ABOUT

I'm blissfully married to the man of my dreams and mother to our sweet baby boy. I trust in life wholeheartedly and try to live openly, compassionately and with acceptance. I cook with abandon and am always up to the challenge of doing something in the kitchen I have never done before. My husband is an outrageously supportive and enthusiastic self-declared sous chef and my kitchen is incomplete without him.

I have my parents to thank for introducing me to a huge variety of foods and restaurants at a very young age, and allowing me the unusually inappropriate, but very special privilege of ordering chocolate mousse for my entrée on special occasions. I am eternally grateful.

As a native Californian, and a generally health-conscious person, I have been blessed with the taste for a healthful diet. I mostly use whole grains, unrefined sugars and oils, and lots of fresh, organic produce. Having said that, I'm not afraid to cook with butter, cheese, whole milk, or heavy cream - in moderation, of course. I have a sizeable yet somewhat managed addiction to grocery shopping.

I was inspired to start kitchen fervor after lovingly (and enviously!) following a long list of food blogs. Although we do eat meat here and there, many of the recipes you will find here are vegetarian. I love food from all corners of the world and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Posts are based on whatever has struck my fancy that particular day - there is no rhyme or reason, theme, etc. One day I might post an easy-peasy veggie dinner, the next a French dessert made with brown butter. Be warned: I have a fondness for lemon and mint, so you might notice those show up a lot around here.

I care deeply for all living things and strive to live sustainably. I buy only free-range eggs, and humanely raised, hormone and antibiotic-free poultry and pork. Grass-fed beef is hard to find in San Diego, so for now I buy organic. The grass-fed revolution is off to a running start so hopefully this will change soon. Fortunately, I live in an area where local produce is very accessible and I love supporting our farmer's market. I'm looking forward to starting a garden this spring and teaching our son about growing our own food. Raising chickens is a long-term dream.

Welcome. Enjoy your time here. Drop me a note.