Happiness in the Kitchen {@freedomtribe Happiness Steem Challenge}

Happy Monday my friends! I had planned on sharing some of my latest farmers market finds with you today anyway, but then I was reminded of the latest @freedomtribe challenge that had caught my eye. They are raising funds to help feed hungry children in Venezuela, which is a wonderful cause that I wanted to make sure to support in some small way. I think I was first alerted to this in the @naturalmedicine Discord server, as they are a big supporter, as well!

I am always a fan of spreading joy and positive vibes around, and one of my favorite ways to do that is through sharing food! Thus, the kitchen is truly on of the happiest places I can think of! I could have easily picked the farmers market or even the grocery store (I would much rather shop for food than for clothes), but it all comes back to bringing fresh ingredients home to my kitchen to make into nourishing meals for myself and loved ones. Many of my happiest times with friends and family have been spent in the kitchen, but I also find it a place of refuge to recharge my introvert batteries if I want to spend some time alone.

I love bringing home a big haul from the farmers market (or hopefully soon from the garden), and figuring out what wonderful things I am going to make for us to fuel our bodies for the week. Fresh, seasonal produce is so delicious to work with and find infinite combinations that come out better than I could ever expect! I never thought of myself as a creative person until I started spending more time in the kitchen coming up with meals to share.

I am quite lucky to have a boyfriend who will eat absolutely anything I put in front of him, so I have no restrictions to what I can put together. Switching to a plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle six years ago just fueled that creativity I found even more. I find I experiment so much more and try so many new fruits and vegetables that I never knew existed previously. Even just from the local farmers, I'm amazed at the new things I constantly find to bring home! Just this past week I came across Scarlet Turnips for the first time!

Learning from the many foodies and homesteaders on here has also inspired me to try new preparations in addition to new produce. I continually try to make more of our food at home instead of relying on pre-packaged and mass produced goods. I am far from perfect, but I try to become more aware and mindful of where I spend my money and what type of companies my choices support. Today I whipped up some quick pickles with rainbow carrots and cucumbers from the market paired with herbs fresh from the garden! Not all homemade goods have to be time-consuming or challenging to create. :)

Though it does take some time to make things at home, it is well worth the effort. We hardly ever eat out anymore, which is great for our health and our budget! Some people use cooking as a way to "treat" their loved ones with overly indulgent comfort food, but it makes me a whole lot happier to feed those people I care about food that will keep them healthy for many years to come. I am truly grateful to be able to use whatever small platform I have to encourage others to do the same.

Thank you @freedomtribe for putting this topic out there! Any time I can talk about food makes me happy, haha! Now to go check out some of the other great posts and stay up to date on #fruitsandveggiesmonday entries...I do love Mondays!

Have a great week everyone!

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