What Inspires My Plant-Based Creations
Introduction
Behind every recipe I create is a story — a spark of inspiration, a memory, or a desire to bring something comforting and beautiful to life. Cooking isn’t just about feeding my family; it’s about connecting with my creativity, my roots, and the people around me.
Some of my dishes have been part of my kitchen for years, feeding my family through milestones and everyday moments alike. Others are brand new ideas inspired by the season, a craving, or even a flash of color from fresh produce at the market. Whether I’m reimagining a family favorite or creating something entirely new, my goal is always the same: to make food that looks as good as it tastes, feels nourishing, and brings joy to the table.
Inspiration from Every Angle
I find inspiration everywhere — in memories, in moods, and in the changing seasons. Sometimes, a flavor combination comes to mind that I just know will work. Other times, it’s about evoking a feeling.
In the fall and winter, I gravitate toward dishes that bring warmth and comfort, like a cozy bowl of chili or a baked pasta that fills the kitchen with rich, inviting aromas. Spring and summer, on the other hand, are for lighter, brighter meals that celebrate fresh, seasonal produce. A crisp salad, a grilled veggie sandwich, or a fruit-filled dessert often finds its way into my rotation.
Each season brings new opportunities to experiment — to mix the familiar with the unexpected — and that sense of variety keeps me inspired year-round.
The Balance Between Creativity and Real Life
As much as I love getting creative in the kitchen, practicality always plays a role. Weekly meal planning gives me structure, helping me balance quick weekday dinners with more elaborate weekend dishes. Some nights call for a ten-minute one-pan meal, while others invite a slower pace and more creativity.
Family preferences, the season, and what’s already in my pantry all shape what I cook. I love adding small twists to our family favorites — just enough to keep things interesting while still staying true to what we love.
Cooking from Memory
Many of my dishes carry emotional roots. I grew up in a family where food was connection — pancakes on weekends, lasagna for family dinners, soups simmering all afternoon. Those moments built my love of cooking and showed me how food brings people together.
Now, as a mother, I want to create the same kinds of memories for my family.
Cooking familiar dishes connects my past to our present, and every time I share those recipes, I hope they inspire others to do the same in their own homes.
Learning to Cook, and Learning to Teach
I started cooking and eating plant-based at a young age, long before it was as accessible as it is today. Back then, there weren’t endless tutorials, videos, or guides online. I learned through trial and error — and A LOT of experimentation.
Because of that, I know what it’s like to be a beginner in the kitchen. It’s why I design my recipes for all experience levels, from complex dishes that challenge your skills to quick, weeknight dinners that anyone can make. Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or your friends, I want Fettling Fine to feel like a place where you’re supported, inspired, and never intimidated.
The Art of Making Food Beautiful
Taste will always come first, but presentation has grown into a huge part of how I express creativity. In the beginning, I didn’t think much about how my food looked — I cared that it was delicious. But as I began sharing meals with others, I realized that how food looks can change how it’s experienced.
When I started photographing my dishes for social media, I faced a whole new learning curve. Plating, lighting, and color suddenly became just as important as flavor. It was challenging at first, but it helped me grow as both a cook and a creator.
Plant-based food naturally lends itself to beautiful presentation. Walk through the produce section of any grocery store and you’ll see it — the bright greens, deep purples, fiery reds, and sunny oranges. Those colors make plant-based dishes vibrant and full of life, long before they ever reach the plate.
Cooking as a Creative Outlet
Life is busy — sometimes overwhelmingly so. Between work, motherhood, and everything else that fills my days, I rarely feel caught up. Cooking gives me a creative outlet, a space to slow down and reconnect with something that brings me joy.
Starting Fettling Fine amplified that outlet in ways I never expected. It’s allowed me to share my food outside my own kitchen, to experiment with new flavors and techniques, and to learn so much about the creative process. From improving my photography to designing my own eBooks and launching my website, Fettling Fine has become more than a project — it’s an expression of balance, creativity, and growth.
This experience has taught me that creativity isn’t a luxury; it’s essential to living in balance. Fettling Fine reflects that philosophy — it’s about nourishing your body, yes, but also your mind and spirit.
What I Hope to Share
Through every recipe, I want readers to feel inspired and confident — to know that they can make food that’s not only beautiful and flavorful but approachable, too. My hope is that each dish encourages people to find joy in cooking, even on the busiest days.
Food is connection. It’s creativity. It’s comfort. And if you take anything from Fettling Fine, I hope it’s that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.
✨ Find more inspiration in my eBooks and join me on Instagram to see the stories, memories, and moments that spark each creation — because when you cook with heart, every dish tells a story.