• Sunshine Becomes You by Vanessa Young
    Living

    Sunshine Becomes You

    Designed to make you smile, the heartfelt words and original images I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks are intended to deliver moments of lightness. They feature plants to which I’ve tended and messages we all need to hear along the journey. Visit the page every few days to enjoy the new artwork I’ve added – and share the gallery with others to amplify the joy.

  • Apricot vinaigrette in a white pitcher surrounded by tomatoes and basil
    Living

    Cooking with Kids: A Holistic Approach to Learning

    Our kitchens serve as the hub of daily life, the places where we gather and experiment, where we taste new dishes and share our stories. When you think of essential skills to teach children in the kitchen, the ability to read a recipe and execute it well may come to mind, but there are a wealth of opportunities to support growth as you cook together. Guide children toward healthy eating habits and away from self-criticism, bring vibrancy to science concepts, and certainly instill an appreciation of cooking with these tips. Share Food Stories There is a reason you are making a particular recipe with your child.  Maybe you grew up…

  • Botanical drawing of chile pepper
    Food

    The Language of Spice: Chili, Chile, and Chilli

    If you enjoyed reading last week’s hot chocolate recipe and happen to be interested in the language surrounding food, you may have wondered about the spelling of one of the key ingredients:  chile. As I write up the recipes that hopefully will inspire your own home cooking, I occasionally come upon the name of an ingredient or traditional dish that requires a little bit of editorial finesse. Take, for example, my recent pasta e fagioli.  I faced a decision of whether to translate the name into English for those who were not familiar with this Italian soup. Since my grandmother pronounced this dish and other Italian classics so fluidly, it’s…

  • Loose tea with wooden scoop
    Living

    Create a Restorative Mealtime Ritual

    Recently I introduced a class, Cooking as Creative Meditation, in which I share ways that home cooking can be a meditative practice supportive of our well-being. We take a new look at the entire cooking process from meal planning to experiencing a beautiful meal. We also explore gratitude for the many hands that make it possible for us to access and prepare food, a practice to carry out throughout the year. From the farmers who grew the baby potatoes we will roast in the oven to those who harvested them, there are many to thank for the dishes we make. There are those who laid out the vegetables at the…

  • Tomatoes and apricots
    Living

    Q & A with Thirsty Radish Founder Vanessa Young

    As I interact with readers and travel around teaching about culture, food, and wellness, I often am asked questions about Thirsty Radish. This week, I’m sharing answers to some of the top questions. How far in advance do you come up with your recipes? The recipes on Thirsty Radish are what you’ll find me eating that week. In fact, I came up with a wonderful cherry recipe at the tail end of cherry season last year only to be unable to find a tasty bunch at the market later that week, so I wound up not posting that recipe. I enjoy making and baking food along with all my lovely…