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I have been around really good cooks my whole life, my grandma and mom. I remember as a teenager sitting on the back staircase of the 100 yr old house where I grew up in “my moms kitchen” watching her put dinner together for our family and I vowed in that instant to never have to cook. I’d have a private chef. High aspirations, I know. Flash forward a couple of decades and now I had to cook because I was married and a good wife cooks for her husband. Who did I call for a recipe or two? Yep, my mom. Who ate the terrible meals I provided? Yep, my husband. 

 

I have come a long way in my food journey and ability as a cook. Food to me is so much more than just something we eat to avoid being hungry.

 

Food is joy. Food is laughter. Food is memories. Food is comfort. Food is connection. Food is sacred. Food is health. Food is medicine. 

 

I have always considered myself as a learner of new things and someone who accepts a challenge. Inspired by my sister and a good friend, I completed an elimination diet. Boy, I sure did learn a lot about myself. I took notice of the habits and thoughts I had about food (some were not healthy). I took notice of how I felt when I ate certain foods (even in "moderation"). I took notice of what was actually in the seemingly "healthy" food I was eating and feeding to my family. As I changed the way we ate - it was not all sunshine and rainbows, there was a lot of push back - I began to see the benefit of a real, whole food diet. We felt better. We struggled less with cravings for the processed stuff. My teenagers skin began to clear up. We slept better. 

 

I am super passionate about where our food comes from, what is in our food, and how food affects our bodies physically, mentally and emotionally. Nutrient-dense, real, colorful, whole food is the true and primary source of nourishment for our body, mind, and soul. I love the challenge of having a bunch of local, fresh ingredients in front of me and creating something delicious. Sometimes I measure and most of the time I forget to write the recipe down (I am getting better at that though), but my unique love language is providing delicious food to my family and friends that I know will not only satisfy their tummies but will also nourish their soul. 

 

My goal is to share with you that good, whole, real, nutrient-dense food is not hard to prepare. It’s not pretentious or complicated. Cooking good, whole, real, nutrient-dense food isn’t boring! In fact, it is fun and delicious and simple. You can do it! Trust me, if I can you can too.

 

Food has the power to influence the quality of life in ways that we have only begun to scratch the surface. Let's scratch that surface and live a life well nourished - together.