Welcome to The Nessy Kitchen!

I’m Janessa (or “Nessy”), the creator of The Nessy Kitchen blog and I'm so happy you're here!

If you’re looking for generally healthy, approachable recipes inspired by a variety of flavors...

... Then The Nessy Kitchen is for you!

What You'll Find on The Nessy Kitchen

Recipes

• Easy, Healthy Dinner Recipes- I understand the struggle of getting dinner on the table on a busy week so you'll find lots of quick and one pot meals like Italian Sausage Rice Skillet and Bruschetta Chicken Sheet Pan.
• Nutritious Snacks for at Home and On the Go- From homemade protein balls to healthy muffins and more, find several tasty snacks to keep your hunger at bay.
• Breakfast and Brunch Recipes- I live for weekend brunch at home so you'll find plenty of delicious recipes for a slow morning such as Breakfast Poutine and Huevos Rancheros. Plus quicker and easier breakfasts for busy mornings like Protein Baked Oatmeal Cups and Avocado Blueberry Smoothie.
• Easy From Scratch Basics- Find homemade spice blends like taco seasoning or Cajun Spice to sauces like cranberry sauce and pizza sauce to black beans and more.
• Wholesome Soups and Stews- Living in a colder climate, these cozy foods are staples! Find recipes for all sorts of favorite soups and stews like Simple Cherry Tomato Soup, Potato Soup and One Pot Turkey Chili.
• And a few Treats and Oat Flour Baking Recipes- I am passionate about creating recipes for favorite treats like cookies and cakes using oat flour so you'll find many recipes baked exclusively with oat flour. You can also find other sweet treats like homemade eatmore bars (a copycat of my favorite chocolate bar!) and several versions of dessert hummus.

Fair warning, I'm all about making recipes as quick and easy yet delicious as possible- so if you’re looking for perfect or authentic recipes, I might not be your gal…

Cooking Tips and Tricks

• Reheating and Storage- All of my recipe posts include reheating and storage directions. But I also have several in-depth posts to help you get the most out of your leftovers like Granola Storage Tips and How to Reheat Nachos.
• Substitutions- I want all of my recipes to be as accessible as possible so I list possible substitutions under "The Ingredients" section of each of my recipe posts. Plus, you can find several detailed posts on substitutions for common ingredients such as Yukon Gold Potato Substitutes or Substitutes for Maple Syrup.
• Serving and Side Dish Ideas- If you find cooking to be the easy part and determining what to serve alongside as the hard part, I have you covered there too! Along with a "Serving Ideas" section in each recipe post, you can find several dedicated posts for serving and sides such as Sides to Serve with Tomato Soup or What to Eat with Granola.
• Measurements- If you ever come across a recipe calling for 3 cups of shredded chicken or half a pound of chicken breasts and you aren't sure how much chicken that is, check out this detailed guide for How Much Chicken? Converting Between Pounds, Grams and Cups for Recipes. Or if you're cooking for a gathering and wondering, How Much Pulled Pork Per Person, I've got you!
• Meal Planning- I am passionate about meal planning for so many reasons. It reduces food waste and stress plus makes it easier to eat wholesome meals. You can find my complete meal plan for two (plus grocery list) plus I share meal planning tips in my newsletter! And my 4 week meal plan "Dinner: Solved" is now available for purchase.

My Take on Healthy

I consider the majority of recipes on my blog “healthy”, but healthy is a relative thing. What might be a "healthy" fit for me, might not be for you and that's okay.

For me, healthy is cooking from scratch using whole foods as much as possible. I also try to limit sugar (though I believe there is still a place for desserts!) and consume a balance of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and proteins.

And while I am not exclusively gluten free, I do find I personally feel best when I consume it in moderation which is why you'll find I'm so passionate about baking with oat flour. You'll also find that majority of my recipes are naturally gluten free or include tips for ingredient swaps in order to make them gluten free.

Another important part of healthy eating to me is that it needs to be sustainable- I want to look forward to what I’m eating and to not feel deprived.

And with the recipes that I share here, I don’t!

I aim to create recipes that I am excited to eat and that leave me feeling good long after I’m done. 

A Bit About Janessa

I’m a bit of a neat freak, slightly addicted to yoga, love curling up with a good book and feel happiest when I spend time outdoors.

I live in Alberta, Canada and started The Nessy Kitchen in 2020 as a way to document and share my favorite recipes with friends and family.

I grew up in a house where we spent a lot of quality family time in the kitchen and almost always ate home cooked meals. We each had at least one night of the week when supper was our responsibility and so I started learning and loving to cook at a young age.

When I moved out on my own it gave me a chance to experiment more with what I cooked, pay attention to how it made me feel and define what healthy eating means to me.

I also started trying a lot of new recipes and exploring different flavours. Though, the odd time when it wasn’t any good, I was stuck eating the leftovers for days… haha. I now live with my boyfriend, Brendan, who fortunately is willing to try out new recipes with me! And who also does most of the dishes (how did I get so lucky?!). 

Nessy's Favorite Recipes

Now enough about me... Tell me about you! I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself in the comments below! What are your favorite recipes? What are your biggest cooking struggles?

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