Research in psychology reveals that even when individuals express that they are full,  they still will make space for dessert. This is attributed to a phenomenon called sensory-specific satiety, where new flavors, textures, and presentations rekindle the appetite. While many shy away from baking due to the need for...

Before diving into today’s blog, I invite you to reflect on a cherished memory of a gathering that positively influenced your life. What was the event? Who attended? What made it impactful for you? A gathering is more than just providing food; it’s about creating an experience that brings...

I’ve been going to Lang Van, a small Vietnamese restaurant in Charlotte, NC since I was four years old. For as long as I can remember, it’s been more than just a place to eat—it’s been the backdrop for so many moments and milestones in my life. Over the...

Grilling is probably the one thing in the summer that consistently brings my family together for meaningful conversations. Most days, we eat together but end up too hungry from our busy lives to say much—it’s more about getting food on the table and in our bellies. But that’s what...

I’ve learned over the years that I came from a family who opened the cabinet to find the ingredients for creating what would become a meal, a special treat to bake, or to pull together a snack. This skill is one that was passed from both my parents, who...

There are things we do automatically without even thinking about it. Some things we observed as children became part of us, having grown up with them. And maybe you have grown up with traditions that you have now taken for your own. That’s happened to me when it comes to...

I come from a big family! My dad’s mom was one of nine siblings. They all grew up, married, and raised their families close to each other. There were lots of family get-togethers, but the ones I remember most were the family reunions! These events would last all weekend...

I looked on with glee as the team of three men struggled to install my new oven. We were nearing the end of our home-building journey, as well as the end of a long season of camper living. For the past 7 months, my husband and I, along with...

It was an unconventional meal, no doubt about it. My twenty-year-old daughter and I shared lunch from a local sandwich shop in the front seat of our family car. We were hungry, but more than that, it was a way to pass the time while we waited for the...

Our new home is situated about halfway down a freshly paved road; trees have been cleared from one side of the newly built neighborhood to the other. All that’s left around us is a deep-hued, jewel-honed sky. It’s almost as if we live somewhere like Utah or Montana; you’d...

The sounds and smell of food cooking on the stove or in the oven are something comforting to my senses, and I also feel cared for when I know someone is sacrificially cooking for me out of love and kindness. In the supper table mealtimes of our daily life,...