I hope that you are enjoying your time on think fruitful, whether you’ve been following my food blogging journey for the past nearly 6 years or if you’ve just hopped on recently.
I wanted to take some time to talk about why I’m a food blogger and why I’m so fascinated by food.
It all starts with Yan Can Cook.
You know, that Chinese cooking show that used to air on PBS on the weekends. My two sisters and I loved to watch it. Well, actually, I remember thinking it was really boring at first, then getting in to it.
And then there was Food Network in its hey day. I used to watch Molto Mario, Barefoot Contessa, Giada and that Jacques chocolate show for hours. I was also obsessed with Jamie Oliver a.k.a. the Naked Chef. I even watched Emeril, though I wasn’t his biggest fan, and remember learning as a teen what chiffonade meant. I started my weekends by watching Iron Chef and reveled in the odd facts they shared about the Japanese eating culture.
Suffice it to say, I’ve been enamored by food and cooking for quite awhile…but my cooking days didn’t come until later.
Another reason I’m a good cook (I think), is that I’ve got some pretty good cooking genes. My mom is an incredible cook. There is normally not an ingredient I can mention that she won’t know of, and I was raised on her home-cooked meals almost every night of the week. We ate meatloaf and mashed potatoes, grilled BBQ chicken with the best sauteed yellow squash (sour cream and a little sugar being the secret) and bundt cake and pies for special occasions. It wasn’t and isn’t just Southern food that my mom excels at (though she has deep Kentucky roots). She can pick up anything from Indian to French food, and she’s probably where I get my adventurous palette.
Here’s a pic of my mom and me from our Charleston beach vacation this past May.
While my mom was and is an amazing cook, she also didn’t leave too much room in the kitchen for the rest of us to learn. I did most of my learning by watching and hospitality had a huge role to play in it. That’s where I got to see how food for special visitors (from Spain, India and all over the world) and family friends made visitors feel welcome, as well as comfortable and appreciated. It’s probably tied to that beautiful Southern hospitality and also to our faith (didn’t Jesus spend time eating with his best friends before he was crucified?).
So, I didn’t really have a need to cook for myself until I studied abroad in England.
There, the rubber hit the road when it came to grocery shopping and cooking. I had to do it all on my own, and I didn’t have a lot of extra money. There’s nothing like necessity to make you learn quickly. I finally got the chance to try my hand at all of the food knowledge I had stored up.
I wasn’t a fabulous cook at first, but I learned and had a taste for exotic flavors. At that time, I was also introduced to farmers markets and recycling.
I have traveled in almost a dozen nations outside of the US, which has opened my food world and livened my taste buds. Whether it was warm goat cheese salads and croissants in France, fresh pasta in Italy, street tacos in Mexico, or creamy Greek yogurt and honey in Greece, I love a good food adventure!
After college, I got a job, lived alone and had lots of time to cook up fun things (hence the birth of think fruitful).
I also started using my time exploring local food, healthy recipes and utilizing locally grown produce from the farmers market. As a creative (more in the writing/cooking sense), I am passionate about supporting others in their creative ventures, and you better believe that a bakery or restaurant counts. I also have a history of farming in my family, which helps me remember what a noble and difficult task that is, which is why I do all I can to support farmers.
So, other than my Food Network obsession and food travels, why am I qualified to write a blog?
I’m a home cook. I have a full-time job. I’m serious about my food budget. I like to eat and try new things. I really love feeding others!
For this reason, you can count on me to dig up the most adventurous but also the most accessible recipes that focus on your health, community, fresh ingredients and supporting local.
I like no fuss recipes that don’t rely on too many prepared ingredients. You will hopefully find a good mix of meat and potatoes, vegetarian, vegan and baking ideas in this space. And it all has to taste delicious!
I’ve come to see over the years the amazing ways that food connects us to each other, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop pursuing that end. Food fuels life, and community fuels life for me.
And that’s why I’m a food blogger, just attempting to help individuals and families get back to the table. At the table, we start and grow relationships, getting fed physically, emotionally and spiritually. We form bonds and understand more about the world and find more reasons to thank God for all He has given to us.
Also, it’s just too delicious and fun for me to pass up!
Thanks for eating, reading and cooking along with me. It wouldn’t be as fun as it is without you!