Hi! We haven’t been introduced but I’m Andy. I’m one of the resident chefs behind many of the delicious recipes you've hopefully come to love.

And boy, am I excited to share a Healthy Dose today! Scroll down for my pure-veggie take on Ceviche 😉 and how baking keeps me cool in stressful time!

Healthy News Doses

How Cooking Calms Me in Times of Chaos

Growing up, my Mom always encouraged my siblings and I to get involved in the kitchen.  Her wheelhouse was baking, where she would regularly whip up freshly-baked batches of cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and brownies.  

There is something about the way a home smells while things are baking in the kitchen, combined with the added warmth from the oven, that continues to make me feel cozy to this very day. 

As the weather gets cooler and I use my oven more frequently, I find myself bringing over a chair, a blanket, and a book to position myself (carefully!) in the kitchen, right next to the oven.  After baking, I’ll turn the oven off and keep the door open slightly to bask in the warmth as it cools off—it’s like a thirty-minute space heater.

A few articles have looked at the relationship between mental health and creative hobbies such as cooking or baking:  

Years ago, Smithsonian Magazine published an article summarizing a few perspectives on the relationship between creative everyday activities such as cooking and baking and mental health.  They cited a study from the Journal of Positive Psychology, which found support for a positive relationship between “everyday creativity as a means of cultivating positive psychological functioning.”  

John Whaite, made famous from his performance in the earlier seasons of The Great British Bake Off, discussed in public his mental struggles and earlier diagnosis of manic depression in 2005.  When discussing baking as a part of his daily activities, Whaite was quoted stating, “Baking helps lift my depression. It can't cure it but it helps.”

I suspect the feelings each person gets from working in the kitchen are different.  Certainly, some people who spend years working in stressful, commercial kitchens for long hours have a different and more nuanced relationship with cooking and baking… 

In a low-stress environment like the home kitchen, the joy and peace that cooking and baking brings me is derived partly from the physical act itself, but also from the warmth, aromas, and sounds that emanate from the oven and stovetop as a result of the physical actions. 

The next time you bake a loaf of crusty bread, take it out of the oven when it’s done baking and just sit there and listen to it for ten minutes…it’s like listening to a private bread symphony of crackling noises as the crust hardens.

And so much of our overall experience in everyday cooking is strongly linked to past smell and taste memories that can stick with you for life!

How does cooking make you feel?

This Is More Than Just Baking….

It's a holistic experience that lifts your spirits and hones your skills…

Dive into uniquely, step-by-step recipes crafted by artisan bakers (the bread above is just one I made this week!) that promise to transform your kitchen into a haven of health and flavor.

Perfect for gluten-sensitive bread lovers, this masterclass cookbook is your gateway to mastering the art of gluten-free sourdough.

But hurry—this transformative journey into the world of delicious, mood-boosting bread is available for a limited time only.

Unleash the super bread baker in you by clicking here.

Upgrade Your Plate

Is your palate weary of the same old routine, endlessly cycling through mundane meals like reheated roasted sweet potatoes or the all-too-familiar butternut squash?

It's time to jazz up your dining experience. Transform those humble leftovers into a vibrant and zesty roasted vegetable ceviche bowl!

Envision your previously unexciting sweet potatoes or squash as a canvas, ready to be splashed with the bright, bold colors of fresh herbs and tangy citrus.

See my latest recipe for this dish below 😉 

Cooking Corner

Your Vegetable Ceviche

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups roasted squash or sweet potatoes, large dice

• Zest of 1 lime

• Juice of 1 lime

• 1 teaspoon agave syrup or white granulated sugar

• ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

• ½ jalapeno, seeds and veins removed, finely minced

• ¼ clove garlic, finely minced

• ¼ red onion, finely sliced

• 1 avocado, large dice

• ¼ cup fresh herbs, such as cilantro, mint, and chives, finely sliced

• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 3 Tbsp Quicos, or giant crunchy toasted corn kernels (optional)

Instructions: 

1. For this quick and easy recipe, allow your roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash to come to room temperature while you prepare the marinade.  

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime zest and lime juice, agave syrup or white sugar, aji Amarillo paste, one quarter teaspoon of Kosher salt, half of a minced jalapeno pepper with the seeds removed, and one quarter of a minced clove of garlic.  Add this liquid mixture to your roasted vegetables, along with ¼ (or less) of a finely-sliced red onion, and one diced avocado.  

3. Mix the vegetables and diced avocado with the liquid, divide the contents into shallow bowls, and top with fresh herbs such as cilantro, mint, and finely-sliced chives. Garnish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.  And pat yourself on the back for bonus points if you manage to sprinkle on a few Quicos (giant crunchy toasted corn kernels) on top.

Enjoy more of my recipes here!

Food for Thought

Do you have any interesting recipes you love to make at home using leftovers?  Or any questions about healthy cooking tips and tricks? 

If so, please feel free to share with the group!

Andy Gildersleeve

Resident Chef

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