What did you say your name was?

My name is Samantha. Just a brief introduction in hopes that at least someone reading this doesn’t know me yet.

I am in my late 20s (very, very late. In fact, it doesn’t get a whole lot later than this in your 20s…) and I am blessed to be a wife and mother of two. I also have the wonderful gift of being able stay at home with my babies and I can think of no other place I would rather be.

Cooking is my hobby, my outlet, and my passion (right up there with eating!) I am currently reading the book Start by Jon Acuff and roughly in the middle of that book, Jon asks “What can you not stop doing?” Cooking. I can’t stop cooking! I don’t just cook out of necessity to feed my family, I experiment, I tweak, I play, I lovingly labor over cooking. Cleaning up, on the other hand, not so much…

I do a fair amount of research when attempting a new food. Sometimes I try more than one recipe and many times I read half a dozen and make a hybrid of them all. A lot my experiments consist of substitutions for ingredients (mostly so I don’t have to make another trip to the grocery store) and it often takes 2 or 3 minor adjustments before I’m completely satisfied.

It is always fun to bring my kids into the kitchen with me. I let them sit at our island, especially while I bake. Any measuring cups, spoons or recyclables I am done using, I pass their way and let their creative little minds invent new ways to cover the whole room in flour.

Most of the time, I am not afraid of how much work goes into a recipe. Although, the real involved ones I save for the days my husband is home to entertain the kids. When time allows, I am happy to “work” in the kitchen for hours on one meal, such as Thanksgiving, or up to 20 meals when I do freezer cooking. The time and effort I put into cooking is less like work and more like therapy (and tastes better than both of those).

A love of food is really at the core of all of this cooking. Eating out at a good restaurant (or even the guilty pleasure of a drive through butter burger) are tops in my book. However, I believe there is value in eating at home. There is money to be saved, nutritional needs to be met and memories to made with family and friends in a home kitchen.

I have begun writing this blog for many reasons, some I haven’t even gotten to the bottom of yet. But this is another way for me to enjoy cooking. This allows me to share recipes, failed experiments and hopefully some of the happiness that cooking brings me.

I don’t have a road map for this blog, I don’t even know if there is a trail ahead of me, but I am filled with excitement and curiosity as I begin this journey. It would be an honor if you care to join me for the ride!