Well hey there, friends so glad you stopped by. I’m Ruth Miller, though most folks just call me Ruthie. I’m 52, and I’ve spent my whole life in the quiet farmlands of southern Ontario, where the air smells like earth, and the pace of life follows the seasons. I come from a long line of Amish and Mennonite folks, and while I don’t live Plain anymore, those simple, honest ways are still a big part of who I am especially when I’m in the kitchen.
I learned to cook the old way, by watching. Mam and Grossmam would knead dough at the kitchen table while the scent of fresh bread filled every corner of the house. I was just a barefoot girl back then, always underfoot, always watching. The meals we made weren’t fancy, but they were full of care and meant to be shared. That’s the kind of cooking I still love today.
After school, I worked the fields with my brothers and cousins, but somehow I always ended up back in the kitchen. Over the years, I started collecting old recipe books most of them handwritten, passed down, stained from use. I’d try my hand at the same stews, preserves, and pies that filled our table growing up. I still remember the first time I got Mam’s shoofly pie just right. It tasted like home, and it made my kids smile. That was all I needed.
These days, I share a cozy home with my husband Daniel and our three kids, who fill our days with laughter and lots of kitchen “help.” They’re my biggest inspiration and the reason I keep sharing these old plain recipes. Keeping these traditions alive, through stories, through food is something that means the world to me.
On Old Plain Recipes, you’ll find the kinds of meals I grew up with, simple, hearty, and made with love. I post new recipes daily in these categories:
You can also find me sharing bits of life, old wisdom, and kitchen tips on Pinterest and Medium.
Have a question? Want to share a story or just say hello? You can reach me through my contact page or email me directly at [email protected]. I love hearing from folks who care about keeping these old ways alive.
At the end of the day, my kitchen is a place of stories, steam, and second helpings. There’s usually a loaf of bread cooling on the counter, a stew simmering on the stove, and a little one or two begging to lick the spoon. That’s the kind of life I love, and the kind I hope to share with you, one recipe at a time.