About My Blog:
Hi! I’m Crystal. Thank you for visiting my blog! One thing you should know is that I’m obsessed with food, and this is where I get to share my food joy with you. You’ll find my favorite recipes, most of which are easy enough for anyone to make. Some are healthy. Some are sinful. I like it all too much to refrain. During the summer months, you’ll find me growing vegetables and herbs in our backyard garden, ogling over the beauty of mother nature, then creating decadent garden to table posts.
Food is one of life’s simple pleasures. It inspires me, motivates me, and makes me happy. I believe food connects and brings people together. It’s the cup of coffee you have with an old friend to catch up. It’s the traditional family holiday meal. Our favorite family recipe is my husband’s grandmother’s chicken paprikash, and we make it every year on Christmas Day. It’s the bottle of wine you share with your best friend or the beers you drink while watching the game with your buds. How many dinner dates resulted in marriage? Did your mom ever make you chicken soup or your favorite snack to cheer you up when you were sick? In its simplest form, food brings joy, and I hope this site inspires you, makes you smile, and connects you with the ones you love.
A Little Something You Should Know About Me and How I Fell in Love with Food
To do this blog justice, I have to back up 40-some years and explain a little about how I grew up. As a kid, I was one of the pickiest eaters alive. I’m pretty sure I existed on Doritos, Cheese Doodles, bologna sandwiches, and an occasional scrambled egg. What was wrong with me? I mean, I’ll never be able to resist a Dorito, and I love eggs, but seriously? Every night my poor mom battled with me to finish my dinner, all while I tried desperately to sneak bites away in my napkin and into the garbage.
Fast forward to 1999, I found myself living in Sicily, Italy. Having moved there without knowing how to speak any Italian, I self-taught myself the language and had to opportunity to learn how to cook from some hard-core Italian moms, grandmothers, and aunts. My palate was introduced to so many mouth-watering foods I (shockingly) loved, and I wanted to learn how to make them myself. Talk about a fish out of water. Up until that point in my life, I couldn’t make microwave popcorn without burning it. But this is where my life changed forever. This is where I fell in love with food, and I can’t get enough of it.
Just a Regular Girl
Over the past twenty years, through lots of experimenting, I learned how to cook (while burning a lot less things). I love trying new foods with diverse flavors. I scour the internet, searching all kinds of sites for all sorts of recipes. I get lost on food blogs. I’ve subscribed to many food delivery services like Blue Apron, Marley Spoon, and Purple Carrot, which have opened the door to fun, easy, and diverse ingredients and recipes. And when I make a nice meal, I have to make time and effort to plate it beautifully. And then, of course, the only natural thing that follows is to photograph it. One short disclaimer: I’m not the best cook, far from it. I’m not an expert chef. I’ve come a long way from burnt popcorn, but I have a whole lifetime left to continue to learn and grow in the kitchen. I read other blogs, and I’m in awe at their talent. I’m just a regular gal who works full-time as a pharmaceutical rep. My husband, Kurt, and I have been married for 15 years. I have an eleven-year-old son, Drew, and two dogs, Ranger and Abby. I love them, and I love food.
What is a Truffled Life?
When it came time to pick a name for this blog, my husband said, “You should incorporate one of your favorite foods into the name.” French fries? Birthday cake? Definitely two of my favorite foods. But I can also say that if I’m ever ANYWHERE with ANYTHING truffle on the menu, I HAVE to have it! Truffles have such a unique aroma and taste that they do something magical to food.
Some people eat to live. I live to eat, and when a plate of anything is prepared with truffle, wherever you are, you know it. From the moment the waiter walks out of the kitchen carrying that dish, they leave a trail of heavenly truffle scent as they make their way to your table. Their smell is intoxicating. I’ll admit, bacon comes close and maybe sautéed garlic or onions, but truffles are simply exotic. Their taste has a complexity that when added to any food they add depth and take it to the next level. I can’t resist truffle fries, truffle risotto, truffle mac and cheese, pizza drizzled with truffle oil, truffle shaved over pasta, a truffle burger, truffle mashed potatoes, or chocolate truffles. When it’s on the menu, I get so excited. Truffles never disappoint. They’re one of the most positive, exciting, happy foods I know, a perfect depiction of a good life…the Truffled Life!
Our Garden:
Drew and I started a vegetable garden when he was four. It was something I wanted us to share, a project that was just for us. I wanted him to learn the importance of taking care of something, loving it, caring for it, and nurturing it. We pick out the plants at our local farmers’ market, plant them, water them, often talk to them, watch the blossoms turn into fruit and vegetables, and harvest their beautiful bounty. It gives both of us the warm fuzzies every year. Selfishly, I also wanted him to eat more vegetables, which worked, by the way. Seven years later, our garden is the highlight of our Summer. Some of our favorite recipes are what we grow and create into garden to table posts.
Have fun!!
With all that being said, I hope you enjoy this blog. Life is about fun. It’s about connecting with the people you love. It’s about making the most of this time we have on earth. Do what you love. Love what you do. Here’s to sharing life’s adventures through food!