I am Joining the Hearth and Soul Hop as a Co-Host

I am very excited to announce that I will be joining the Hearth and Soul Hop as a Co-Host next week. I discovered the hop when Alex saw one of my tweets that included the hashtags #realfood and #recipe and tweeted me an invitation. I was immediately impressed with what I saw! So many delicious recipes created from wholesome ingredients with the occasional homemade dessert. I have participated regularly ever since then.

The Hearth and Soul Hop’s mission statement reflects the balance that I try to achieve in my own home. As a homeschooling mom, I have been blessed to have most of my family around the table for 3 meals a day for the last 20 years. The conversations, prayers, and laughter are as vital to our meals as any ingredient I add to a recipe. This fact is acknowledged in the Hearth and Soul’s mission statement and you will find that as you visit other participants you will form friendships because they are not just sharing a recipe, but a piece of their soul.

Hearth and Soul Mission:

Food from your hearth, to feed your soul. Food that follows your intuition. Preparing food from scratch to nourish your family…body, mind AND soul! Food made with your own hands…infused with energy and passion and intent. Real food made by real people to feed real families (big and small, in blood or spirit). Ingredients from scratch, be it something grown in your garden or raised on your land…food foraged in the field or woods…food from local farms, farmers, or farmers markets…or even ingredients chosen by you from your local market that will be turned into something that feeds your soul. Tapping the food memory that each of us has stored inside; letting it guide and influence our own time in the kitchen.

We hope to embrace not only the “expected” areas of real food, but also those who want to incorporate healthier choices without sacrificing their love of food…how it tastes, the memories it conjures up, the comfort it brings. Yes, we’re trying to steer clear of packaged, processed, and boxed foods in favor of real foods….without absolutely excluding the sometimes frowned upon white sugar or flour (because the body craves what it craves…and sometimes things just don’t taste the same when you replace these). Making conscious choices and being present in the now with what your body needs…and taking steps towards exploring and enjoying healthier choices. If you take the time to listen, your body will tell you what it needs.

The warm comfort of the home hearth…stories, anecdotes, lessons, adventures, journeys, recipes, meals, beverages…we want to share the “why” of how food feeds more than just our bodies…how it also feeds our souls. After all, aren’t these the essential ingredients in defining real food? Please share links from your Hearth ‘n Soul with us each week.

Alex at A Moderate life
Christy at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy
Jason at Alternative Health and Nutrition
April of 21st Century Housewife
Michelle of Fit Foodista
Kankana of Sunshine and Smile
Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen

If you do not already know the other hosts, please take time to visit them. I am sure you will enjoy their recipes and blogs as much as I do.