Because I love experimental baking and finding fun new ways to make things, I decided to transform that recipe into a sweet bar with a classic combination of cinnamon and raisin.
These bars are a great, lightly sweet treat that are jam-packed with nutritional benefits from flax, and a great idea for a brunch or party if you have guests with strict dietary restrictions.
Read MoreIt was a no-brainer when we moved into our new house in November that I should bake cookies for all of our new neighbors. But lets be real, life gets busy in a new house, in a new place, starting over from scratch and HOLIDAYS, so my cookie plan fell to the back burner. So here we are FOUR months later, and "introducing" ourselves to the neighbors. I designed these little cards as a simple way to pass on our basic information incase they ever need us. We have such sweet neighbors and want them to know us and know we are around to help or be able to call if ever needed! I baked a big batch of cookies, bagged up a few in each bag and we walked around to a few of the surrounding homes to say "HELLO!" and pass them out one evening after Patrick got home from work.
It was really simple, didn't take too long + I think a great way to introduce yourself in a new place! (To make it REAL simple, you could use pre-made dough....or buy store bought cookies. Nobody would ever know! BUT I do think you should try to make them from scratch because they are the most fun thing to bake.)
Read MoreChicken salad is VERSATILE, which just MAY be my favorite kind of meal. Give me a good base and let me mix it up on the regular with what I have around. It is a great meal prep idea that you can make one day and enjoy throughout the week- simple + fun! You could eat a microwaved chicken breast for lunch if that is your thing, but if you are looking to mix it up then LETS GET TO IT.
Read MoreThat being said, as I have become a healthy adult I have learned so much about BALANCE in health. I refuse to categorize anything that God made for us to eat as “bad”, but do recognize which foods have more or less health benefits and adjust how much or how often I eat them accordingly. Needless to say when I am on a road trip I will partake in some glorious Chick Fil a waffle fries most happily, and I will also gleefully slice moutains of red potatoes on the regular to make these crispy delicious wonders.
Read MoreThe thyme and tea in this drink are essentially the girl in a RomCom and her dude friend who it turns out is secretly in love with her and they FINALLY end up together at the end. The whole time you are thinking, “they should have been together all along!”. They just work. The fresh ginger adds a spicy kick (as well as oodles of health benefits for you stomach) and the sparkling water is the cherry on top that ties it all together. This light, refreshing drink is perfect for the spring + summer. It would be great served with any brunch or dinner party as a special and unique drink to mix up for any gathering.
Read MoreCooking can seem intimidating at times but the more you do it, the more forgiving you realize it is. Since then I have started experimenting with my own curries, rarely repeating the same thing twice. Through that I have created a base recipe that allows me to alternate some of the vegetables I add based on what I have and what we are in the mood for.
Read More
This space is something I have dreamed and wondered about for quite some time, and seems like a natural step for the different passions bubbling in my head and heart to intersect and find a voice.
A place to share with you about food that nourishes- both body and mind. A place where family is built, stories are shared and life is done- around a table.
Food is powerful. Its important.
Preparing food is a holy act to me. The opportunity to create something that will bring life to someone else’s very being or breathe joy into their day.
The nutrients in a hearty bowl of a spicy curry or the sheer joy that comes from a warm chocolate chip cookie are gifts I can share with those I love.
And I want to share that ability and experience with you.
This space will serve as a place to share the recipes I love to nourish both body and soul. Sometimes that will be super health-focused, nutrient rich food that is delicious and with each bite our bodies will thank us. And other days we will share something that is probably made with dark chocolate and will sprinkle a little joy like confetti over our palettes.
Balance truly is the key.
After three years overseas the kitchen has become my consistency. No matter which country you are in and which language they speak, if you can find flour, eggs, and milk- you can make pancakes. No matter how uncertain other things are, its possible to make foods that are known. And that is comforting.
I’ve always loved baking, but moving to Africa taught me how to fall in love with cooking as well. Being forced outside my comfort zone and into the kitchen made me brave. I realized I can cook from scratch or make complicated recipes. That I am capable of doing hard things. I learned how ingredients interact and what flavors go well together.
The kitchen became my happy place, the place where the other cultural stressors couldn’t find me. It became the place where I recharged. My favorite was a rainy Sunday afternoon where I would escape into the kitchen to brew a french press of coffee. Once my cup was poured, I’d reach for my apron, tie up my hair, cue a new podcast in the line-up and let my bare feet dance across the kitchen floor while I tried something new. That has become my sacred space. And its something I want to share with you.
So go ahead and throw on an apron, pour a cup of coffee, find your favorite podcast + lets make something tasty.
As much as I love tomato soup, I find that is always needs to be served as a SIDE, with something. I started adding chickpeas to the soup to pack in some protein and make it more filling. Not to mention that, but it also adds a creaminess without adding the dairy! hey hey now! Its a win-win all around.
Read MoreRoasted Brussell Sprouts, nice and crispy, with a lemon garlic aioli sauce to dip. Maybe it won’t rock your world, but it sure is rocking mine. Its hearty, its green + tiny things are just cuter.
You can throw other Brussel Sprout Recipes at me, but I am not sure I won't stop eating them like just like this.
Read MoreThis is the recipe that finally spurred me on to create this site. Nothing like a quiche to get the party started, amiright?!
I have had the dream of creating a site to share food with others brewing in my heart and swirling in my head for over a year now. Like a good pot of coffee, I think certain ideas need time to steep and take shape in your head before they can come to life. And, after lots of thinking, lots of notes of ideas, recipes, thoughts and dreams of how this site can be used to encourage others- HERE WE ARE.
Read MoreI am Leah. An adventurous soul in a homebody. My husband, Patrick, and I live in Eswatini (a tiny country in Southern Africa) with our two little boys, but I travel back to good ol’ south Louisiana each Fall to photograph families and weddings!
I photograph families and weddings just as they are, because that is enough. I love to capture warm, joyful, and comfortable images and look forward to the chance to photograph you and your people!
I spend most my time figuring out how to cheer people on in the good work they are up to with the Good News. As much as I love to adventure, I deeply love being cozy at HOME. You can usually find me making delicious things happen in the kitchen to gather people around our table. I believe REAL food is the tastiest.
Here you will find images I have taken, words I share + maybe a few favorite recipes. Thanks for stopping by!
