Hi there! I’m Jen. I live in New York City with my husband Brock (aka Brockoli like the vegetable) and 3 cats. Wine, ice cream, and shoes are my guilty pleasures. My favorite color is pink. Don’t laugh! I grew up in the South with roots in Tennessee and Florida. After years of living off processed food and frozen tv dinners, I began to see food as the enemy. That’s when I discovered Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network, and she inspired me to change my eating habits and develop a love for food again. I taught myself to cook and have been cooking from her cookbooks since 2008.
Food somehow magically brings people together, and I hope to share my passion for cooking with you. More olive oil. Less butter. This blog is a journal of all things healthy, seasonal, and sometimes indulgent. Can’t live without chocolate! You can find me sitting at the kitchen table every morning drinking a latte and well of course wearing black leggings.
Living in New York inspires me to cook in new ways and appreciate food for its beauty and natural form. I could spend hours strolling through the farmers markets. I do sometimes actually.
One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is walk along Central Park to the bakeries in the neighborhood. Levain’s chocolate chip walnut cookies and Jacques Torres’ wicked hot chocolate are two of my favorites.
The James Beard House dinner, October 2009. I had the pleasure of tasting food prepared by Giada herself. Many of the dishes were from her cookbooks! She continues to be my inspiration.
I love the name of your blog! I also love Giada… But how in the world does she stay so thin and eat everything!?!
Thank you so much! I actually met Giada a few years ago at a dinner…I could not believe how tiny she is. She’s even smaller in person!
Hi Jen! I love your blog! Everything looks delicious! I’m so excited I stumbled onto your blog!
Aww you’re so sweet! Thanks! So glad you found my blog :)
Im a southern girl too from Georgia! Southern girls are awesome!
http://www.glitzgirlzglamourguide.com
Loving your blog doll, will be following from now on :) Avril xXx http://sinfulstilettos.wordpress.com
Thanks! Hope you enjoy my ventures in the kitchen :)
Glad I found your blog today! I’m originally from Tenn, Hubby is from FL, and we live in the suburbs of Atlanta. Happy cooking!
Love it! So glad I ran across your blog!
xo
Nicole
http://www.hourglassandbloom.wordpress.com
Dear Jen,
I’m so glad to have found you!
I’m busy copying off your declicious looking recipes!
Thank you so much!
Awesome space here!
:)
Lisa
Thank you for the kind words. Hope you enjoy the recipes :)
Wow, I love your blog! The recipes look delish and your photos are awesome!!
Can’t wait to get cooking with you.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy the recipes! Thanks for reading :)
I absolutely love your blog!! And today going to make one of your recipies!!:) Thank you for sharing – yummers!! :)
Happy to have found your blog, you have a great production and beautiful photos along with it! I am too a fan of Giada, she is an inspiration! If you don’t mind me asking, what is your blog theme? I look forward to browsing your blog and future posts!
Christina
YOU have a natural talent for cooking ans styling food! I’m glad I found your blog!
You just put a smile on my face. Thank you, and thanks for reading :)
Hi Jen. I seriously love your blog and all of your amazing recipes. I’ve nominated you for a ’7 things about me’ award, and I hope you’ll participate. Sarah
http://ournextgreatadventure.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/seven-things-about-me/
Congratulations! I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award :). Check it out here: http://inspireandindulge.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/humble-beginnings-my-1st-award/
Hello from New York. I have some basic foods that I like. It is less of a cooking blog though.
http://food-my-your-way.blogspot.com/
Hi Jen!
I just nominated you for the Inspiring Blogger Award at: http://dishbydish.net/2012/10/11/inspiring-blogger-award/
Thanks for being such an inspiration, always!!
felicia
Hi Jen! I invited you to the Līgo Circle of Appreciation: http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/ligo-circle-of-appreciation/
I love your blog!
Hi — I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. For badge and info, check out: https://myfoodjournalblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
I found you via wordpress recommended blogs and I’m so glad I did! Your food is exactly the kind of things I like to cook. Excited to see your recipes show up in my reader!
Hi! I’m so glad you found my blog! Thanks so much for reading :)
Hi Jen, what a lovely blog you have here, and like others have said I’m so pleased I found it !
Thank you :)
Hi Jen, I enjoy your blog and I have nominated your blog for ‘The Reality Blog’ award. Please visit http://vinicooksveg.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/thanks-for-all-awards-and-appreciation. Thank you.
just found your blog… loving it!!!! :-)
Thank you so much! And thanks for reading :)
Just stumbled across your blog, and I love it! Your food photography is beautiful, and your recipes look delish!
So glad you found me! Thanks for the kind words. Hope you enjoy reading :)
Pingback: One Lovely Blog Award « Canapes and Chocolate
Jen Congratulations! I have nominated your blog for the One Lovely Blog Award – see my post at: http://www.canapesandchocolate.com
I hope you will participate in this exciting award. The rules of the award are:
1 Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2 Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back.
3 Share 7 random things about yourself.
4 Nominate 7 or more blogs with the award, a link to their blogs in your post, and notify them on their blogs.
5 Copy and paste the award on your blog somewhere.
I recently just entered the food blogging world and absolutely love yours ! The layout, pictures, writing, and obviousyl recipes are wonderful. I am quite the avid fan of Giada as well and can greatly appreciate your love of her cooking. Keep it up! And if you’d like check out my blog http://www.ciaochowchica.wordpress.com.
Thank you so much! Giada is such an inspiration. So glad you found my blog :)
Love the blog Jen! Your food looks amazing! And healthy! I’ll get to NY one day.. It is only my absolute biggest dream of life :P ! Keep up the great work! :)
-Brianna.
Just discovered your blog! Great recipes! I like your taste. :)
Loved the scallop and lemon risotto recipe! Trying it tonight.
Omg I love that you call your husband “Brockoli” hahahahaa
Hi Jen…Because you have a great blog that I love, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. If you choose to accept, please follow the link for the nomination rules! http://mittsandmeasures.com/2013/04/27/versatile-blogger-award/