Does the world need another food blog? Ah heck probably not but who cares. It’s like asking if we need more internet access or something. Truthfully though I am hoping that this blog will fill a need. There are tons of delicious recipes out there and some “healthy” ones as well (yes those quotes indicate sneering) but in a lot of cases the consideration of health goes out the window when the flavor comes in. And this, friends – is seriously wrong – it just doesn’t have to be that way. Healthy, delicious food is not an oxymoron. You may be thinking – oh yes I know I cook healthy delicious food sometimes too but the truth is you probably don’t. Because what you have been raised to believe is a healthy diet is the same diet that when you get into your 40’s and 50’s gets you warning looks from your doctor, a prescription for a statin to lower your cholesterol, blood pressure medication, and an addiction to spandex shapers. And this is if you are lucky! If you are unlucky you have already had treatment for the big C (cancer) and/or are struggling with diabetes. And yes, I know that not all cancer and diabetes are caused solely by diet however diet is grossly underestimated as a cause for these major ailments. OK so what is healthy? More and more research – even in the last 5 years- is pointing toward a vegan, wholegrain, whole foods diet. You might think that if that were really true then why doesn’t my doctor tell me that? And why is it not widely publicized? Well, your doctor is not trained in nutrition, I actually have more training in nutrition as an RN than an MD gets – it’s just not their focus – they left that education to our government who is heavily lobbied by the very powerful meat and dairy industry. Oh boy… I better calm down now and get off one of my major soapboxes about the food industry. If you want more of the truth as I see it pick yourself up a copy of “The China Study”, by Colin Campbell.
OK so, my quest here is to share my journey with you into flavorful, craveable, healthy food. Every recipe you will find here will be vegan, whole grain, as low fat as possible, and contain ingredients that are highly nutritious. I promise it will taste good- really good.
If I and my family don’t love it, you won’t see it here. I must admit, however that part of my reason for this blog is self serving because although I think and dream about food, I tend to make up recipes on the fly with ingredients I have on hand and tend also not to write them down. If nothing else this blog will serve as a written record of every winning recipe I make. I also hope, however, that it will serve to educate, support, and maybe even amuse those that are on a quest to cook and eat healthier food while not sacrificing flavor.
So – what else might you want to know about me? Nothing? Really? Oh well, I’m gonna tell you anyway. I am a registered nurse and have been for 18 years. So, this means I have a background in nutrition which is pretty useful if you want to cook healthily. I come from a long line of good cooks. I have always been interested in cooking, and grew up helping my mom in the kitchen and listening to my dad tell me about how “cooking is chemistry“. Making my first meal for our family of five when I was twelve years old was a right of passage for me; I recall that it included stuffed baked chicken, salad, and banana bread for dessert. So, I have been cooking all my life and in the recent past I owned and ran a vegan whole grain bakery called Goodie Two Shoes. That was quite the experience and we plan on opening a retail location eventually. (OK end of shameless plug for my future business)
I was raised on meat and potatoes so becoming a whole grain vegan presented many culinary challenges- ones I have found both exciting and demanding of my creativity. I hope you will enjoy the fruits of these challenges and use them as inspiration to create your own versions and even your own family recipes.
I love cookbooks and recipes- but I never follow them- I use the techniques and concepts in recipes as inspiration. I then translate those techniques and concepts into my own cooking. You too, can do this from my recipes- make them your own by using ingredients that you prefer or learn a technique that you can use to transform a favorite family recipe into a healthier version that you can enjoy guilt-free.
I hope you will join me in this written journey and add your own insights, trials, and questions in the comments section. I love a food challenge so feel free to submit your requests for a healthy version of Aunt Murthy’s such and such and I will get to work.
I am now off to post the first recipes for you to enjoy before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Blessings to you all,
Carolyn
