I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch yesterday. Not from a mix, not from pre-made dough—from scratch. And let me tell you, they were amazing. Soft, rich, just the right balance of sweet and buttery, and made with real ingredients I could actually pronounce.
But the real magic wasn’t just in the taste. It was in the feeling.
I’ve never made chocolate chip cookies from scratch before. Sure, I’ve baked plenty of things, but there’s something about taking a classic, something so many people just grab off a store shelf, and making it myself that hit different. And when I took that first bite, I felt empowered.
There’s this narrative that homemade is too hard, too time-consuming, or not “worth it.” That’s what the grocery stores want us to believe. Why bake when you can buy? Why spend time learning when there’s a convenient alternative? But what they don’t tell you is that homemade doesn’t just taste better—it feels better.
These cookies? Made with lard instead of vegetable shortening or oil. That one simple swap made them softer, richer, and (at least slightly) healthier. No weird preservatives, no artificial flavors, just real, honest ingredients. And it got me thinking…
What else can I make instead of buy?
One homemade success leads to another. Now, I’m challenging myself to learn how to make one new thing each month—something we usually buy from the store. Bread? Butter? Crackers? Who knows? But every little step away from the grocery store and back into my own kitchen is a win.
So here’s my challenge to you: Make one thing from scratch this month. Cookies, bread, mayo, whatever it is—just try it. Feel the difference. Taste the difference. Because food should be real, and we should know how to make it.
Love,
Traci
