My Food Philosophy

My food philosophy, most simply put, is that you can eat anything in moderation. I am lucky that I don’t suffer from any unavoidable food allergies, and I don’t ascribe to a particular diet of any sort. I am not vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, freegan, Keto, whatever it is that Gisele and Tom do, or anything that can be neatly defined: I just like food.* I like trying new ingredients and new cuisines, and returning to tried and true recipes that remind me of my childhood. I gain recipe inspiration from friends and family, from eating at restaurants, from reading cook books and other food blogs, and from books and movies more than you would think (at some point I’ll write about the pasta sauce recipe from The Godfather. It’s unreal.).

*I apologize if I occasionally sound like I’m running for president when I write. I used to work in campaign politics, and it just comes out.

More than anything, I love food because it brings people together. I learned to cook from my grandmother when I was really young, and I still exchange cooking tips and recipes with her and with my mom all of the time. My family was never too over the top when it came to holiday decorations and traditions, but we always came together over an amazing meal. Now, my fiance and I love to have people over to our house to enjoy good food and good wine whenever we find the time. Cooking is most decidedly my love language.

Now that I’ve shared a little bit of my soul, let me share a little bit of my daily life: I don’t have time for all of that. Who does?? I am currently in grad school, working multiple part-time jobs, and planning a wedding. I need recipes that are fast, affordable, and healthy. The more I started talking to my friends about cooking, the more that I found that I am not alone in this. There are many professionals – both young and well-seasoned – who resort to expensive meals from the prepared foods counter at Whole Foods or affordable but high calorie takeout options, or when darkness truly calls feta bread from Pizza House (it’s a glorious and terrible thing) more often than they would like, but it happens! Life is busy, and time is short. That’s where I got the idea for this blog: I hope that as you look through my recipes, you pick out a few that you like – start with my super simple Summertime Pasta! – and can incorporate into your dinner rotation.

Well, there you have it: the Budget Gourmet food philosophy. I am glad that you took the time to read a little bit about me, and I hope that you enjoy my recipes and cooking tips! As always, leave a comment below, send me an email, or reach out to me on social with your questions and your thoughts. Now, happy cooking!