To Blog or Not To Blog

When family and friends first suggested I start a blog to share my recipes, I wasn’t convinced it was a good idea. Not by a long shot. It felt to me that every man and his blog was putting pen to virtual paper and jabbering about something or another. I was of the opinion the web was already saturated with Nigella wannabe’s and I didn’t particularly feel I wanted to add to the soup. But slowly, and after much persuasion from loved ones, I started to agree that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. After all, nobody would probably read it, I would have somewhere to catalogue all my recipes and it would give me something to do while being at home with my daughter. So I though why not? There’s always room for another food blog. After all, everyone’s gotta eat!

But as I started to think seriously about putting this blog together and about the kind of things I would include and why, I came to acknowledge its merit. And I decided it was no longer going to be a little project to pass the time, but an exciting  journey. A journey of discovery and fun. Invariably, the blog would be centred around food and family. The challenges of newfound motherhood and the trials and tribulations of trying to cook amazing food out of a small and charming, yet ill-equipped kitchen.

In hindsight, it was always going to be much more than just a way to pass the time. Instead of being dubious I’m now extremely excited to start this journey and to be able to share my cooking successes, and sometimes failures, with you. To impart what little knowledge I can, and to bare a small part of my soul, my life and my loves.

On the onset, I want to clearly state that I'm not trying advocate any particular diet or tell you what you should or should not eat. I use mainly organic ingredients because that is what I prefer and what makes sense to me as a mother and concerned citizen of the world. Some recipes will be gluten free, and others vegan. This will largely be coincidental and this does not mean I think you should follow a wholly organic, gluten free vegan diet. I certainly don't. Countless recipes will call for gluts of butter and cream (you can thank my Finnish heritage for this), while others will be absolutely packed with nutritious seasonal ingredients. And many of the recipes will be Nordic inspired as I get in touch with my culinary Finnish roots. Fundamentally, I believe in making healthy lifestyle choices, with food being one of the most important and easily controlled. I believe in eating food as close to its natural state as possible and making sustainable food choices.

Lately, and all too often, the dissemination of food is espoused with the same fever as religion.  I find this boorish and entirely uncalled for. So I won’t do it here. I say go boldly forth, without apology, and eat however and whatever it is that makes you happy. Whether you chose to follow a vegetarian, paleo, vegan, gluten free, carb free, or meat inclusive diet doesn't matter. If you feel it’s right for you, do it. Just don’t expect everyone else to do so.

I for one, believe in eating everything in moderation and enjoying life's culinary pleasures. And I plan to do just that.

Love and light!

Susanna xo