Rustic Roots & Modern Finds

(and the Simple Swaps That Make Cooking Healthier)

If you’ve been following along At the Ritter Table, you’ve probably noticed there are a few ingredients that show up over and over again.

It’s not because I’m trying to be overly “healthy” or strict—it’s because these are the things that make cooking from scratch feel simple and realistic for our everyday life.

They’re the staples I reach for without thinking. The ones that quietly replace more processed ingredients without making recipes complicated or unfamiliar.

If you’re looking to make small changes that actually stick, these are a really good place to start.

🥖 Sourdough Starter

My sourdough starter is easily one of the most used things in our kitchen.

At this point, it’s not just for bread—it’s part of how we make waffles, pancakes, pizza dough, and even muffins. It’s become our go-to instead of relying on store-bought bread or quick-rise yeast recipes.

What I love most about it is that it takes something you’re already making and makes it better. The natural fermentation helps with digestion, and you avoid all the extra ingredients that tend to sneak into packaged baked goods.

Once you get into a rhythm with it, it honestly just becomes part of your routine.

🧈 Real Butter

Butter is one of those ingredients that we’ve fully leaned back into.

For a long time, it felt like everything was about swapping it out for oils—but in our kitchen, we’ve found ourselves doing the opposite. We use butter for cooking, baking, spreading on fresh bread… pretty much everything.

When we’re buying it, we usually go with Kerrygold because the flavor is just so good. And when we have the time, making it from scratch with raw milk from The Family Cow is one of those things that really reminds you how simple real food can be.

It’s rich, it’s satisfying, and it works beautifully in place of a lot of more processed oils. Even in recipes that call for olive oil, I’ll often reach for butter if I want a deeper flavor.

🌾 Wheat Berries (Fresh-Milled Flour)

This is probably one of the biggest shifts we’ve made, and one that I didn’t fully appreciate until we started doing it regularly.

Instead of buying flour, we keep wheat berries on hand and mill what we need. It sounds like an extra step, but once you get used to it, it becomes second nature.

The biggest difference is that you’re using the entire grain—nothing stripped out, nothing added back in. And you can taste it. Everything just has more depth and flavor.

We use fresh-milled flour in bread, muffins, pancakes… even cookies depending on the recipe. It’s one of those changes that feels small but has a big impact over time.

I like to buy my wheat berries from Azure Standard because the quality has been consistently great and it’s an easy way to stock up in bulk, especially when we’re using fresh-milled flour regularly. It fits really well with how we try to source ingredients—simple, whole, and reliable. That said, I know not everyone has the time (or flexibility) to plan around Azure drops, so if you need something quicker, there are some solid options on Amazon. For hard red wheat berries, I’d look at Palouse Brand; for hard white, Wheat Montana is a great choice; and for soft white wheat, Great River Organic Milling has a really good option.

🥣 Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is one of my favorite ingredients because it’s so versatile, and it quietly makes recipes better.

I use it in place of sour cream all the time, and even swap it in for part of the oil in baked goods. It adds creaminess and a little tang, but also brings in some extra protein—which is always a win.

We use it for dips, sauces, baking, and breakfasts. It’s one of those things that always seems to get used up quickly because it fits into so many different recipes.

Fage 2% is what I reach for most of the time because it’s simple, consistent, and just works. The ingredients are clean, the texture is thick without any additives, and it’s easy to use in everything from baking to dips to breakfast. It’s one of those staples I can always count on.

That said, when I want something a little extra special, I’ll grab yogurt from The Family Cow. It’s more of a splurge, but the flavor and quality are on another level. You can really taste the difference, and it feels more in line with how we try to source ingredients when we can.

🍯 Honey

Honey is our go-to sweetener in a lot of recipes.

I like it because it feels like a more natural option compared to refined sugar, but it also adds a depth of flavor that you just don’t get from white sugar.

We use it in baking, stir it into yogurt or oatmeal, and even add it to drinks. It blends really easily and gives everything a softer, more rounded sweetness.

If you’re used to baking with sugar, it’s an easy transition once you get the hang of adjusting liquids slightly.

I like to buy local when we are able, Costco’s raw organic honey when I remember or this brand when I need it shipped quick!

🥥 Coconut Sugar

Coconut sugar is probably the easiest swap on this list.

We use it almost interchangeably with regular sugar, especially in baking. It has a slightly deeper, almost caramel-like flavor, which works really well in things like cookies and muffins.

What I like most is that you don’t have to overthink it—it’s typically a simple one-to-one swap, so you can start using it right away without changing your recipes.

If you’re looking for one small change that feels really manageable, this is a great place to begin.

🧡 Why These Matter

None of this is about doing everything perfectly.

It’s just about having a few solid staples on hand that make it easier to cook from scratch and feel good about what you’re making.

These ingredients give you flexibility. They let you take the same recipes you already love and make small upgrades without making life more complicated.

And for us, that’s what has made the biggest difference.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link—at no additional cost to you. I only share products we personally use and love in our home.