If you’ve ever wondered what I actually use in my kitchen day in and day out, this is for you! 😉
I get messages all the time asking about my favorite tools, ingredients, and trustworthy brands that make cooking from scratch feel more doable. So today I’m sharing the things I genuinely reach for every. single. day.
To be clear, this is not a picture-perfect kitchen list. It’s a real-life, real-food, sourdough-baking, coffee-drinking, kids-everywhere, natural-home kind of list.
If you’re a crunchy mom, a sourdough baker, or someone trying to live a little more intentionally, you’ll probably recognize a lot of these!
Anyhoo, here are my top kitchen essentials I can’t live without:
1. A Dutch Whisk
If you bake, especially sourdough, this one is a non-negotiable. A Dutch whisk makes mixing doughs, batters, and even sauces so much easier without overworking them (if you've ever battled with dough stuck inside your metal whisk, you'll understand 😅).
I love that it’s handmade of natural wood, so it won’t scratch my cookware or leech anything into our food. It’s one of those simple tools that just works better than anything else! You can grab one here from our shop.
2. Freshly Milled Flour
If you struggle with gluten sensitivities, switching to freshly milled flour will change your life. I exclusively use flour from Better Basics Milling because I know it's free from bleach, glyphosate, or any unnecessary additives that almost all other all-purpose flours contain. You will never catch me buying another bag of flour from the grocery store! Better Basics flour is just one of those things that is so worth the extra couple of dollars.
3. Real Food Meal Plans
Meal planning is what keeps our kitchen running smoothly. When I don’t have a plan, we default to stress and last-minute decisions. 😅 We recently listed our Real Food Framework, along with several meal plans and even some real-food activity books for the kiddos in our shop! These are practical, real-life resources for people who want to feed their families well without all the planning and researching recipes. Check them out here.
4. A Quality Chef’s Knife
A good knife changes everything. I use my Chun chef’s knife constantly, and I truly can’t imagine cooking without it. It’s sharp, balanced, and built to last. When you cook from scratch as much as we do, having a tool that works with you instead of against you makes all the difference.
5. A Mixing Bowl You’ll Use Daily
This might sound boring, but this ceramic mixing bowl is one of my most-used kitchen items. I use it multiple times a day for everything from sourdough baking to warming broth. Simple, reliable, and non-toxic is always my goal when it comes to kitchen tools - and this bowl checks all the boxes!
6. A Draining Soap Dish
I’m loving our new silicone draining soap dish because it keeps soap bars dry and eliminates any risk of mold. No more disintegrating soap sitting in a puddle of water. 🙌 We have a couple of options in our shop, but this one is my personal fav!
7. A Cotton Proofing Basket
If you’re a sourdough baker, this one matters! I prefer a cotton proofing basket over traditional rattan bannetons because it never molds, doesn’t splinter, and is made from 100% natural cotton. It’s also so much easier to clean and feels like a better long-term option for sustainable living and handmade kitchen practices. We carry a few different sizes, but I find that I use my 10-inch the most! Snag one here.
8. An At-Home Coffee Setup
Coffee is part of my daily rhythm, and making it at home is something I really enjoy! I personally love a pour-over for everyday cups, and our classic 6-cup Chemex has been a favorite for years. It’s simple, beautiful, and makes a really clean, delicious cup of coffee.
9. High-Quality Coffee
What you brew matters just as much as how you brew it. Our coffee is always pesticide-free, shade-grown, and harvested by small farmers. It’s smooth, flavorful, and honestly the best-tasting cup I’ve found. I don’t say that lightly. If you’re picky about coffee, this one’s worth trying. Check out our full coffee selection here. Or trust me and snag a bag of my fav, Honduras Medium Roast! 😊
10. Organic Teas I Actually Look Forward To Drinking
Tea is something I keep on hand year-round. Our organic teas are always pesticide-free and thoughtfully sourced. The Cranberry Orange Blend is a fan favorite for a reason. It’s cozy, flavorful, and one of those small comforts that makes a natural home feel complete. Plus, it's caffeine-free so the kiddos can drink it too. Or check out our full collection of teas here.
These are the things that support how we cook, eat, and live every day. Nothing fancy, nothing trendy, just well-made tools that help make homemade meals feel sustainable and enjoyable!
If you’re curious about any of these, I’ve linked everything mentioned so you can explore what works for your own kitchen. Happy cooking! 🍳
