Friday, April 9, 2010

Welcome!


Welcome to Finding Joy in My Kitchen!

I do hope you will pull up a chair, and a nice cup of Snow Tea and take a gander through my recipes.

Allow me to introduce myself, I'm "SnoWhite" and I'm the chef here.  I'm finishing up (literally... next Friday!!) my dissertation.  My delightful cooking and life-long companion is Dr. "Frog Prince".  He completed his PhD in October.  We've been married from almost 3 years, and together have made strides to rid our home of pre-packaged foods.    


The journey for me to find joy in my kitchen has been a long and bumpy one.  And, it all started with one kiss.  

Yep.  

In fact, our first kiss.  

After Frog Prince planted a tender kiss on my lips, I felt my throat start to swell shut.  Frog Prince had eaten nuts before he kissed me... and, seeing as I'm allergic to nuts... that was a problem!  We spent the rest of the evening in the emergency room where all the nurses laughed at the story these two young, embarrassed love birds had to tell.  

The next day, I had to call my family and tell them the news.  While concerned about my health and well-being, my dad found the whole situation quite humorous.  In fact, he couldn't stop laughing.  

A few days later, I received this little guy in the mail....


In case you can't read the tag, in my father's handwriting it reads:  "Use caution when kissing, results may vary!"

Haha.  

Hence why my hubby's name is "Frog Prince".  

Everything turned out okay for me, but this "incident" spiraled me in to a world of fear -- fear that I couldn't eat anything or trust anyone with preparing foods for me to eat.  So, I had to learn how to cook everything I wanted to eat.  As I began to make my own bread, ice cream, crackers, granola and more, I learned I actually liked to cook.    


Frog Prince and I were actually eating healthier by avoiding pre-packaged foods.  Taking care of our family in the kitchen became something that brought me joy... and so my husband affectionately named me "SnoWhite".  

Now, nearly 3 years later, we shop from the perimeter only at the grocery store, stockpile healthy foods in our freezer, and shop at local farmer's markets when possible.  Through it all, I found great joy in my kitchen!

I invite you along on this journey.  You don't need to be a gourmet chef, or have a huge kitchen with every appliance in order to cook healthy, affordable meals for your family.  All you need is a little sense of adventure.  

This blog is a place for me to share wonderful recipes with you - ones our family loves, and ones I can't wait to try.  I hope that you'll find some of what you're looking for here, and that you too will find joy in your kitchen!   

Thanks for visiting today.  
I am glad you stopped by.


Ultimate Blog Party 2010
For more blogs, stop by the party!


44 comments:

  1. Nice to meet you! Wow, congratulations on finishing up your dissertation! Goodness, I felt like I was losing patience with my 2 bachelor's degrees, I can't imagine how much work a PHD is. But if you have a passion for the subject that makes all the difference :)

    Have a fantastic weekend!

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  2. What an eventful start to your relationship! The little frog was such a cute gift!

    We are on a similar journey, trying to get rid of the prepackaged stuff from our kitchen, and so far it's been a great adventure.

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  3. I've been reading your blog for a while and I can't tell you how many of your posts I've saved - your recipes always sound so good! Have a great weekend!

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  4. What a sweet story! I'm glad it ended well, but that is a great "first" kiss story!

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  5. You forgot the ending...and they lived happily ever after!

    Congratulations to both of you on your "continuing education", not just in the classroom, but also in the kitchen!

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  6. What a great story for you two! Sorry, you ended up in the hospital though!! I love to cook as well and am trying hard to be better about not using pre-packaged foods. It's a hard habit to break for my 5 young boys though...but I"m working on it. Happy Party, nice to "meet you."

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  7. I have been reading and following your blog for a while and love it. It is one of my favorites and I have a link to yours on my blog. Your recipes are well loved in our family. Just this week we had broccoli cheese soup (with a little variation substituting milk for the chicken broth which I did not have) and the brown rice casserole with polkasa kielbasa (which I also altered to what I had on hand- adding shrimp;) ) So, anyhow, I too, am on this journey with you in making everything from scratch and refer to your blog almoxt daily.

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  8. Congrats on your impending graduation! I am always looking for ways to feed my family more healthy foods. I will be sure to subscribe to your blog so I can learn from you.

    You can visit me at:
    http://www.moodymamasays.com

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  9. Love your blog! Great recipes, and some encouragement for me to cook & eat healthier. I save lots of recipes from here. Thanks!

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  10. Love your blog and I can't wait to return and try some recipes.

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  11. That is just an adorable story! Congratulations about finishing your dissertation.

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  12. That's a super cute story - and I love the gift from your dad - funny guy!

    Congrts on the dissertation. I finished mine 8 months ago, and I can tell you that getting done, paperwork signed, free as a bird, is the BEST feeling ever!

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  13. I love the idea of only shopping the perimeter of the store! Congrats on finishing your dissertation!! I worked as a grad coordinator temporarily for about 9 months - it takes a lot of work.

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  14. thanks for stopping by! so nice to meet you!! you guys are adorable!! I am certainly no good cook, but i LOVE to bake!!

    hope to see more of you!

    Julia
    www.workwifemomlife.com

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  15. What a cute story of your first kiss. Mine isn't so cute. Every boy I kissed (besides my now husband) afterwards I threw up. Not that there were that many...ha!

    I feel so bad for you with the nut allergy. I LOVE nuts and can't imagine being allergic!! No wonder you became a chef! I'm emailing you now with the info you asked for:)

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  16. Thanks for the blog add! I will be coming back here too!

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  17. Love your Frog Prince/First Kiss story! Happy UBP!!! Have a great weekend!
    http://www.inspired2cook.com/

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  18. Here for the party and so glad I stopped by- gotta love a good food blog! Thanks for stopping by mine too! Following and looking forward to lots of great stuff from you!

    MacKenzie
    mamakenzstudio.blogspot.com
    theresearchyears.blogspot.com

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  19. Christina - xristya@rock.com - My niece Sarah is also allergic to nuts, and has had similar experiences! I'm a non-blogger (but a blog READER)here for the UBP who's a poet, artist, journalist, did a local TV series on the arts, and am now reviewing for http://www.movieroomreviews.com and http:/www.musicroomreviews.com, the ones that say Written by Christina on the top and the bottom of the review!

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  20. Thanks for stopping by my blog and sorry to hear about the nut allergy. It can be a pain (literally). I love the whole idea of non processed foods. My daughter and I are slowly working towards that. I will definatly follow for recipe ideas!

    Dona

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  21. Following your blog now. :D

    I LOVE that you have changed your ways. My husband and I are working on similar. We really let ourselves go in the food department - eating what was easy, fast, etc. and really, it just makes things more difficult for us later on (esp health wise!).

    Thank you for sharing this!

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  22. Congrats on finishing your dissertation! What a haul that must've been! What a story with you & your hubby's first kiss!
    Looking forward to trying out some of your recipes!

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  23. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've been to your blog several times before and I really enjoy it. I've become a follower and I know I'll definitely be back! I love seeing others that are on the same page as me! :)

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  24. I have followed your blog for a long time and have made many of your recipes. My son has ADHD and it is sensitive to many food additives. Your recipes and upbeat attitude toward healthier eating has made our journey so much easier and more enjoyable. Thanks from a grateful mom!

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  25. Love the kiss story! That is so funny! I also have a cooking blog. Isn't it a fun little hobby? Can't wait to look around your. Happy UBP!!!

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  26. Thanks for visiting my blog!Looking forward to trying some of your recipes!

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  27. cute story! We try to eat as little processed food as possible, too. Hope you're enjoying the party!

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  28. Oh my goodness what a crazy story of your first kiss! My daughter is also allergic to tree nuts, so I can imagine the fear you went through.

    Congrats on your dissertation and PhD. You and your hubby are adorable!

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  29. I love the kissing story--so funny and sweet!

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  30. Saw you on the UBP, but I've enjoyed your blog before. Just thought I'd pop over to say, "Hi!"

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  31. I'm not meeting you for the first time, but this is the first time I've heard this story. What a great love tale to tell your grandkids!!!

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  32. Thanks for visiting my blog (Secrets of a Southern Kitchen). As a gal raised in the southern tradition of many of my friends marrying straight out of high school, I was the ripe old age of 25 before I married--so I often tell people that I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I found my handsome prince. Glad you found your's!

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  33. nice to meet you. stopping by the from party.

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  34. Love that first kiss story and isn't it neat where it went from there? I found your blog from the UBP at 5 minutes for MOM. I am coming back to check out the recipes. I am finding JOY in my kitchen again simply by getting back to cooking! We are empty nesters during the school year-one daughter in college the other married with a baby (first grandchild!). I don't have a blog yet but I am on the board of www.powerofmoms.com. Hope to start a Grandma section! Come visit us for great tips and "mom-spiration).

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  35. I'm so happy I found your blog. I've stopped by from the UBP! I am becoming a follower.

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  36. What a cute story! Sounds like it was love at first kiss. :-). I can't wait to check out your recipes.

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  37. The party is still on! Nice to pop by here and see you're still cooking up a {healthy} storm.

    Come visit my party post at Susannah's {Kitchen} Aprons when you have a minute--while prepping for your dissertation.

    Blessings,

    e-Mom :~D
    http://susannahsaprons.blogspot.com

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  38. Just popping in from my blog's UBP10 to say Hi!

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  39. LOL! that is really such a cute story! :) the note from your dad is sooo funny!

    Glad to meet u from UBP! Feel free to visit me here:
    Life Can't Wait and Up Now and What's Next

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  40. I am stopping by from The Ultimate blog Party. I am your newest follower.I love your blog. When you get a chance please check out my blog. http://www.gigglingkids.blogspot.com

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  41. Hi
    Great site - the recipes look great - love the conept! I will be back! Please stop by my party at www.motherlylaw.com

    Thanks, Anna from Motherly Law

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  42. I love EASY recipes...Got to look at some of these...

    Blessings to you,
    Lana @
    www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

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  43. I am here from the UBP. I am now following your blog because I share many of the interests in making our own food. My husband is a farmer and we grow most of what we eat and I make/bake the rest. Stop by sometime!
    http://adventuresinallthingsfood.blogspot.com

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Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you; especially how you're finding JOY in your kitchen.

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