The Healing Hollow

The Healing Hollow Organic, Holistic, Homegrown, Homemade, Gardening zone 7b to some lowland areas extending to 8a

07/19/2026

One of my favorite things about this season of life is getting back to making simple things from scratch.

Instead of buying an expensive “functional coffee” blend, I started looking around my own pantry. I already had raw milk from a local farm, homemade vanilla extract that has been aging for years, Ceylon cinnamon, local honey, and lion’s mane mushrooms that I purchased from a husband-and-wife mushroom farm at our local farmers market. A couple of years ago, I freeze-dried the mushrooms and powdered them so I could enjoy them in different ways.

So I created a coffee creamer that’s made with ingredients I know, trust, and genuinely enjoy.

I don’t believe there’s one magic food that changes everything. I believe our health is shaped by the small choices we make every day. For me, that means choosing real ingredients whenever I can, supporting local farmers and small businesses, and creating simple rituals that make slowing down feel worthwhile.

Lion’s mane has fascinated me because of the growing research into brain health and cognition. Ceylon cinnamon is the variety I choose to keep in my kitchen, and my homemade vanilla has been quietly aging for years until the perfect recipe came along. Together, they create something that feels both comforting and intentional.

Will one cup of coffee transform my health? No.

But I do believe that nourishing ourselves is about more than nutrition alone. It’s about knowing where our food comes from, appreciating the hands that grew it, making things with care, and finding joy in the everyday moments.

This little jar of homemade creamer represents all of that for me. ❤️

I’d love to hear—what’s one homemade staple you’ll almost always find in your kitchen?

06/30/2026

I have to buy a new eyeliner today, so before heading to the store I opened my Yuka app to see what I could find. 👀

I’ve been trying to make better choices about the products I use—not just food, but makeup and skincare too. I was pleasantly surprised to find several eyeliners that scored Excellent on Yuka.

A few that stood out:
🖤 Well People Fresh Lines Liquid Eyeliner – 100/100
🖤 Sephora Long Lasting Eyeliner – 93/100
🖤 Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner – 93/100
🖤 Pacifica Vegan Water Resistant/Waterproof Eyeliner – 90/100
🖤 Marie-Claire Felt Tip Eyeliner – 86/100
🖤 NYX Vivid Rich Mechanical Eyeliner – 76/100 (still rated Excellent)

Personally, I prefer a mechanical eyeliner over liquid or a pencil, so the NYX one caught my attention even though it wasn’t the highest score. It’s nice to know there are some better options out there if you’re trying to pay attention to ingredients.

I’m not saying you have to throw away everything in your makeup bag—I know that’s not realistic! 😄 But if you’re already shopping for something new, it never hurts to scan it first.

Have any of you been using the Yuka app? It’s been eye-opening (no pun intended 😆).

06/30/2026

I’ve been seeing a few posts lately about certain bagged lettuces (especially some butter lettuce) being washed or processed with ingredients people are trying to avoid. 🌱

I got curious, so I opened the Yuka app and started scanning different bagged salads to see how they rated.

I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few that scored Excellent (90–100/100) or Very Good. These all scored well because they contain simple ingredients with no concerning additives, and some are organic as well.

Here are a few that stood out:

🥗 Simple Truth Organic Mediterranean Salad Starter – 100/100
🥗 Kroger 50/50 Salad Blend – 90/100
🥗 Fresh Express Premium Romaine – 90/100
🥗 Trader Joe’s Chopped Salad Blend – 90/100
🥗 Marketside Kale Pecan Cranberry Chopped Salad Kit – 84/100

Even some of the salad kits scored better than I expected, although most Caesar kits were only in the “Good” range because of the dressing and other included ingredients.

I’m not saying Yuka is the final word on nutrition, but I do think it’s a helpful tool when I’m standing in the grocery store trying to make better choices. I know I’ll be reaching for some of these from now on.

If you’ve found other bagged salads that score well, let me know! I’d love to add them to my shopping list. 🛒🥬

My meal plans for the next few days! It is really hard to cook for just one. 🤔Update!! Cheese! Please add cheese. 😆😑🫣
03/30/2026

My meal plans for the next few days! It is really hard to cook for just one. 🤔

Update!! Cheese! Please add cheese. 😆😑🫣

02/05/2026

Caramelized Banana Ingredients
• 1 ripe banana, sliced thick (about ¼”)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon organic maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon homemade Madagascar vanilla
• (Optional) 1–2 tablespoons chopped pecans, sautéed with the bananas
• (Optional) Unsweetened coconut shreds for topping

For the Toast
• 2 slices sourdough bread, toasted until golden and crisp
• Non-GMO crunchy peanut butter
• Light dusting of powdered sugar (just a hint)

⸻

Instructions
1. Slice the banana thick so it caramelizes without falling apart.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla, stirring until melted and fragrant.
3. If using pecans, add them first and sauté for 30–60 seconds until lightly toasted.
4. Add the banana slices, leaving space between each piece.
5. Cook for 3–5 minutes per side, flipping gently once the bottoms are deeply caramelized.
6. Toast the sourdough.
7. Spread a generous layer of crunchy peanut butter on the toast.
8. Top with caramelized bananas (and pecans, if using).
9. Finish with optional coconut shreds and a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.







Super cool fact that my 102 year old grandmother cued me in on. Carolyn from Homesteading Family is my cousin. I was so ...
02/01/2026

Super cool fact that my 102 year old grandmother cued me in on. Carolyn from Homesteading Family is my cousin. I was so starstruck to discover this when o was recently going through family photos! I’ve followed their YouTube channel for years. I spoke with her daughter Brianne on the phone and have a gift to send soon. I was lucky to have my grandmothers passion for gardening and food preservation passed to me. And to find out that I’m not the only one in the family, well that was pretty special. 💚🍃

Why yes, it was definitely good. 😋
02/01/2026

Why yes, it was definitely good. 😋

Introducing Kintsugi June 🌱This garden isn’t about perfection.It’s about mending.I’m calling this space Kintsugi June, t...
02/01/2026

Introducing Kintsugi June 🌱

This garden isn’t about perfection.
It’s about mending.

I’m calling this space Kintsugi June, the kitchen garden at Healing Hollow — named for the month I came back home, and for the Japanese art of repairing what’s been broken with care instead of hiding the cracks.

This year’s plan is simple and intentional:
• a central bed of mixed greens for everyday meals
• circular beds for herbs, flowers, and companions
• tomatoes and peppers growing where they can stretch
• space left open for what comes next

No rushing. No overbuilding.
Just tending what’s in front of me.

Kintsugi June is where I practice showing up daily — planting, harvesting, learning, and letting things be imperfect and still beautiful.

More to come as it grows 🌿


















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Manchester, TN
38301

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