Hi I'm Karina!
Goodley Living is where homestead traditions meet modern flavors. I believe in the power of scratch cooking, seasonal ingredients, and simple, wholesome meals that bring people together. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your journey into real food, this space is here to inspire you with recipes, cookbook reviews, and simple living tips.
Our Philosophy
At Goodley Living, I focus on real food made from real ingredients—nothing overly processed or artificial. My recipes celebrate homestead traditions while embracing modern convenience, ensuring they are practical for everyday life. I love drawing inspiration from different cultures, using seasonal ingredients, and honoring timeless cooking techniques like fermenting, preserving, and slow cooking.
About Me
My love for food and storytelling started long before I ever thought about blogging.
I studied Communications and Computer Science at Northwestern (go 'Cats!) and later earned an MBA from Kelley, where I had an assignment in an entrepreneurship class to start a business, which is how this blog was born.
I moved across the country to Seattle fresh out of college, where I had to learn to feed myself. Over the years, I’ve built a collection of over 150 cookbooks, spending countless hours flipping through pages, testing recipes, and making them my own. Cooking from scratch has become second nature, and I love sharing what I learn with others. Whether it’s a tried-and-true classic or a new dish inspired by a different culture, my goal is to make homemade food feel doable, delicious, and fun for everyone.
What You’ll Find Here
- Scratch Cooking – Meals made from whole, real ingredients, focusing on taste, nutrition, and simplicity.
- Modern Homestead-Inspired Recipes – Traditional cooking methods with a fresh, approachable twist.
- Globally Inspired Dishes – Homestead-friendly meals influenced by cuisines from around the world.
- Practical & Seasonal Cooking – Recipes that fit everyday life and make the most of what’s in season.
- Cookbook Reviews & Simple Living Inspiration – Helping you find the best resources for your home kitchen.
What You Won’t Find
To keep my focus on real, wholesome cooking, here are a few things that don’t align with my recipe philosophy:
- Highly restrictive diet-based recipes (e.g., keto-only, juice cleanses, or extreme fad diets). I will call out if a recipe meets a dietary restriction to help you find the right food for you!
- Recipes relying on highly processed or artificial ingredients.
- Overly trendy "hack" recipes (e.g., air fryer fast-food copycats or viral social media trends that don’t fit scratch cooking).
- Restaurant-style fine dining dishes that require hard-to-find ingredients or advanced techniques.
So grab a mug of tea, settle in, and explore a collection of recipes, cookbook reviews, and tips on simple living. Here’s to savoring life one meal, one page, and one moment at a time.