Hello all! Justin and I just recently moved from our old apartment where we lived with other people and they were so messy that I lost my inspiration to cook. Who can actually be creative and passionate with their food when your surroundings are so messy that they are unhygienic?
So after our move, I began to feel inspired about food again! And after responding to a forum asking for meal ideas for a severely lactose intolerant husband, I realized that not everyone dives head first into cooking when faced with this kind of challenge. So hopefully I can help a few people find some new recipe ideas and challenge myself at the same time!

There are a few things you should know before I start:
1) I learned how to cook from watching my Mum . She cooked by taste and feeling - and I do the same. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. It allows me the creativity I need, although baking is my weakness since I hate dragging out a measuring cup. This means most of my measurements are approximations - if I put in about a teaspoon then I'll list 1 teaspoon.

2) I made a commitment to myself that if I bake anything - I will measure exactly. So I may bake less frequently, but I've decided I need to just suck it up! The results will be better anyways :)

3) Some of the pictures may include cheese or dairy. All my recipes are dairy-free but I still have my dairy cravings so these are all add-ons.

4) This blog is also to challenge myself so I've decided to do a couple things:

1.  A-Z Ingredients: One ingredient a week will begin with the letter, in alphabetical order. This will hopefully force me to plan a meal around something other than the protein.
2. Sustainable Meal: I am a short walk from our local farmer's market so my goal is to maximize my new location by getting the ingredients of one meal a week straight from the farmers!
3. Spotlight Ingredient: My goal is to cook with a new ingredient once a month in the effort to forego my comfort zone!
4. Homemade Ingredient: Like everyone, I am very busy. I am a full time student, work in a lab, care for my love and our two kitty cats. But there are somethings that are just worth making yourself. Once a month, I am hoping to make something from scratch. It allows me the control to make it dairy-free and in some cases that is totally worth the effort and time. 

So I hope you enjoy and I hope this blog will focus my inspiration and creativity! :)