The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. - William Morris
For me, this is food. It starts in the morning with a fantastic cup of coffee and in our family when we aren't running from one place to another its how we gather together at meal time (and snacks in between) to learn about new foods and recipes, try things out and take comfort in our trusty classics! We're so lucky to have two amazing kiddos (10 & 7) who are willing to try anything and we are adventurous in the kitchen.
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The story of where our food comes from, how it comes to the table, it's history and the incredible flavors a single ingredient can add to a dish have always driven me to learn, create and share. In all honesty, my favorite gift to receive is a passed down family recipe that has brought joy to you and your family and while we're busy playing in our kitchen, please take the time to share your stories and special recipes with us!
Autumn Applesauce Muffins with Chocolate Chips
I'm not sure about you, but I love to bake, especially in the Fall when the weather starts to turn and I like having the oven on. This is one of my favorite recipes that doubles as a healthy breakfast or after school snack. Even better, the kids will love it because of the addition of the chocolate chips...they won't even notice the rolled oats, whole wheat flour and flax! These disappear quickly when I put them out on the table!
Sourdough Bread with Homemade Butter
In 2016 I watched an amazing docuseries by Michael Pollan called "Cooked." The episode dedicated to bread blew my mind when I realized that we evolved eating bread made with the yeast that occurs naturally in the air. THIS. This is the sourdough craze as well as the singular recipe that turned me into a lover of food history. As you can see from the picture, we also took the opportunity to make butter and have a flavored tasting - my 6 year old made the labels :)
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Scones with Butter and Homemade Grape Jelly
This just might be my family's favorite thing to eat. No matter what is happening in our house, if I yell the word Scones people will come running to the table. We especially love this as an unexpected mid-morning or afternoon snack...BUT, if you ask the kids, it must be accompanied by grape jelly which is another thing we enjoy making every fall starting with picking the grapes from the vine! Any tricks for not getting grape juice all over your kitchen?!