About

Hi, my name is Liz and I love food!  I’ve been interested in cooking ever since I was a little girl and could barely reach the counter-top. I’ve grown a lot since then but life  has not always gone the way I planned it…

I was divorced and working at a stressful job when I met Bill on a dating website. He was a single father with custody of his six children ages two to twelve! Believe or not, he brought the kids to our first meeting back in 1996. Look how cute they were:

Two years later, on a blissful morning in November, we were married in San Diego, California. With one “I do” six children (ages four to fourteen) began calling me “Mom”! Here’s a photo of our wedding day:

Naturally, this new family had a serious and immediate impact on my cooking style which led me to ask…What’s at the root of the food I’m making for my family? How do I create meals that are both nutritious and delicious? What are some of the family-favorite recipes and traditions from both sides of this new family? What ingredients should we avoid altogether? How do I focus on nutrition when cooking for such a large family?

Over the years I experimented with the casseroles of my youth (like tater tot and tuna) which they really enjoyed. I always tried to include a vegetable and salad for extra nutritional value. But my kids only liked corn, carrots, broccoli and green beans (especially canned-yikes). I discovered a cook-book called “Deceptively Delicious” and began pureeing veggies to add to recipes without their knowledge. Picture cauliflower pasta, squash taquitos and spinach brownies. When everyone started complaining about extra gas and stomach discomfort, I had to come clean. So I determined to go right in the front door and introduce a different vegetable each week. No more sneaking around!

Then one anniversary, Bill and I were out to dinner at an Italian restaurant in San Diego. Before ordering, I asked the waiter if their lasagna was good.  He said, ‘well, it isn’t my grandma’s lasagna!’ We talked for a moment about the amazing lasagna she made and why he loved it so much. After he left Bill and I began talking excitedly about the rich heritage of family recipes passed down from one generation to another, the importance of clean ingredients and meals made from scratch. This is when Family Food Roots was born. A cooking blog focused on recipes made with fresh, seasonal and clean ingredients, nutritional information and stories about the origin of or tradition surrounding the recipe.

Family
We enjoy sitting down to a delicious, nutritious family meal together after a long day at work or school. This is when we catch up on all the stories of the day and laugh together. In our home, mealtime can be loud and crazy, but the happy memories are well worth the effort. Cook for your family and watch what happens!

Food
My primary focus is on nutrition and what is at the root of the foods we consume. I focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables, avoiding harmful ingredients (like hydrogenated vegetable oil or high fructose corn syrup), using the best oils for cooking and providing helpful nutritional information. Like you, my family is important to me which is why healthy foods that taste great are my focus. Homemade, simple, fresh, non-packaged or pre-prepared foods without preservatives or additives are at the heart of Family Food Roots.

Roots
Each recipe has a story….whether passed down from relatives (like Grandma’s Rolls) or given to me by a friend (like Baked in Strawberry Shortcake) or created by me after having it at a restaurant (like Mexican Chicken Soup). These are recipes that literally came from the root of family, friends and fun experiences. Every dish has meaning and memories for me and for my family. After all, isn’t food usually at the root of most family gatherings and traditions? 

I may not have mentioned that Bill and I had a baby and his name is Billy!  At 23 years old, he’s not a baby anymore!  He’s the glue that bound us together…well, along with family, food and our roots!

This blog is dedicated to my family because…
I love them with all my heart!