Simple Recipes • Simple Ingredients • Simply Delicious
Hi, and thanks so much for stopping by! My name is Alla, and my goal here is simple: Simple recipes, simple ingredients, simply delicious. I want to show you that cooking healthy meals doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. That yes, it is possible to have a healthy meal under 30 min on a weeknight. That a busy entrepreneur, working parent, and anyone that enjoys good food can have a healthy meal on the table. My goal is to inspire and encourage you to try new wholesome foods, not to be afraid to experiment in the kitchen, and look at food from a nourishing standpoint.
A little about Me
I’ve always enjoyed cooking. Growing up in a household with two young immigrant parents who worked around the clock, whenever my brother and I needed to eat, we had to fix a meal for ourselves. At an early age, I started exploring recipes from cookbooks and recreating my grandma’s Russian/Ukrainian classic creations. I hit a setback in my early 20s when I started struggling with digestive issues. I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis (a milder form of ulcerative colitis – a chronic, inflammatory disease of the GI tract, specifically targeting the inner lining of the large intestine).
It was at that time that I started challenging traditional medicine and conventional methods, and began experimenting in the kitchen. First, I started with elimination diets, playing around with gluten substitutes, and ultimately focusing on a clean foods approach. Think Paleo but with some added flexibility. This is where I am today. I realize that there isn't one specific dietary approach or method, but rather a continually evolving and changing process. I find that it is important to listen to my body (intuitive eating), what it craves, and how it reacts to certain foods are all clues for better health.
My food philosophy is eating unprocessed, real food, organic, and local, when possible. I find the best tasting food to be simple, made from top quality seasonal ingredients. Eating locally is a great way to focus on eating what is in season and at its most optimal time. I don't like labels (in reference to food diets), as they tend to box you into a corner.
That being said, most of my recipes are:
- Healthy and made from real whole foods
- Simple to make, using a few basic ingredients
- Flexible and lending themselves to substitutions
In addition, most of my recipes are made without:
- Refined sugar
- Gluten
- Dairy
- Soy
- Peanuts (more on this later)
I enjoy pastured eggs, wild fish, grass-fed meats, and pastured poultry. On occasion and in moderation, I can have dairy in the form of Greek yogurt or certain cheeses. I share recipes that are paleo-friendly, vegan, and vegetarian, and at times of nostalgia will go back in time and share a recipe from my childhood.
Introducing Mika
Meet Mika, my oldest daughter, my bubbly and talkative 6th grader who loves to dance and play the piano. She is also my little helper around here so you will see her on occasion. #mklilhelper
Mika has a severe peanut allergy that was discovered at the age of 7. Peanuts and products that are contaminated with peanuts are all around us. A child with an allergy always has to be on alert, read labels thoroughly, and be careful when eating with and around others. This can be stressful. We decided as a family that our home will be a peanut-free zone. A place where she can feel safe and let her guard down. This is why you won’t find any peanut dishes on the blog.
Check out the eating with allergies section of the blog for resources like:
- List of peanut-free products
- Local restaurant recommendations that accommodate allergies
- How to travel with allergies and restaurant recommendations from places we have visited
- What questions to ask at restaurants to get the answers you need to make the most informed decision
Thanks so much for sticking around and getting to know us. I encourage you to stop in often and join my cooking explorations. I would love to hear your feedback, so don’t hesitate to drop me a line or say hello on Instagram @mintykitchen. And lastly, join my mailing list to stay in-the-know on all the updates, happenings, and new recipes.
XOXO,
Alla & Mika