Creating Our Family Cookbook

One of the projects I've wanted to start for a while is collecting recipes in a book to have around the house. I picked up a cheap cookbook with refillable recipe cards the other day and got started. I mean, reading recipes on my phone is fine and all, but I want a physical something around the house . . . a something to pass down someday when this blog is digital history.

Sort of like my great grandmother's book from 1914!

I'm starting slowly by entering what foods we make most frequently. I have a lot of these recipes committed to memory, but it's been nice to say "I'm going out to do X. Stephen -- could you and Ada make Cornbread from the cookbook?"

What's inside:

• Kefir Pancakes
• Kefir Cornbread (sharing this one soon!)
• Vegan Chocolate Cake/Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Pizza Dough
• Homemade Bagels
• Pecan Chocolate Chippers
• Vegan Brownies

I try to write in two recipes a week that we've made. Cooking is more of an experimental thing for us, so I think the book will likely consist primarily of biscuits, cookies, cakes, breads, and other baked goods. And that's cool. That's what I like to do most!

Do you guys have physical cookbooks of your favorite recipes? How do you manage them? A lot of people have suggested I just print off my recipes and put them in a book. But I sort of like having the handwritten recipe cards. Guess I'm just old fashioned.

Mamma Chia Review

In other food news, if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I got the opportunity to try out some Mamma Chia foods recently. I had actually bought a few bars on my own before, so I was excited to see what the rest of the line was like. For those of you who aren't familiar, Mamma Chia incorporates chia seeds into tasty + organic beverages, squeeze packs, bars, etc.

Of everything I tried, their new Cherry Beet Chia Squeeze was my favorite (Ada's too!). The bars are also a good, low-sugar treat to pack in your bag for snack emergencies. Yes. Emergencies. That's a thing. I promise you.


And I love how their new line of beverages incorporates greens -- something I don't always get enough of in my diet these days.


I know some people don't love the texture of chia seeds, but it's an ingredient we've incorporated into our foods for years. My suggestion? If you want the benefits of a chia drink -- try drinking it through a straw. That way you get all the good stuff -- Omega-3s, plant protein, veggies, fruits, etc. -- without the texture being as much of an issue.

Have you guys tried Mamma Chia? 

I was sent the products you see above for this review. My opinions are my own, and I'll be quite honest: This stuff truly is good. I'll be stocking up on some of those squeeze packs on my next grocery run.