Somewhere along the way, I got caught up in the pressure of social media and our current culture to perform. I’m not the zany, wacky type, and I don’t love being on camera, so that never entered the picture — but I did begin to wonder which lane I fit in. I tried a few iterations, using what I know to create value for people I’d never meet. It never felt authentic.

So I’m going back to my roots. Storytelling for the sake of what I consider the art — cooking, travel, recipe sharing — because I love the process of creating and photographing food and putting it on a page that looks beautiful. Writing for the sake of pure emotional processing and sharing, because our stories are what connect us. And a little travel, because my husband and I have intentionally chosen to move through the world in long stretches — experiencing as many beautiful cities, cultures, and people as feels enjoyable to us.

Why have a website at all? Because I love the technical side of building one from scratch. It has given me a home to collect my thoughts and stretched my brain learning basic coding and everything that happens behind the curtain.

I may still point out why a dish is good for our bodies, because health and wellbeing matter to me — and when I do, it comes from education and science, not opinion. My experience living with MS, and what has helped me live my healthiest life, may be useful to someone navigating something similar.

But mostly, this is a simple place of storytelling and cooking. I wake up every morning, Ric makes me a latte, and I write.

I’m so glad you are here.

At times it has seemed close, just over the next hill, a few decisions away, a different chapter, a different city, a different version of myself.

And yet, I’m still here, not there.

I consider myself a mostly happy person with an incredibly fortunate life. Like most people, I’ve had moments of uncertainty and struggle, periods where life felt far less stable than it does now.

And now, here I am.

Sitting on my terrace in Portugal, the sun warming my skin, Estoril skies stretching wide and blue. A happy marriage. Stability. Beauty. Love. And yes, still imperfections.

And yet, I still feel the pull of there.

Perhaps it’s simply human nature, this quiet sense that something just beyond where we are might offer more.

Psychologists have studied this tendency for decades. What’s fascinating is how quickly we adapt, even to meaningful improvements in our lives. What once felt like there eventually becomes here, and before long, we begin looking ahead again.

But lately, I’ve been wondering if there’s a difference between curiosity and chasing.

I wrote more about this reflection, along with some thoughts on travel, contentment, and what truly shapes a life that feels good, here: Chasing “There”

Lately, I’ve been drawn to nostalgic recipes, dishes that feel connected to memory and place. Flavors that bring me back to childhood summers, grandparents’ kitchens, and simpler moments around the table. This strawberry cobbler is an updated version of a classic, rustic, comforting, and perfect this time of year.

Strawberry Cobbler with Lemon Biscuits

Part of what I’ve been learning is that a meaningful life is rarely built on dramatic moments alone. More often, it’s found in smaller things: a meal shared with people we love, a walk through the market, an ordinary afternoon. And perhaps contentment has less to do with meeting expectations and more to do with moving toward what feels true to us.

Thanks for being here. Until next time.

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We packed up the car and set out on a long road trip through France. The kind of journey where the days stretch out ahead of you, loosely planned, with just enough structure to feel grounded, but enough space to let things unfold… and for a plan B when a flat tire or two sidelines you.

There’s something uniquely special about traveling in Europe. The countries are small, so you can move from one to another with relative ease, experiencing a variety of cultures and gastronomic styles along the way. From Portugal to Spain, and now France, each carries its own distinct and indelible character.

Food That Travels… and Entertains Well

Before we left, I made a simple French lentil salad and packed it into recycled Bonne Maman jars. It felt practical, but also a little charming.

The first night, we stopped in Madrid. We arrived late, too tired to go out, and instead laid everything out on the bed — bread, lentils, and a soft French goat cheese we had tucked into our bag, and had an impromptu picnic dinner.

It was simple, fun, and just a little romantic.

And this recipe, while perfect for travel, works just as beautifully for entertaining.

What I’m Cooking Right Now

Recipes with a French connection, either by flavor or feeling.

Dishes like the Orange Blackberry Scones with Rosemary, which aren’t traditionally French, but carry the essence of Provence through their ingredients.

And simple, elegant plates like Smoked Carrots with lemony whipped ricotta and a drizzle of harissa, distinct, vibrant flavors that welcome the arrival of spring.

Featured Recipes

French Lentil Salad with Walnut–Shallot Vinaigrette

A nourishing salad layered with lentils, charred leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, sultanas, herbs, and walnuts, finished with a bright, balanced vinaigrette. Perfect for picnics, make-ahead entertaining, or travel.

This is the one we took on the road.

Read the Post & Recipe

Orange Blackberry Scones with Rosemary

Tender, layered scones with bursts of citrus and blackberry with a subtle hint of rosemary - a small treat worth slowing down for.

Read the Post & Recipe

Smoked Carrots with Whipped Lemon Ricotta and Harissa

A study in contrast — sweet, smoky, creamy, and bright, and oh so tasty.

Read the Post & Recipe

Vegetarian French Butter Bean Cassoulet

A rustic French classic cassoulet, reimagined for a vegetarian table.

Read the Post & Recipe

Until next time,
Eva

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Welcome, and happy new year. I hope this first letter of 2026 finds you well.

This month I’m leaning hard into winter salads and vegetable-forward dishes. After the excess and noise of the holidays, I find myself craving food that feels vibrant and healing, like deep, jewel-toned beets, bitter greens, bright citrus, and crunchy nuts and seeds. Dishes that carry both comfort and serious nutrition on the same fork.

Here in Portugal, the markets are still overflowing with colorful produce and flowers. So, I wander, I touch, I smell, and take it in, looking for inspiration. And somewhere between the seafood, bakery, dairy, and produce stalls, a meal begins to take shape.

Lately, my path to wellness has meant salads like this one, made with roasted beets, oranges, radicchio, and mint, and gentle movement like a 40-minute walk or a 20-minute dance session. Nourishing relaxed living - this is how I’m starting off the year.

Featured Recipes

Roasted Beet, Orange & Mint Salad
with Pistachio Dukkah & Citrus Vinaigrette

Read the full recipe

Kale, Purple Cabbage and Curried Pineapple Salad

Read the full recipe

Polenta Cakes with Roasted Tomatoes and Artichokes with Ancho–Honey Glaze

Read the full recipe

Purple Sweet Potatoes with Charred Peppers and Lemon-White Bean Purée

Read the full recipe

Wellness Corner 🌿

Eating the Colors

Discover why eating a wide range of colorful plant foods supports heart health, brain function, and longevity, with science-backed insights and practical tips.

Read the full article

Food for Thought

Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Until next time,
Eva Marie

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We passed small hamlets that looked as if they could only be reached by boat, since there was no place to pull off the road or park in sight. Extraordinary villas dotted the cliffs above and below us, beauties I longed to stop and admire up close.

My son maneuvered the car with hair-raising precision through the twists and turns of this slice of heaven that can barely fit two passing vehicles. As you may have heard, Italian drivers take daring to a whole new level.

My granddaughter, blissfully asleep, and her mother, also dozing, were spared most of the breath-holding moments as we squeezed between stone walls and a cliff’s edge, narrowly clearing a car that appeared a split second before. It’s the daily dance of Italian roads, and somehow, we all survived.

Celebrating Three Generations

I envied the two sleeping, one from the joy and exhaustion of motherhood and the other lulled into afternoon slumber by the swaying car after a day of new adventures. I sat there, filled with mixed emotions —mostly gratitude and wonder — for this smart, funny, enchanting little being who arrived a year ago and changed our lives forever.

The day before, we had celebrated three generations of birthdays—my granddaughter’s first, my son’s, and mine. All of us, born decades apart, share the same birth date.

A Villa Above the Clouds

We celebrated in a rented villa perched so high above Lake Como that there was a funicular to reach it. It felt like a place straight out of a fairy tale, with sunsets painted in watercolor hues so astonishing they were hard to believe. They say Mussolini once slept here, though I was happy not to run into that ghost.

My son requested carrot cake for his birthday, something rare, if not impossible, to find in Europe. His last encounter with one had not been good. As he put it, “it just tasted like carrots in the shape of a cake.”

Determined to redeem the experience, I decided to bake it myself. I developed and tested the recipe for my Brown Butter Carrot Cake at home in Portugal, then measured and packed all the dry ingredients into a small bag, my own DIY cake mix, ready for Italy.

Read the full story

Featured Recipes

Brown Butter Carrot Cake

Honey Miso Salmon on Greens

From the Archives

Recipes worth revisiting:

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

Roasted Squash, Red Onion, and Pomgranate Salad

Cranberry - Apple Chutney

Apple and Mango Chutney Stuffing

Cranberry Breakfast Buns

Wellness Corner 🌿

Japanese Interval Walking

If you’ve struggled to find an exercise routine that feels doable, Japanese Interval Walking might be the reset you need. It’s a gentle, research-supported way to build strength, improve cardiovascular health, and boost energy, especially for those of us looking for sustainable movement in midlife and beyond.

Read more

Just a Thought

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

We give thanks not only for what we have, but for the ways life keeps reshaping us — softening our edges, widening our capacity to love, teaching us to find beauty in the spaces between.

Until next time,
Eva

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After a whirlwind of airports, time zones, and days that blurred together, I’ve finally landed, not just physically, but emotionally. And in that landing, something essential has emerged: the quiet art of slowing down.

Lately, I’ve been paying attention to what helps me come back to myself:

• Early sunlight on the skin and eyes

• Home-cooked meals

• A gentle workout, such as floor Pilates or Yoga

• A walk after dinner

We’ve also been stretching ourselves a bit, trying to meet new people, something that doesn’t come naturally to us. The truth? We’re almost too content in our own little world. But, as followers of Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones and Dr. Daniel Amen’s research, we know that connection isn’t just enjoyment; it’s essential for long-term well-being.

I’ve also been leaning into:

• FaceTime to share real-time moments with our kids and grandchildren

• Old-school phone calls with friends without an agenda

• Hanging out in cafés and enjoying the human connection that comes with it

• Saying yes to invitations, even when my introvert self hesitates

Featured Recipes

While the weather remains warm, my cravings are shifting toward meals that feel like fall, richer in color, deeper in flavor, and gently comforting.

Here’s what we’ve been eating:

Grilled Romaine, Beets & Blue Cheese Salad

Picante Bean Soup

Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Blondies

From the Archives

Recipes worth revisiting:

Roasted Tomato and Sweet Pepper Strudel

Elegant Red Wine Poached Pears

Wellness Corner 🌿

This month, I shared something I’ve held close for many years: my personal journey with autoimmune disease. Writing about it was uncomfortable, but if it helps even one person feel seen or a little more hopeful, then I’m grateful I let it out.

Read: Living with UCTD & MS

Just a Thought

“Women grow radical with age. One day, an army of gray-haired women may quietly take over the Earth.”
— Gloria Steinem

And honestly, given the state of things, we might be the answer to world peace.

Until next time,
Eva Marie

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Portugal has been good for us, relaxing and grounding. We recently celebrated my husband’s birthday, and with my own milestone approaching in just a couple of months, we’ve been reflecting together on what truly matters and what we want for the years ahead. Again and again, it circles back to family.

With children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and parents scattered across so many locations, we often ask ourselves: how do we spend time in ways that nourish everyone, while still finding balance for ourselves?

For us, it comes down to two things: prioritizing family time over energy-draining commitments that aren’t truly necessary, and carving out space to recharge our own batteries.

Family time means checking in regularly, through video calls, or in person when possible, and making that time meaningful. Sometimes it’s sharing a memorable activity, other times it’s simply sitting together, connecting over conversation or around a table with a meal.

And that ever-elusive self-care? For me, the essentials are simple: meditation, eating well, exercise, a walk in nature, coffee with a friend, laughter, and good sleep (always a challenge for me).

Lately, I’ve been leaning into one-pot meals for the sake of efficiency and flavor. Dishes like soups, paellas, and pastas, such as the one I’m sharing here. They bring ease to the kitchen while still putting a nourishing, satisfying meal on the table.

Featured Recipe

Lemon and Artichoke Fettuccine

A bright and creamy one-pot pasta layered with lemon zest, artichokes, capers, and fresh herbs. Ready in under 30 minutes with gluten-free and vegan options. It’s a dish that feels both rustic and elegant.

Get the recipe here -

From the Archives

Recipes worth revisiting:

• Spicy Peanut Noodles – Creamy, spicy, and full of crunch. Equally good warm or chilled.

  

• Fresh Peach Tea Cake – Light and tender, with juicy peaches baked into every bite. Perfect with your afternoon tea.

Wellness Corner 🌿

Nourishment is more than what’s on our plates. It’s also the practices that bring ease and kindness into daily life. This week, explore a gentle Loving-Kindness Meditation. It’s a simple way to cultivate compassion for yourself and for others. Something I think we could all use a little more of.

Thank You

Thanks for being here. I’m so grateful to have you along.

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Warmly,
Eva

Today I’ve got something bold, cozy, and delicious to share: a Tunisian-Inspired Cauliflower dish that’s one part ease and two parts rich and sumptuous. Think cauliflower florets, smoky spices, coconut cream, herbs... and all in 30 minutes or so.

Read the full recipe and story here

If you’re looking for more to savor while you’re here, you might also enjoy:

· Tomato Shallot Confit with Whipped Ricotta — a sublime combo of slow-roasted tomatoes, savory shallots, on a bed of creamy ricotta.

· The Land of Trolls Apple Cake — a nostalgic journey and home-spun Nordic tales rooted in my Norwegian history, baked into a spiced apple cake.

May these recipes bring spice and warm moments to your table.

From my kitchen to yours,
Eva

Just back from a whirlwind trip to New York and Fishers Island with a recipe for a juicy apricot and plum galette. Sweet stone fruit nestled into a cream cheese layer kissed with vanilla and thyme. The crust is buttery and golden, and the scent alone brings me back to farmstand mornings and late-summer kitchens. It’s the kind of recipe that reminds me how good it feels to pause, create, and savor.

Read the full galette story & recipe

If you’re in the mood to linger a bit longer, here are a few more reads you might enjoy:

🍑 Nectarine & Orange Salad — A bright and juicy reminder that the simplest combinations often taste the most luxurious.

🌶️ Spicy Thai Vegetable Curry — Comfort in a bowl: a warming, plant-rich dish perfect for evenings that ask for something cozy and bold.

🌍 Discovering Budapest — Travel notes from a city that surprised me with its vibrance, beauty, and history.

Wherever this message finds you, I hope you’re well-fed and cherishing your summer days.

Warmly,
Eva