At the Table: Welcome to Where We Nourish, Experiment and Feed the People We Love

At the Table: Welcome to Where We Nourish, Experiment and Feed the People We Love

I’m thrilled that you’ve found my little corner of the internet! This home on the web is where I share about my love of homemaking. When I started writing about homemaking, I was a single woman who lived in various non-traditional households both solo and shared with roommates, housemates, even flatmates. Now, I live in a multi-generational household, taking care of my elderly mother. Most recently, I’ve been blessed to have met a man who will become my husband very soon and we are embarking on a new chapter of a non-traditional household of a different kind!

Throughout each phase and living situation, I’ve learned a common theme: homemaking is for any woman with a heart of making a home for herself and the ones she loves. 

And for the woman who finds herself living in a non-traditional household, such as solo, shared with roommates or in a multi-generational setting and caring for aging parents, being a homemaker is just as valid and worthy as those women who are blessed with a husband and children to raise. It just looks a little different!

I’ve broken homemaking down into six separate categories and this introduction series will give you an idea of what to expect to read and learn in each one. I’ve also linked the core post for each category so you can easily read about the philosophy behind each from a deeper perspective.

Each category represents a piece of what I believe goes into making a home truly yours. The names themselves are ones I created because they felt like me and how I like to approach each area. Still, a name only tells you so much. I believe it's worth defining terms plainly so there's no guessing at what each title means here.

So, let’s get into At the Table! It might not mean quite what you’d expect.

In this category, we consider the topic of food. Food in terms of nourishing our bodies, bringing loved ones together, cooking for one as an act of self-care, rather than just a need. There will be some recipes (see disclaimer, below), general guides and advice on cooking, pantry staples, cooking without waste and more.

The reason I chose to include this category in this blog about homemaking is for the simple reason of just how essential food is to life and community. It’s our most basic fuel and nourishment that gives us the energy we need to do the things we need to do.

How wonderful it is that we can also craft beautiful and delicious foods to meet that purpose. It's often all the more enjoyable when shared with others.

At this point, I'd like to share a disclaimer: I wouldn't self-identify as a cook or a chef. However, I've been told I've got good instincts when it comes to crafting a dish, and I'm learning to lean into that. I mostly experiment in the kitchen. But I’m also slowly learning basic formulas for making well-balanced and nourishing meals.

Any recipes will come from the perspective of a gal learning as she goes who has not had formal culinary training. I’ll do my best to provide measurements but I'm more of a "this big spoon looks like it could be a tablespoon" kind of cook. That being said, I've come up with some delicious meals over the years and this is the category where I will share those with you. 

What Cooking Looks Like Here: Competent, Honest, Still Learning

Historically, my recipes have been easy, pretty basic, with minimal measurements and light on the chitter-chatter before getting to the actual recipe. Moving forward, that'll probably not change too much. Additionally, there’ll be advice on cooking solo as well as in a shared home, whatever that looks like for you. You’ll find:

• Simple, forgiving recipes that don't require a trained hand
• Honest measurements (sometimes literally "a big spoon's worth")
• More instinct than precision, shared as I learn it myself

Nourishment as an Act of Care, Not Just a Meal

It's become increasingly important to me to nourish my body in a way that cleanly fuels it. I've experimented with eliminating certain types of products and ingredients, and when I do, I feel so much better overall. So as I continue creating new dishes that are both interesting and delicious, I'll share those too. It helps to think of it this way:

• Food is fuel, but it doesn't have to be boring
• Simple ingredient swaps can change how you feel day to day

What You Can Expect At the Table

You don't need a trained palate to feel at home here. Here's how this category will nourish:

Heritage comfort meals: Family heirlooms, history and heritage are all extremely important to me. Those stories are passed down not just through treasured items displayed in our homes but also through meals that bring us comfort and sweet memories. I’ll be sharing some of those recipes.

Slow, low cooking: My Fiancé has influenced my cooking style greatly. Before him, I had a tendency to burn everything (luckily, I like burnt food) but he's taught me the superiority of low-and-slow cooking. We enjoy a good slow cooker meal and experiment quite often. I’ll share some of our favorites. Let me know if you'd like to see a guest appearance from him!

Specialty drinks: Every so often I make up a special cocktail recipe that is just too good not to share. Seasonal liquid refreshments will be sprinkled throughout the year.

Where This Category Is Headed

At the Table is evolving and growing the older singlenesting gets. As I’ve been maturing in my own life, I’ve found that there’s a need to speak to the non-traditional households, much like my own. When I first started writing about homemaking, I lived alone but with a shared kitchen. Then I moved to a home where several households merged together and we learned to navigate those differences coming together. Then, I moved back to my childhood home to care for my elderly mother and manage the family home. Now, as I look forward to marriage and making a home with my Fiancé, we’re learning how to navigate sharing in a multi-generational home. 

With all of that background, if you're not sure what to expect week to week, here's the short version:

• Easy, hearty recipes and meals
• Tips for cooking in a solo or shared kitchen
• Stocking a pantry and cooking from it while minimizing waste

Nourishment as Homemaking, Not Performance

One last thought: nourishing our household, and those we invite to share it with us, is such a substantial part of life. Following my firm belief in the beauty of imperfection, I want to help you foster the other areas of your homemaking through this primal human need to nourish our bodies. We love ourselves by feeding our bodies and taking care of ourselves and that’s a great foundation to start loving others.