Richmond Mom Makes Cooking Fun and Relaxing

Did you know that cooking can actually be fun,  inspirational, and relaxing?

That’s what one Richmond mom has to say about it. Amanda Rose has taken on the task of cooking and has learned to love everything about it.

“When I was first married less than a year ago, I didn’t cook that much. Living alone made it easy to just grab a sandwich, eat a frozen dinner, or skip meals altogether. But now that I’m married and have a husband and step-son who love to eat, I’ve found that cooking is more than just something to do. It’s fun and I look forward to trying new recipes and creating my own. It actually helps me unwind and relax at the end of the day.”

Amanda always followed recipes to the letter before – afraid to try anything new. But something changed all of that and now she experiments with main dishes, soups, cupcakes, cookies, and everything edible. She’s learning to combine different types of herbs and spices to create delicious dishes that she never thought possible. With a focus on healthier ingredients including organic and natural food, she is also making a difference in the health of her family.

“I didn’t realize how important it is to use natural and organic ingredients until I read more about processed foods, pesticides used in gardening, and hormones added to beef, chicken and other meat. I’ve also learned a lot from Lisa Granger, chef at Green Monkey. She has given me some great tips on incorporating healthier ingredients and techniques into my cooking. I’ve learned that ‘healthy’ does not always mean it’s a food that is lowest in fat, sugar or other ingredients – but it’s healthy when it includes natural, organic ingredients that offer richer and fuller flavors — meaning you can eat less and feel more satisfied.”

Amanda’s love for cooking has evolved over the past few months and now she has her own blog at Leap of Taste where she shares her successes – and her failures! She’s brutally honest about her cooking adventures and she loves to share her new recipes and actual photos of her creations.You will even find a few “flops” on her blog.

Amanda is creating her own recipes now — like her latest Roasted Pepper Lasagna Soup. By her own admission she laughs, “It’s not the healthiest dish on the planet, but it’s better than eating a whole pizza from Pizza Hut! It’s all about one thing that’s healthier than another sometimes.” She also includes recipes for homemade Whole Wheat Parmesan Croutons, Strawberries and Champagne Cupcakes (just in time for New Year’s celebrations) and many more on her blog.

This Richmond mom has decided to turn cooking into an adventure rather than a chore. You’ll want to follow her blog and “like” her on Facebook so you can see what she’s cooking up next. And feel free to share recipes, cooking tips and ideas, and healthy cooking techniques with her.

Amanda is learning more and more every day and we can’t wait to see what she posts next!