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If you’re looking for rest from the barrage of shoulds and oughts, and are longing for a healthy dose of reality, then you’ve come to the right place. Join me on This Real Journey.

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About Me

Greetings. I’m Jessica.

Whether sipping away at a cup of loose-leaf tea, plunging my nose into a glass of cabernet franc, or fiddling with new uses for my rye sourdough starter, I am game for an adventure when it comes to food. Eating and drinking don’t merely sustain us; they are meant for our joy. I am a firm believer in the good reality of this journey called life, and invite you to join me in discovering myriad ways to get lost in wonder. Read more

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My midweek “what’s in the fridge and pantry” meal sure hit the spot! And I’ve been enjoying the leftovers. I finished up a jar of curry paste to make this green coconut curry featuring green lentils and a bunch of green onions. (You can see I have a green theme going on here…) This fresh ginger- and chili-flake enhanced curry is served over brown rice and finished with a hearty squeeze of fresh lime juice and some sesame seeds. Cilantro would be lovely, too! Bread baking is such a joy. This beaut just came out of the oven—a Sabbath feast to share with friends. Sourdough Sicilian style pizza inspired by my favorite bakery. Tarragon béchamel topped with thinly sliced red potatoes and sheep cheeses. How familiar are you with Italian wines? I had some difficulty first stepping into them, but now they are some of my favorite of all. Interested in experiencing the wine of the Old World? Start with one of five Italian wines I recommend in my latest blog post—see bio for blog link. This morning I upcycled some old flannel pillowcases into reusable cosmetic “squares” (a green relative of the “cotton rounds”). The well-worn flannel makes these nice and soft, and using the doubled-up edges of the pillowcases gives them a more robust substance. I had a marvelous sandwich this weekend, accompanied by a not-your-average potato salad. The former was made with focaccia—why has this never crossed my mind? I must make a sandwich next time I make my favorite focaccia. Loaded with roasted mushrooms, red bell peppers, arugula, and herbed goat cheese, it was oh so delicious. The potato salad had thin slices of potato—maximum surface area for maximum flavor! There’s nothing like fresh greens from the garden. While I don’t yet have a yard for gardening (and have not yet dove into patio-gardening), my lovely friend blessed us with a bounty of lettuces, herbs, and other special leaves. Have you ever tried the leaves from sugar snap pea or fava bean plant? What about sorrel? Delicate flavors call for a simple meal. Fresh dill, lemon, and homemade cashew yogurt dressed greens (picked hours before!), accompanied by rye toasts, sardines and Dijon, and an Italian soave. One of my favorite things I made and have eaten lately: a blueberry frangipane tart. Perfect for teatime, as you can see. I lessened the sugar in both the pastry and the frangipane; I just find typical recipes to be too sweet. It was delightful. #blueberries #frangipane #teatime #almond Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which begins the Lenten season. My church family is focusing on a twofold fast: fasting from a distraction, and fasting from a comfort. I will spend the next 40 days off of Instagram as a result. I encourage you, too, to consider what distractions and comforts might be keeping you from intimacy with God. What blocks out the still small voice? What do you turn to for numbing? Even good things can get in the way. Stories are powerful; we know this deep in our bones. The stories we read and watch shape us, give us a picture of what’s possible.