Hi there! Thanks so much for being here! I’m Courtney, and I’m so glad to meet you.
I’m a mom of 2 boys, ages 11 and 8 (trying not to sob as I look at this old photo of them), and married to my college sweetheart. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend getting married the same summer you’re legally allowed to drink, but it’s worked out pretty well for us. My husband and I work together on our recipe blog, NeighborFoodblog.com, and are currently dreaming about transforming an old church into a welcoming community space in Columbus, OH.
I’m an enneagram 9 who deeply loves books, cozy blankets, and walks in the woods, but breaks into hives at a hint of conflict. I’ve lived my whole life in the Midwest and have roots in the Amish and Mennonite tradition, which means casseroles and baked goods are my native language.
I became a Christian before I could ride a bike, but my faith has changed and expanded dramatically over the last 30+ years. Despite my complicated relationship with big-C Christianity, I am still grounded in Love and stubbornly hopeful that all things will one day be redeemed.
Before I became a food blogger, I was a community organizer, and much of my love for food is tied to its power to bring people together across all kinds of social barriers.
I believe food is the greatest reminder of our common humanity, a thread that both ties us to one another and honors our vast and splendid diversity. Cooking is both deeply personal and communal at the same time. It animates our celebrations, comforts us in our grief, and surfaces a memory or connects us to our ancestors with a single bite.
Food has been the backdrop of the story of my life. I hope each time a new post or recipe hits your inbox, you feel like you’re getting a love letter from my kitchen to yours.
Why a Newsletter? And What Can I Expect?
I started this space as a way to reclaim the community aspect I so deeply missed from the dinosaur ages of blogging (ie: 2011-2015). This is a space where I can show up as a whole human being, and not just a recipe factory. I hope it’s a safe place for other hungry souls to show up and connect through food as well.
All subscribers receive:
A monthly round up of my favorite seasonal recipes
Essays on neighboring, building friendships, and hosting without losing your mind
Paid subscribers will also receive:
My most vulnerable essays, where we navigate deconstruction, grief, and the sandwich years of caregiving, together.
1 exclusive recipe each month
A quarterly “Snack Chat”, where I imagine offering you a glass of sweet tea and sharing all the best things of the month—books, recipes, tv shows, funny memes, it’s all fair game.
Access to the full exclusive recipe archive and a year of done-for-you monthly meal plans.
My Top Posts
You can get a feel for my writing and the community here with some of our top posts. I hope you’ll poke around and say hi in the comments! I’m so happy you’re here.
What I Mean When I Say I’m Praying For You
Setting a Table in the Middle of the Hunger Games
Jesus on Rollerskates: The Spiritual Practice of Having Fun in Hard Times
Advent and the Weight of Expectations
Blueberry Muffins + A Baking Meditation to Process Grief
