2013 was a good year.

A lot happened that year, including many things I simply can’t remember. I was just beginning my motherhood journey around this time, with both a new baby and toddler in our home. It’s no wonder I can’t remember many details. #motherhood #iwastired

One thing I can remember from 2013, is the birth of Live Simply.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

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When I first started Live Simply, I didn’t know much about professionally writing recipes. What I did know was a passion for sharing the real food recipes coming out of my kitchen on a daily basis. Because of this passion, I took pictures of everything I made and then published the pictures and recipes on Live Simply. At the time, my mom, grandma, and a few Facebook friends were the only people reading the recipes and looking at the pictures. The writing was short and enthusiastic, and the photos were tiny and poorly lit (and shot with my iphone 3).

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

Over time, as more people visited the blog, I became passionate about making this space visually appealing. I wanted this space to truly reflect the joy found in enjoying good food and a more natural lifestyle. The tiny, dimly-lit photos just didn’t covey this joy.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

Dustin had previous experience with both video and photography, so I asked him to teach me the basics of shooting photography with a DSLR camera (at the time we borrowed a Canon 60D from his work). He taught me the basics, and then I pushed myself to learn more about authentic food photography and styling.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

Fast forward to 2017…

Many of the recipes that are now published on Live Simply still originate in my kitchen, based on my family’s appetite and our desire to enjoy real food. Some recipe ideas come from reader friends who request real food makeovers of their favorite meal. And some recipes are perfected in the kitchens of my wonderful recipe helpers, Helen and Laura.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

Now, the process of developing and writing a good recipe is incredibly detailed and time-consuming.  Recipes aren’t posted on the same day they’re created and enjoyed. Rather, recipes are tested over and over again to ensure accuracy and dependability (sometimes by multiple people). I want you to come to Live Simply knowing that recipes work!

The photography has also changed quite a bit since 2013. Today, the photos are big and bright. My goal for each photo is to covey just how amazing real food (or a natural product) tastes, feels, and smells.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

A lot has changed over the years (for the better), but one thing hasn’t: passion and joy for living and sharing this journey!

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

Today, I thought it would be fun to pull out an old recipe from the 2013 archives. A recipe in need of a good “remodel.” You know how much we love remodeling projects around here! The recipe, a homemade frozen yogurt, is perfect for summer being that it’s easy to make, light, and refreshing.

And before moving on, here are the photos from the 2013 recipe post…

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

The frozen yogurt only requires five real food ingredients: probiotic-rich yogurt, frozen berries (frozen berries are critical to the success of this recipe), a bit of honey, fresh mint, and vanilla extract. That’s it! The ingredients are blended together in a food processor, and then chilled in the freezer until set. I like to make this frozen yogurt in the afternoon, and then pull the chilled frozen yogurt from the freezer after enjoying a summer-themed dinner.

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

5-Ingredient Strawberry-Mint Froyo
5 from 2 votes

5-Ingredient Strawberry-Mint Froyo (Frozen Yogurt)

A naturally-sweetened, easy-to-make homemade berry frozen yogurt with fresh mint. 
Kristin Marr
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 601 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt of choice
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/8 cup fresh mint leaves about 12 medium-large leaves
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 cups frozen strawberries frozen mango is another option and equally delicious

Instructions

  • Place the yogurt, honey, mint leaves, and vanilla extract in the food processor, pulse until the mint leaves are finely chopped. 
  • Add the berries, one cup at a time, until the mixture is smooth (it takes a few minutes to fully blend the frozen berries).
  • Spoon the mixture, evenly, into a freezer-safe container with a lid (if you're storing it for a few days) or a bread pan.
  • Freeze the yogurt mixture for 1-2 hours, until the yogurt is firm to touch (this will depend on your freezer). To serve, wet an ice cream scoop with water and then scoop the frozen yogurt from the container/bread pan into individual serving bowls. Keep any extra frozen yogurt in the freezer. The frozen yogurt will keep in the freezer for up to two months (if it's stored in the freezer for days or weeks, it will require a bit of resting time on the counter before scooping). 

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 601kcalCarbohydrates: 126gProtein: 12gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 123mgPotassium: 1305mgFiber: 11gSugar: 109gVitamin A: 550IUVitamin C: 341.7mgCalcium: 402mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Incredible! Homemade froyo with only five basic, real food ingredients: yogurt, fruit, vanilla extract, honey, and mint (optional, if you don't have any). naturally-sweetened. real food.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. Would love to make this for a family dinner next week! Is there a wafer cookie or something like that that might go well with it?

  2. I’m unsure why there is an asterisk next to yogurt & a double asterisk next to the strawberries in the ingredients — does this mean I shouldn’t substitute? I have fresh strawberries & curious if I must freeze them first….?

    Thank you for all your amazing recipes that always WORK! <3

    1. Hey Allie, I apologize for that. Some of my notes didn’t transfer when we upgraded the recipe cards on the site. I’ll fix that. So the * is meant to note that you can use a dairy-free yogurt as well. ** is meant to note that you can use a variety of different frozen fruits. Frozen mango is amazing–one of my favs. Yes, any fresh fruit should be frozen first before use. The frozen fruit is what helps the process. If not, you’ll end up with more of a smoothie (liquid) consistency.

      Thank you so much, Allie. That means a lot. Enjoy!!

  3. 5 stars
    One of the many reasons I come to your blog is the recipes ALWAYS work. I greatly appreciate all the work you and your staff do to make that happen. Thanks, Kristin. Happy Wednesday and a safe Memorial Day weekend to you and your family.

  4. Those pics from 2013… that’s exactly what my pics from 2010 look like! Sometimes I want to redo the cringe-worthy ones, but then there would be no progress visible…

    I really like your bright and airy pictures, you have such great light!