LAURANAV Hello. Let's cook.

The first thing I ever wanted to be was a baker. After that, an astronaut.

Today, I try to focus on healthful and local ingredients. (Okay, you’ll see a lot of sweets and butter, too. I’m not perfect!) My husband, Ira, and I belong to a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) and receive a box of locally-grown produce each week. LAURANAV reflects those ingredients, as well as the (hopeful) bounty of our very first garden. As I write this, a few seedlings have started to break through the soil. We’ll see how it goes—I may have inherited the cooking gene from my mother, but I may also have inherited her black thumb.

I live in Alabama, but I am originally from Chicago. Since moving to the Deep South, I’ve learned to appreciate a whole new way of eating. I especially love New Orleans cuisine, and travel to eat in the Big Easy as much as possible.

You won’t see a ton of meat on LAURANAV. Don’t get me wrong: I love meat but have been trying to eat it more thoughtfully and ethically—which means it is much more expensive.

Please remember to check out my tutorials—rather than just recipes, these are step-by-step guides so that you can learn the basics. I also review gadgets and products in the kitchen, because while I consider myself a minimalist, certain things are lifesavers.

Thanks for looking around. I look forward to hearing from you—comment away on the posts!