Authors

Much of my inspiration for creative meals stems from my roots. Every side of my family, had one thing in common.... FOOD! My inspiration comes from my parents, who also enjoy cooking and being creative together, who continue to show me that food and the expression of love are corresponding. I was surrounded by a formidable - and very Irish - family, on my father's side. On Saturday night, my Grandma would be up late sorting beans to soak, with her many grandchildren, and those moments are some of my fondest memories. I've spent over a decade working in the restaurant industry, and have spent many hours consistently learning about food and drink. I enjoy cooking (obviously), gardening, spending time with my family and friends, and martial arts, to combat all the calories! I am excited to share my recipes with you!

I grew up in the mid-west with my 3 sisters. For much of my childhood I lived on a farm raising goats and chickens, and helping tend to a huge garden that was a primary source of food for our vegetarian family. From the beginning I grew up with homemade bread, home-canned veggies, fruits and jams, and when I wanted a snack was told to “go find something from the garden”. By age 4, I would wake up on Saturday mornings and make pancakes from scratch (don’t worry, I wasn’t allowed to cook them yet), and by age 9 was in charge of making dinner 2-3 times a week for our family of 6. I learned fractions and other math elements from cooking, and the love for real food has never left me. Now living in Pittsburgh, married with a 4-year old daughter, cooking has become a source of serenity and calm for me at the end of a work-day. While I may not always have the time to devote to a dinner the way I used to (gone are the days of spending 2 hours on a meal for 2), I focus on coming up with easy vegetarian meals using real foods to feed my family of 3.