I think about food all the time.

When I reminisce about my history thus far, it always seems to come back to sharing one’s love through food. Family, friends & food.

A lot of my experiences and most favourite memories from growing up are linked to food so I decided to explore my love of food & family further.

One side of my family is of German heritage and I grew up eating my Oma’s cooking on a regular basis.  I remember vividly the tradition of ‘afternoon coffee’ where at around 3PM each day meant we all gathered together when we were at my Oma & Opa’s (Grandma & Grandpa’s) for coffee & cake.

Memorable Christmas and Easter dinners were filled with turkey and many of my favourite fixings which my Mom still makes to this day – specifically ‘Kloesse,’ a traditional dumpling that is ever so perfect beside turkey and home made gravy.

I remember growing up there were certain meals we had like clockwork – ‘Pizza Wednesdays’ for example and I also loved the meatballs my mom ‘made’ for us (full story on these ‘homemade’ meatballs still to come).

From experiences or trips, from family or friends, I garner food inspiration in a lot of places.  My husband calls it ‘free-styling’ when I pretty much make up a dinner from random fridge ingredients but to me it’s sort of normal, I love being creative in the kitchen.

That is what Cooking in my Genes is  all about – I’ll share with you my take on the recipes I grew up with, family stories, foodie adventures as well as what I love to cook now for family & friends.

I hope you’ll come on this journey with me.

xo jess