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Seasonally Inspired Meals from My Garden to Your Table through Recipes, Menu Inspiration & More. Healing through Food. Nourish Yourself, Mind & Body.

16/03/2026

Usually this time of year garden plans would have been drawn out, my grow tent would be full, seeds would have been sown and I'd be stressing about the weather. Instead, I'm sorting, downsizing, donating and discarding (to the chickens) my seed stash with my little helper.

There will be some sort of garden at my new house, maybe not this Spring, but by Fall. I've learned a lot in the last decade going from square foot gardening to a large market garden using raised bed and in-ground methods. Now that I'll be going back to back-yard minimalism, I'm excited to put all that knowledge to use and do it right from the start.

New beginning, fresh start, doing it better, making it work for my family.

22/02/2026

The lesson being learned in my house as I've totally stepped out of the kitchen (Flu & Bronchitis on top of surgery recovery 🤒) and I'm being asked to supply recipes for family favorites 😆

14/02/2026

A lot of people naturally think of cooking as a communal activity, but as a personal chef, and in my own home, it's always been a solo endeavor for me. Not only have I gotten used to collaboration in the kitchen since my surgery, but I've come to enjoy it.

Comfort food meets brain food.

📸 Broccoli Cheddar Soup, made by my sister, using 🥦 from RED STAR FARM milk, butter & cheddar cheese from Apple Valley Creamery and house made chicken stock. My contribution: Pan seared salmon from Louie Louie Seafood and salad with whole grain mustard & 🍯 vinaigrette complimented by pretzel rolls from Wildgrain

08/02/2026

You know what's awesome? Being able to enjoy a sunrise breakfast with my daughter because I got more than 5 hrs of sleep 😴 and woke up energized 🌅

I'm finally almost finished with my post brain surgery steroids, so I decided to throw everything I had at getting in a quality sleep cycle.

Insomnia Ending bath soak while sipping on Chamomile 🍋 and listening to a sleep story on my app. Followed by and some yoga nidra 🛌

Great success!

📸Sourdough discard 🥞 with 🫐 and hard boiled eggs from my flock (with because 🫶🏻 MD) and my morning ☕️

05/02/2026

As someone who just had my second life saving brain surgery in ten years, I'm a big fan of science. Do I love that I'll be getting MRI's with contrast dyes for the rest of my life? Nope 👎🏻 Am I going to do it? Yup 👍🏻

In between such major life events and necessary intervention, I like to take a more holistic approach to my healthcare.

Within a few days of coming home from the hospital, everyone in my house came down with a stomach bug. Fortunately, I was spared. This morning, waking up with the first signs of a cold, the sinus pressure not a welcome addition to the existing head pressure, I reached for my arsenal.

📸 Homemade Fire 🔥 Cider and Electuaries from https://thelocalwild.com/🍯

The best time to make Fire 🔥 Cider was in the Fall 🍁, the second best time is now ❄️

I started by making apple cider vinegar using 🍎 from Shaw Orchards, but for times sake, just use a quality brand like Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill a 32oz Mason Jar with any combo of the following:

Ginger, turmeric, garlic, horseradish, onion, hot peppers, lemon, orange, rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice

Fill with ACV to cover and seal with a plastic lid, or parchment and then a metal lid. Store in a cool, dry, dark place (pantry) for 3-4 weeks. Shake daily.

Strain into another glass container, stir in 1/2 c local honey.

Enjoy a big spoonful a day, a bit more if you feel a cold coming on.

Cheers to your healthy immune system 💪🏼 🍯 🌶️ 🫚 🍋 🧅 🍎 🧄 🍊 🌿

04/02/2026

Not seasonal, but my body was craving something light, fresh and nourishing, so I pulled together what I had in the house for a Mediterranean feast. Minimal preparation and cooking, but loaded with flavor and nutrition.

📸Chicken, spinach, feta sausage from Nine Pines Farm, halloumi cheese, tzatziki, hummus, harissa, pita, olives, artichokes, peppers, red onions & arugula 😋

01/02/2026

I'm no longer bothered by insomnia, because I've accepted it. The night and I are in perfect harmony 🧘🏻‍♀️

The start of lots of sourdough discard goodies to come, as well as Monday's English Muffins.

Goodnight 🌖, hello (first) breakfast.

📸Full-fat Greek yogurt, local apple butter, 🍌, chia seeds, h**p seeds, cinnamon, walnuts, pecans

Rasa herbal coffee with collagen peptides ☕️

31/01/2026

It felt really good to be up for joining in on family pizza night after skipping the last couple (few 🤔) weeks.

It felt even better to contribute my sourdough pizza crust that I decided to make when I woke up at midnight 🌖 Perfect timing for dinner the next day. Keep that in mind night owls 🦉

The movie part, that I didn't mind skipping. I'll stick to coloring to classical winter vibes 🖍️❄️🎶

📸Sourdough pizza with mozzarella, feta, olives, peppers, and artichokes. Salad with anchovy-Dijon 🍋 vinaigrette.

30/01/2026

Another slow family meal, put together over the course of a day, as a group effort. This is very new to me, but I'm getting used to it.

📸 My Mom's classic tomato sauce with upgraded meatballs to satisfy my blood building red meat needs. She swapped her usual meatloaf mix for pastured raised beef from North Acres Farm and Sweet Italian Sausage from Nine Pines Farm, served along side Caesar Salad (lots of anchovy for brain fuel) and my homemade sourdough-semolina herb focaccia.

I don't typically have the patience for sourdough, and usually frequent my local stand instead Sweet and Savory Cottage Bakery and Homestead, but bread baking has suited my pace this last week. When medication gives you insomnia, might as well start making something in those predawn hours that you can enjoy when you're totally done doing anything by early afternoon 🤷🏻‍♀️

25/01/2026

I love sandwiches, of all types, from all over the world. I also love ❄️ days. Two simple truths. Today I am grateful to be enjoying both, from the cozy interior of my 🏠 ⛄️

📸 Organic Turkey, Bacon 🥓, Avocado 🥑 Sandwich with Dijon & Fresh Greens on toasted thin-sliced Good Seed from

23/01/2026

I couldn't lift the soup pot, even before it was filled. I started in the morning, and at various points in the day recruited help from my 9yr old, my friend who stopped in for a timely visit, and my husband, who definitely got stuck with clean up.

When people say it takes a village, I didn't think that it applied to making a pot of soup.

But this might have been the best pot of soup I've ever made.

If you've been ❄️ prepping this week, you probably have the ingredients on hand already. Improvise as needed.

Sausage & Veggie Glow Soup Recipe 🥣

1 lb ground sausage, browned and removed
* Sage Turkey Sausage from Nine Pines Farm

Sauté together in 2 TBS Olive Oil
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
~1 c butternut squash, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced

Add Spices and cook until fragrant (amounts are approximate, season generously)
1/2 TBS fennel seeds, ground
1/2 TBS smoked paprika
1/2 TBS cumin
2 tsp Frontier Co-op chicken spice blend (or other poultry herbs)
2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne, or chili flakes to taste
Sea salt & cracked pepper to taste

Add and stir to combine
6 oz tomato paste
14.5 oz fire roasted tomatoes
Juice of 1 🍋

Return Sausage to pot
Add 2 Bay Leaves
1 Parmesan Rind
14.5 oz Cannellini Beans

Cover with chicken stock, preferably homemade, about 6 cups, bring to a simmer

Add 1 bunch finely chopped kale and continue to simmer, uncovered, until desired consistency and aromas are irresistible

Finish with a drizzle of heavy cream or half & half per bowl, if desired

Serve with freshly baked crusty sourdough bread 😋

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