I am a classically trained chef who never quite entered the restaurant industry. I worked in a restaurant (shadowing a hostess) and quit after only one day-- I knew immediately that I wanted to do something different.
After being formerly known as "Handy Chef," it came to the point where this alias no longer suited me. I wanted something that describes more about what you inherit when you create one of my dishes.
Behind the name Beloved Plate
The concept behind my new name stems from the idea that when I create my recipes, it's done with a tremendous amount of love. That same love transfers onto the finished product leaving the energy on a plate (bowl, spoon, platter etc.) When you create my recipes I am giving you a piece of something I hold near and dear to my heart and as a result, you too will have love on your plate.
My story...
I can remember my first kitchen experience, it was around the age of four when I was watching my grandmother fiddle around in the kitchen. She was making eggs for breakfast and turnovers for dessert later (could have been apple turnovers if memory serves me correctly). She must have noticed my enthusiasm and intrigue because I was welcomed in the kitchen to help her cook. Unbeknownst to me at the time, those few moments sparked an immense love of food that I have carried with me throughout the years.
Growing up, everyone around me cooked--the opportunities I was given to share experiences with my family continued to build a strong foundation around the idea of family and food. I can remember creating dishes as early as fourth grade, I was enthralled with the idea of making something fun and recreating recipes that I saw in my Mother's cookbooks and on TV. Although I took breaks from the kitchen on and off throughout my teenaged years, I was eventually dual enrolled to get my culinary certificate while attending high school. I eventually went on to share my love of food with college friends, hanging out in the dormitories that were equipped with kitchens so I could cook. It was around this time when I had my first and only employed restaurant experience. At the end of that very quick encounter, I knew I wanted to do something less traditional, I just hadn't figured out what that something would be until recently.
Fast forward to today, you can still find me in the kitchen but these days, I'm creating recipes that suit my lifestyle--a busy mom with a full-time job who has limited time on the weekdays but occasionally finds extra moments to create more detailed cuisine. I involve my toddler in my culinary adventures and I truly enjoy reliving the experiences that I had such a long time ago.
What will you find on my blog?
I've gathered a collection of my most loved recipes and put them all here. I cook A LOT but only the best make it to this digital library. My mission is to inspire others to get in the kitchen and cook for themselves, family, friends, and loved ones. I provide tips to make cooking fairly simple. I enjoy high-quality ingredients and make most of my food from scratch, using ingredients that aren't pre-packaged. At Beloved Plate you will find straightforward meals that don't skimp on the flavor.
I'm thrilled to have you here!
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