Cooking has always felt magical to me. You take a bunch of stuff, that on its own isn’t particularly interesting, mix it together, and create something new and divine. That’s alchemy. That’s energy. That’s magic.
Why I started this site
I began this site in 2008 while living abroad with my husband and one year old son. I’d frequently find myself at late afternoon playdates wondering what to make for dinner that night. To get ideas, I’d ask the other parents what they were planning to make. Without fail, my friend Jessica would turn to me and ask, “What’s KP cooking?” And thus this website was born as a way to share my family recipes with my friends.
I know there are a bazillion cookbooks, websites, and apps filled with recipes. But not my recipes 🙂 I consider this website my family recipe book. Here you’ll find treasured recipes such as the Oatmeal Cake my Aunt Janis made every Christmas, the Cucumber Salad my Grandma made with fresh picked cucs from her garden, the Mini Brunch Quiches I served at my son’s first Birthday, my MIL’s famous Strawberry Pie, and the Breakfast Sandwich I ate almost every morning when I lived in Denmark, just to name a few. If a family favorite isn’t my own cooking creation, I’ll be sure to mention where I found it.
My food philosophy
Eat high quality organic food as often as possible, particularly meat, dairy, and seafood. Eat the freshest foods you can find, avoiding highly processed and prepackaged foods. Eat local foods in season where you live. Eat sustainable foods that are both good for you and the environment. Eat home cooked meals more often than take out. To keep things interesting, eat a variety of foods, including different colors, textures, and tastes. As best you can, avoid foods with added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and food dyes. I recognize not everyone has access to fresh organic foods or the means to acquire them. If you’d like to help close the grocery gap, you may donate here.
Use your discernment when it comes to what and how much you eat. Avoid food fads and the latest diet craze. You know your body best! I am anti-diet so will not include calorie counts or fat content for recipes. I believe in intuitive eating. I trust my body knows how to regulate food intake. I listen to my hunger cues, eat when I’m hungry, and stop when I’m full.
I also believe in slowing down and being present when I eat. I eat with pleasure, purpose, and mindfulness. As often as possible, I eat at the dinner table and take a deep, calming breath before digging in. I use all of my senses when enjoying a meal. I pay attention to what the food looks, smells, feels, and tastes like, savoring every bite. When I slow down to eat my digestive system is able to do it’s job properly and my meal is filled with positive energy.