I enjoyed reading about your story. Growing up I stuck with plain foods. It took a long time for me to start trying new recipes, snacks, ingredients. I'm glad you found a way to embrace food in your own way and I can relate to the endless browsing of cookbooks.
I really enjoyed reading this Kara! I totally get you on the religious upbringing and food dynamic - phew do not miss those days. Such a pleasant read 💫
This felt like reading your blog from that magical scrapbooking internet time! I always think of you when I make Rachael Ray’s vegetarian chili and that fun SIS weekend visit. A pleasure to know you and watch your spaces online change and grow 😊
I’ve been following you since the late ots when I was in college (I’m a couple years older than you) and also a scrapbook blogger. I grew up in a super similar family dynamic - my parents evangelical, shame-based communication, super hard on myself. So that’s probably why your blog struck so true for me. I wasn’t at the time but now am vegetarian, and I do think of it as a small act of rebellion as well. Just try getting anything other than a cheese pizza at a bar in the boonies of Wisconsin and you feel like a renegade. I just wanted to say hi, I love the newsletter, and it has been so awesome to see you flourish. Keep the awesome food essays coming as long as you want to. This is truly one of the best parts of the internet.
I love the shelving! Thank you for sharing this back story.
Also - My family has been spending summers in Sandpoint, ID for almost 20 years. Whenever I hear Boise come up, I am reminded that it's a place I'd like to visit and that it is *so far* from Sandpoint, so I can never loop it into a trip to see my family.
Ha! Those Western states are so huge. Boise would be quite the drive, but perhaps worth it one of those times! Definitely a different feel than Sandpoint.
As someone who works with young children, you are not editorializing at all; kids have very few opportunities to assert their autonomy, and eating is one of the few things in their control! Thankfully these days there is shared wisdom about what Ellyn Satter calls the division of responsibility, where the adults choose what is available to eat (with consideration for a child’s preferences, without catering to them) and the child decides how much (if any) they want to eat.
I love hearing about your food adventures; as much as I learn from more professional food types, it’s nice to see what other self-taught home cooks are up to (and I would love to hear more about your garden!) 👩🏻🌾
I enjoyed reading about your story. Growing up I stuck with plain foods. It took a long time for me to start trying new recipes, snacks, ingredients. I'm glad you found a way to embrace food in your own way and I can relate to the endless browsing of cookbooks.
Thank you Lala!
I really enjoyed reading this Kara! I totally get you on the religious upbringing and food dynamic - phew do not miss those days. Such a pleasant read 💫
You get it! Thanks J for your support ❤️
This felt like reading your blog from that magical scrapbooking internet time! I always think of you when I make Rachael Ray’s vegetarian chili and that fun SIS weekend visit. A pleasure to know you and watch your spaces online change and grow 😊
OMG what a throwback! We should have a reunion sometime with Mandi too. ❤️ you!
I’ve been following you since the late ots when I was in college (I’m a couple years older than you) and also a scrapbook blogger. I grew up in a super similar family dynamic - my parents evangelical, shame-based communication, super hard on myself. So that’s probably why your blog struck so true for me. I wasn’t at the time but now am vegetarian, and I do think of it as a small act of rebellion as well. Just try getting anything other than a cheese pizza at a bar in the boonies of Wisconsin and you feel like a renegade. I just wanted to say hi, I love the newsletter, and it has been so awesome to see you flourish. Keep the awesome food essays coming as long as you want to. This is truly one of the best parts of the internet.
This is so kind, Britta. Thank you for sharing and sticking around. :) And at least cheese pizza is good....
I love the shelving! Thank you for sharing this back story.
Also - My family has been spending summers in Sandpoint, ID for almost 20 years. Whenever I hear Boise come up, I am reminded that it's a place I'd like to visit and that it is *so far* from Sandpoint, so I can never loop it into a trip to see my family.
Ha! Those Western states are so huge. Boise would be quite the drive, but perhaps worth it one of those times! Definitely a different feel than Sandpoint.
The internet is always better with you here! 💞
As someone who works with young children, you are not editorializing at all; kids have very few opportunities to assert their autonomy, and eating is one of the few things in their control! Thankfully these days there is shared wisdom about what Ellyn Satter calls the division of responsibility, where the adults choose what is available to eat (with consideration for a child’s preferences, without catering to them) and the child decides how much (if any) they want to eat.
I love hearing about your food adventures; as much as I learn from more professional food types, it’s nice to see what other self-taught home cooks are up to (and I would love to hear more about your garden!) 👩🏻🌾
Ah that's so great to hear and definitely the approach my parents' settled on.
Yes, I need to do a garden update soon. Getting most stuff in the ground this week!
I'm so happy to have stumbled across your newsletter and am looking forward to reading more!