About Me

My Early Connection to Food

I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, surrounded by mountains, farmers markets, and a family that believed food should be fresh and honest.

My grandmother kept a small herb garden just outside her kitchen door. I remember stepping outside with her in the evenings, cutting basil or rosemary, and rubbing the leaves between my fingers before bringing them inside. She always told me to smell ingredients first. She said it helped you understand them.

Those small lessons shaped the way I cook today.

In our home, meals were not rushed. We sat together. We talked. We noticed flavors. Food was not just fuel. It was connection.

Education and Finding My Direction

I studied communications at the University of North Carolina because I loved writing and storytelling. During college, I worked part time at a local café that focused on seasonal, farm to table dishes.

That café changed everything for me.

I watched chefs build menus around what was available that week. Strawberries in late spring. Heirloom tomatoes in the summer. Root vegetables in the fall. The kitchen smelled different every month, and I loved that rhythm.

After graduation, I worked in digital marketing for small lifestyle brands. While I enjoyed the creative side of my job, I found myself coming home and spending hours in the kitchen. Cooking became my way to unwind and refocus.

I began documenting my recipes in journals, writing notes about aroma, texture, and balance.

How Breathing In Flavors Began

The blog started quietly.

I began sharing photos of my meals on social media along with thoughtful captions about the experience of cooking them. People often commented on how I described the scents and atmosphere around the food.

A friend suggested I start a blog where I could write more deeply about those sensory details. At first, I hesitated. I did not see myself as a professional chef. I simply loved cooking.

But I realized that passion and curiosity matter just as much as titles.

Breathing In Flavors was born from that realization. I wanted to create a space that focused not only on recipes, but on the experience of preparing them.

My Cooking Philosophy

I believe that flavor begins with attention.

Here is what guides my approach:

• Choose fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible
• Pause and smell herbs and spices before adding them
• Taste frequently and adjust thoughtfully
• Let ingredients shine instead of overpowering them
• Cook in a way that feels calm and intentional

I want my recipes to feel approachable and grounding. You do not need complicated techniques to create beautiful food. You need awareness, balance, and care.

What You Will Find on Breathing In Flavors

On my blog, you will discover:

• Seasonal recipes inspired by local produce
• Light and wholesome meals with vibrant flavor
• Step by step guidance for home cooks
• Reflections on the sensory side of cooking
• Tips for building flavor naturally

Every recipe is tested in my home kitchen and written with clarity so that you feel supported from start to finish.

Life Outside the Kitchen

When I am not cooking or writing, I enjoy early morning market visits, long walks in nature, and collecting cookbooks that inspire new ideas.

Travel also fuels my creativity. I pay attention to how different cultures layer flavor and use aroma to create comfort.

Those experiences always find their way back into my kitchen.

Thank You for Being Here

Breathing In Flavors is more than a food blog. It is an invitation to slow down, inhale deeply, and cook with presence.

If you are looking for thoughtful recipes, sensory inspiration, and a gentle approach to flavor, I hope you feel at home here.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.