Welcome! My name is Shandelin and this is my virtual kitchen. I am a self-confessed foodie who is passionate about beautiful food. More often than not, I can be found in my kitchen with a counter full of ingredients as I transform everyday recipes into exciting meals. Life is too short for bland and boring food!
I am a mother and soon to be empty nester of four children currently living in Virginia with my husband Vince, my son Elijah and our dogs Nyla and Nico. My favorite things in life are gathering in the kitchen with family, experimenting with food, entertaining, making wine, gardening, knitting and most things craft related.
My relationship with food has always been intimate. Whether it’s been celebrating special occasions, creating lifelong traditions to pass on to my children or using food to comfort me when I’m down, food plays an integral role in my life. When I’m dieting, Food becomes my nemesis. Seriously, there are days when I wished I had the superpower to turn a salad into a donut. One thing I’ve learned from trying various type of foods is that I may not be able to turn a salad into a donut, but I can make interesting meals and decadent deserts that can be enjoyed on many levels. I enjoy the challenge of taking everyday recipes and converting them to suit different dietary needs.
For quite some time, I have daydreamed about what my message would be… asking myself why I’m so passionate about not only beautiful food but also great tasting food. People have often told me that I need to put my creative talents to work. I think what’s been stopping me has been fear. What if people think it’s stupid, or what if I fail? After years of stalling, I have made up my mind! F that! Freedom to do the things I love is better than fear. I’m going to share my passion for food with whoever is interested.
In this space, I will strive to share fresh, flavorful, (mostly) healthy recipes. My goal is to inspire you with food that is both approachable AND exciting, whether cooking for yourself, your family, your roommates, or your friends. I’m going to keep things fresh with new ideas and ways that I like to prepare my dishes. I hope you will come along for the ride.