About

Hi! I’m Rachel,

Chef, recipe developer, private chef, and creator of The Hearty Life. I started The Hearty Life as a food blog after culinary school, sharing approachable, from-scratch recipes that bring comfort and flavor to everyday cooking. What began as a creative outlet has since grown into a chef-driven food brand built around the many ways I love bringing good food to the table.

Today, I work as a private chef throughout the Des Moines area, creating everything from weekly meals for busy families to custom in-home dinners and intimate gatherings. Along the way, I’ve developed hundreds of recipes, taught cooking classes, worked with brands and local organizations, and spent a lot of time figuring out how to make really good food feel a little easier.

And one thing I’ve learned? Great food doesn’t have to mean overthinking every ingredient.

Enter The Hearty Life Spice Blends.

After years of seasoning, tasting, and cooking professionally, I created my own line of blends to take some of the guesswork out of building great flavor. These small-batch, chef-crafted spices are designed for real home cooks who want reliable, balanced seasoning they can reach for again and again.

From my bold Kickin’ Chicken to the all-purpose Everyday Blend, each jar is developed with the same care and creativity I bring to my recipes and private-chef menus.

Every blend is made in small batches and packed in wide-mouth amber glass jars, easy to scoop, pinch, or shake, and designed to be reused or recycled. There’s no plastic packaging, preservatives, or fillers. Just clean, flavorful blends made for everyday cooking.

Whether you’re cooking dinner for your family, trying something new, or hosting friends around the table, I hope these blends make it a little easier to create food you’re excited to eat.