood is beautiful. It is such a joy! Yet, if you are a mother you know that in all that joy there are times of darkness, lonely times, and fearful times. Trying to fathom facing every day life without an Anchor and a Rock is nearly impossible to comprehend!

When little people are coming to you for all the answers, it’s a privilege to have access to The One who actually has all the answers. I can’t imagine trying to raise babies with only my own wisdom to rely on. Salvation makes all the difference in your motherhood journey.
-Anna

Prayer

A benefit of salvation- knowing Christ and living in fellowship with Him, is being able to go to God at any time through prayer. Though many of us do not fully grasp the fullness of this blessing all those who know the Lord would tell you that without prayer life would be impossible. Being able to take anything to Him at any time as a mother brings so much comfort! (Read Hebrews 4:15-16)

I literally cannot imagine motherhood without the fellowship with God through prayer. It makes all the difference on the hard days, when my attitude isn’t what it should be, when things aren’t how I think they should be, when I’m not enough, when I feel lonely. Just the fact that I can take everything to Him- and He’ll never be over-burdened with my crazy mess! As the song says…

“What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”

A Place to Go with all the Decisions

From the beginning of my pregnancy and even before really, my husband and I tried to bathe our baby in prayer.
One specific example of the importance of prayer in motherhood/pregnancy in my journey would be our choice to go with a hospital birth for our first baby. We debated between birth center, hospital, and homebirth, and though I wanted as least intervention as possible, I couldn’t get peace about a homebirth or birth center. We felt peace with a hospital birth, and specifically one with a NICU. I’m so thankful that we sought God’s wisdom because He knew where we needed to be. I ended up with PROM and delivered my preemie at 36 weeks.
-Anna

Learning to Lean on God Through the Power of Prayer as a Mother

Learning to lean on God through the power of prayer makes all the difference. Taking everything to Him throughout your pregnancy, birth, the newborn months, and everything beyond!

Prayer literally carried me (Tori) through labor. Not in a creepy or mystical way. Just knowing that someone who has gone through the most intense pain, the Maker of my body, and the one in complete control was with me.

Motherhood can get the label of being lonely. I get it, I’ve absolutely been there. But what if all the times you seemed lonely were the beckonings of a Holy God looking to commune with you. Instead of crying in the loneliness, what if you drew closer to The Father?

Mama, if you don’t know Jesus, TRULY know Jesus. If you have never turned from sin and asked Him to save you, then you have no access to Him in prayer. No matter how “good” you are. If you have never trusted in Him to be your everything you have no Lifeline in this crazy world of motherhood.
-Tori

Your Ministry of Prayer

Prayer isn’t just a privilege, although it certainly is! Prayer as a mother is your ministry. If you do not take the initiative to pray for your babies, who will?

There is great power in a mothers prayer. Not that mothers have some greater position with The Lord. But there’s something about the travail of a mama praying for her babies. That great love being poured out in an earnest plea before The Lord for her babies, and her home. It’s a passion unrivaled, in my opinion.
-Anna

The Bible

My Bible is EVERYTHING in motherhood! From the time that little line turns pink, through pregnancy, labor, and mothering littles- it has held me, carried me, guided my every step, and has never failed to help me mother my children.

We all hear it, “They don’t come with a guide book!” Mama, if you know Jesus, have a Bible, and you read it- THIS IS NOT TRUE! He did not give us these babies and leave us helpless. We HAVE a guidebook!

Whether you feel the effects of the Word in the moment or you feel nothing- read it!! You never know when things will suddenly help you down the road. You will look back after times of struggle and coldness to find that as you were faithful to read Gods Word is what propped you up all along. There are so many promises and directions given to mothers, specifically in The Bible.

This world will try to tell you that you can have your own truth. That anything you want to perceive as truth can be truth. I’m so grateful that’s not the case. I get overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated at times. My emotions can get the best of me. I don’t want to trust in me. It’s a blessing to have God’s Word to come to that I can trust in and get guidance. Trying to navigate motherhood without it would end in disaster.

Self Sacrifice

In being a mother, you are laying your needs and desires down to serve your family. It’s easy to fall prey to the snare of selfish desire and discontentment if you let your flesh lead. But if you’ll walk daily with The Lord and follow as He leads, you’ll find He’ll show you a beautiful mirror of how He cares for you in how He is teaching you to care for your babies. Sacrificing yourself to this calling is the most rewarding and fulfilling task you could ever do in life. Without knowing The Lord you can never understand the depth of dying to yourself daily and the fulfillment that comes with it. When following Him, it won’t even feel like a sacrifice as He makes your joy in Him so full! (Read Philippians 2:4-8)

Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

Do any of you Mamas ever need to be gentle or longsuffering in your motherhood journey? Yeah, that’s what I thought. How about love? Do you think love is essential in motherhood? All of the fruits of the Spirit are essential in motherhood. Trying to operate as a mother without Christ in your heart will produce burnout, frustration, and even resentment towards your family. Salvation is the most important decision you will make, and it will affect your entire home in ways you can’t begin to imagine.

The Church

I see women online all of the time looking for “their tribe” or trying to find friendship in motherhood. It’s an issue I never even realized was a problem for women because I’ve always been a part of a local church. I’ve built life-long relationships through being joined with the body of believers. If you’re not saved, you won’t feel that pull to God’s people. You’ll find you’re more comfortable with secular friendships. This will open up your children to secular influence at a very young age. Much before they’re able to “handle it” like you. This will cost your home a great price. More than you even realize in this moment.

The church is a priceless blessing as a mama. If you have littles you may feel like it is just not worth it right now. I’m sad to admit, I’ve been there. But it is so worth it! The fellowship of likeminded believers, mama’s just like you, and sisters who share in our struggles is a precious thing to be apart of! Raising our babies around people who truly love them (because they know God they know what true live is!!) is something you just can’t find anywhere else in the world.

We hope if you are a Christian that these things serve as reminders and encouragement for you in your motherhood journey! Never take for granted what we have in Christ. Let these things be your source of strength today, Mama. We have it all in Him!
-Anna and Tori

[jetpack-related-posts]

One Pot Chicken Vegetable and Rice Soup Recipe

October 8, 2024

Enjoy this simple, quick, and easy one pot chicken vegetable and rice soup seasoned with fresh fall herbs! This low-mess, no stress recipe is sure to be one of your fall go to’s for an easy from scratch meal made in the comforts of home. Learn all about how to make this delicious soup completely from scratch!

An Adaptable Soup Recipe

It does not get more adaptable than this soup recipe! You can add whatever vegetables you happen to have on hand. I have called this my refrigerator clean out recipe! If you are needing to use vegetables you need to add this zero waste recipe to the top of your list.

I have made this with every thing from onions, carrots, celery, squash, zucchini, peppers- you name it! Each time the result is unique and delicious. The reason for this is that although you may be using different vegetables they often take on whatever flavor of the broth and herbs/spices you are using. That is where your overall flavor comes from.

Things like butternut squash, pumpkin, leaks, and other extremely flavorful vegetables will however change the flavor significantly! This is a choose your own adventure kind of recipe- let us know what you used and how it turned out in the comments. We love hearing from you!

Have you heard of my friends over at Earthley Wellness? They are dedicated to providing 100% natural products for the whole family! They have everything you need from hormone support, vitamins and mineral supplements, herbal remedies for colds, fevers, headaches, and so much more. I have been using their products in our home for nearly a year now and we love them! Go check them out and save 10% when you use my link below and the code HELLONATURAL at checkout!
Click Here to Shop

How to Make Your Own Broth to Use in Soup Recipes

Making your own broth for soup makes this recipe a true, completely from scratch adventure! Learning to make your own broth is easy and so fulfilling. The steps are simple….

Cook your whole chicken (use beef soup bones for beef broth).
Gather the bones and skin and add to a stockpot or crockpot. You may add vegetable scraps as well for extra flavor!
Boil on medium-high heat for 8-12 hours.
Store in glass jars in the refrigerator for up to four months to use in soups, sauces, and more!

Check out this recipe for how to make Gut Healing Bone Broth to use in your soup recipes!

Perfectly Paired with Sourdough Discard Breadsticks

This soup recipe and any other soup recipe is perfectly paired with this recipe for sourdough discard breadsticks. These breadsticks can be made with active or discard sourdough. They are fluffy, buttery, and full of flavor!

This breadstick recipe can be turned into cheese bread, garlic knots, and more- perfect for any soup sidekick. If you want to learn how to make your own sourdough starter, the simple way, click here! You could be making these fresh breadsticks with your soup in just a couple days after you begin making your from scratch starter.

Ingredients for Chicken Vegetable and Rice Soup

As always, I like to give you a basic run down of everything you will need for the recipe. This can be doubled as a grocery list. Simply copy and paste to your phone’s notes for all the ingredients you will need to make this chicken vegetable and rice soup!

24 oz chicken broth
2 whole chicken breasts
vegetables on hand (onions, carrots, celery, garlic, squash, and zucchini are best!)
1 cup white or brown rice
salt
pepper
additional seasoning of choice (recommend- thyme, garlic salt, cayenne, sage, chili powder, paprika)

Again, this recipe is extremely adaptable! Use your tastebuds to create the perfect soup for your family. Make this one pot recipe completely zero waste by using up the vegetables you have on hand. Below in the recipe box I will give exact measurements and ingredients that I used to make the soup pictured.

One Pot Chicken Vegetable and Rice Soup

This delicious low-mess and no stress soup recipe is just what you need to add to your list of fall favorites! Easily adapt the recipe to match your taste and ingredients you have available.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Course dinner, Main Course, Soup

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

24 oz chicken broth
2 chicken breasts cubed
1 cup rice
1 squash diced
1 onion chopped
2-3 carrots peeled and sliced
2-3 celery stalks sliced thinly
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp thyme
1 ½ tsp sage

Instructions

Bring chicken broth to a boil as you begin cutting chicken breasts into bite size cubes.
Add chicken and rice.
Add in vegetables as chopping.
Allow to boil for 15-20 minutes then adjust temperature to a simmer (low/medium heat).
Serve soup after allowing to cool slightly.

Keyword chicken and rice soup recipe, chicken soup, chicken vegetable and rice soup, easy chicken soup recipe, easy soup recipe, fall soup recipe, from scratch recipe, from scratch soup recipe, one pot soup recipe, soup, soup recipe

Want more fall favorites to add to your list this year? Check out he links below and make sure to join our email list for weekly updates and all the real food recipes!

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Apple Cinnamon Rolls: A Simple and Delicious Fall Recipe

October 1, 2024

Bite into these warm, fluffy cinnamon rolls stuffed with buttery apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon- topped with deliciously smooth frosting! These are a sure to become a fall tradition and one of your favorite “just because I’m craving it” recipes.

My Obsession with the Taste of Fall: Apples, Cinnamon, Pumpkin!

Give me all the apples, cinnamon, pumpkin, warm soup, campfire food….I am obsessed with the taste of fall this season! I do not remember getting this much in the fall spirit before now but here we are. Maybe it is apart of my growing desire to embrace every season- seasons of life, seasons of motherhood, the literal seasons. I want to embrace them all!

Because that is where I am in life, that also translate to the blog- because here we are all about real life!

So whether you are here to just snatch a good recipe or you are looking for a community to join while embracing all the seasons yourself, welcome. Here on our cozy little space on the internet we are all about giving you resources to enjoy all the seasons of life with recipes, homemaking, and encouragement through motherhood! Be sure to join our email list so you do not miss out on new posts, updates, and all the resources. (P.s.- we honor your inbox! No over-emailing, spam, or junk- EVER!)

Choosing Your Apples for Baking This Season

Don’t get me wrong- you could probably use just about any apple variety and these apple cinnamon rolls would still taste delicious! However, when you are choosing apples for baking this season here is some guidance for choosing the best for your recipes…

Sweet varieties like Macintosh, Fuji, and Red Delicious tend to become overly mushy when using them to bake with for pies, apple rolls, etc. These are better suited for apple butters and sauces because they break down more than other varieties.
Sour, tart apples like Green Apples and Granny Smith have great texture but they lack the sweetness you want in baking.
So the best answer is a sweet/mildly tart variety such as- Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady.
If you are having trouble finding certain varieties you can also mix and match a sweet apple with a sour apple and achieve great results!

Have you heard of my friends over at Earthley Wellness? They are dedicated to providing 100% natural products for the whole family! They have everything you need from hormone support, vitamins and mineral supplements, herbal remedies for colds, fevers, headaches, and so much more. I have been using their products in our home for nearly a year now and we love them! Go check them out and save 10% when you use my link below and the code HELLONATURAL at checkout!
Click Here to Shop

The texture is key! Personally my favorite is Honey Crisp. Not only are they great unbaked but they hold up well throughout the baking process and tend to achieve the perfect flavor when mixed with all the things- cinnamon, apple spice, brown sugar, etc.

Want another apple recipe to try this fall? Go check out my recipe for sourdough apple cinnamon muffins!

How to Make a Better Cinnamon Roll

I have tried a LOT of cinnamon roll recipes over the years and it took me a while to achieve results that were truly satisfying. Problems like- overly yeasty rolls, too dense, rubbery, and other flops just about made me give up the cinnamon roll game for good. These are some things I learned that helped me get a better result with my homemade cinnamon rolls…

Trust the rising process, not the amount of yeast! Overdoing the yeast can really mess with the flavor of your rolls. If you have had issues with getting dough to rise you may be thinking, “I’ll just use more yeast next time.” In my experience more yeast is rarely the answer! Instead focus on fixing your rise problems.
Troubleshooting rise problems. If the rises on your cinnamon roll dough are taking forever or you just are not getting a good rise at all here are a few ways to fix that. Temperature- the best rises are achieved in a warm place. In my experience, anywhere from 72-80 degrees is best. If your house is not that warm try placing your dough to rise in a high place like on top of the refrigerator. Or your stovetop while the oven is heated to about 350 degrees. If you still are not achieving good results heat your oven to 200 for about 10 minutes. Turn it off and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This will create a warm environment for your dough to rise in without baking it or overly warming the dough.
You want a slightly wet, sticky dough. Yes, this makes it a bit of a pain to work with but the results are worth it! If your dough is overly worked and dry you are going to have another dense cinnamon roll not worth eating. If you are having trouble working with the sticky dough try wetting your hands. This will prevent it from sticking to you. Flour the surface and rolling pin well to prevent sticking to surfaces.
Butter! I really thing the key to a good cinnamon roll is all in the butter. You just are not going to achieve a good, flakey, chewy roll without all the butter! And the technique is everything. Cutting in the butter like this recipe explains will give your rolls that perfect texture.

Apple Cinnamon Roll Sidekick

Apple cinnamon rolls are best paired with a cup of coffee! You can check out this blog post with five of my favorite at home coffee recipes. Hot or iced, a cup of coffee takes this dessert to the next level!

Let’s chat a minute about my favorite at home coffee brand this season. Seven Weeks coffee makes the best, most flavorful coffee I have ever tasted! The smoothness is unmatched!! The best part- they support my pro-life values by donating 10% of every sale to pro-life causes. Their coffee is direct traded from farmers and is roasted weekly to ensure you get the freshest quality!

If you want a non-toxic, chemical free cup of coffee that also supports the life of the unborn go give my friends at Seven Weeks a try! You can get 10% off when you use my link and the code TORI10. Click the pic below to shop!

Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.
Click Here to Shop!

Ingredients List for Apple Cinnamon Rolls

As with all my more recent recipes I love to include an ingredient list so you know at one glance what you need to make this recipe. This list can double as a grocery list, simply screen shot and head to the store!

Active dry yeast (1 tbsp- purchase jar for best results; not packets)
Whole milk (1 1/2 cup)
Cane sugar (or regular; 3/4 cup)
2 eggs
vanilla (optional if unavailable; 1 tsp)
baking powder (5 tsp)
salt (1 tsp)
flour (4 1/2 cups + 1 tbsp)
butter (1 cup; 2 sticks)
brown sugar (1/2 cup + 3 tbsp)
cinnamon (2 1/2 tsp)
3-4 apples (honey crisp, pink lady, or golden delicious for best results)

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Delicious, chewy rolls stuffed with apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar- topped with gooey frosting!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 4 30

Cook Time 25

Total Time 4 55

Course Dessert

Servings 28 rolls

Equipment

2 9×13 pans

Ingredients

Roll Dough Ingredients

1 tbsp active, dry yeast
1½ cup warm milk or water
¾ cup cane sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cold, grated butter

Apple Filling Ingredients

3-4 large apples honey crisp, pink lady, or golden delicious are best
¼ cup butter
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Brown Sugar Filling Ingredients

¼ cup butter melted
½ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
½ tsp cinnamon

Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar
3-4 tbsp milk

Instructions

Begin by combining yeast and warm milk. Allow to dissolve completely, about 5-10 minutes.
Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla to stand mixer bowl. (You can mix by hand or with a hand mixer as well.)
Add baking powder, salt, and two cups of flour to mixer and mix on low speed with a dough hook. Add 1/2 cup of flour and bits of grated butter at a time until the rest has been incorporated. Dough should be slightly sticky, barely pulling away from the edges of the bowl.
Roll dough into a ball on a well floured surface. Wetting your hands may help transfer the sticky dough. Place dough in a bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place about 2 hours.
While dough is rising, peel and slice apples.
Dice apples and heat in a skillet on medium-low heat. Add butter. Once apples are cooked and chewy (takes about 15 minutes) add brown sugar and cinnamon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Next, make your brown sugar mixture. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a bowl.
After apples have cooled add them to the brown sugar mixture.
After dough has risen roll it out to about 1/4 in thickness on a well floured surface. (Flour the rolling pin as well to keep dough from sticking.)
Spread the apple/brown sugar mixture across the surface of the rolled out dough.
Using a bench scraper or a pizza cutter cut the dough into approximately 1 ½ x 8 inch strips. SEE PICTURE.
Roll the strips and place in a greased 9×13 pan, allowing space in between rolls for rising.
Allow rolls to rise about one hour or until nearly doubled.
Bake at 350 ℉ for about 20-30 minutes.
Allow rolls to cool 15-20. While rolls are cooling make frosting by combining confectioner's sugar and milk with a hand mixer. Pour over cooled rolls.

Keyword apple cinnamon roll, apple roll, cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll recipe, cinnamon roll with frosting, fall recipe, large batch cinnamon roll recipe, yeast cinnamon roll recipe

Recipes