Hello friends and family. Welcome to my blog.
My name is Heather Hands, otherwise known as the flourishing foodie. I am Canadian born, but now reside in Seattle Washington with my husband and our ridiculously insane labradoodle Ody. I started this blog in late 2010 as a creative outlet. A place to document my travels and share recipes. In 2010, my husband bought me my very first SLR. A few months later I registered my domain name, and opened a blogger account. Little did I know that this would become my passion. A place where I could grow creatively, gain valuable skills, become a better writer and listener. I started shooting in an tiny westward facing apartment with very little natural light, and no real understanding of white balance. I still find it difficult to look back at my previous work without omitting a pinkish hue of embarrassment. I am humbled to receive such support from my friends and family over the years, especially my husband; for putting up with my doubts and criticisms, for patiently dealing with big bulky props in the living room and an endless supply of dish ware stacked throughout the house, and - most importantly - for waiting patiently even when in extreme hunger, for the best light, the right angle, and the perfect shot.
In addition to writing this blog, I am also a Registered Dietitian. I enjoy eating healthy 80% of the time, and am quite happy indulging the rest. I enjoy eating bright green leafy salads topped with rich healthy oils. I love whole grain seedy bread, but will never say no to a fresh baguette. I love tomatoes, avocados, berries, watermelon, and bananas, and am not afraid to dip them all in chocolate. I subscribe to the principles of mindful eating and am much happier for it.
You will find a variety of recipes on this blog from Salted Caramel Bundt Cake to Creamy Avocado Pasta. I stick to fresh local ingredients, and try to cook things that require minimal effort. In part because I am lazy, but also because I love food in it's most natural form. I am what you call a Pescetarian, someone who is vegetarian and also eats seafood.
Last, but not least, I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you for taking the time to stop by my little home. For leaving a thoughtful comment. For putting a smile on my face every day. I am so grateful that you choose to spend some time with me here.
If you would like to send me a message, say hi, and/or just keep up to date on the flourishing foodies' whereabouts, follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram. If you have any comments, concerns, and/or questions, I would love to here from you. Fill out this contact form, and I will be sure to answer your questions as quickly as I can.
The Flourishing Foodie has been featured on the following sites.
• HOME GOURMET MAGAZINE - tba
• TOFFEE MAGAZINE - tba
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - The Top 10 Food Bloggers of June - June 11, 2013
• LEARN FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY - 60 Amazing Food Photographers - June 10, 2013
• FOOD AND NUTRITION MAGAZINE - Non-Dairy Milk Substitutes - July-Aug 2013 Issue
• WHITE MAGAZINE - Apple, Fennel, and Mache Salad - May 2013 Issue
• LIFESCOOP - 8 Favorite Whole Foods Blogs - May 16, 2013
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Chocolate Recipes - The 100 Best - April 22, 2013
• MINT DESIGN BLOG - In the Kitchen: Flourishing Foodie - April 3, 2013
• BUZZ FEED FOOD - 32 Ways to Eat Quinoa - March 27, 2013
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Cheese Fries Recipes: You May Not Need One, But You Probably Want One - March 4, 2013
• NEET MAGAZINE - Feature Recipe - Seasonal Salads, Butter Lettuce, Avocado, and Radish Salad (pg. 147 - 150) - Spring 2013
• BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS - Best of the Blogs Meatless Meals - March 1, 2013
• NATURALLY ELLA - Lovely Food Sites - February 7, 2013
• TEA WITH ME BLOG - Interview - December 6, 2012
• THE LOVELY CUPBOARD - Contributor - March - August 2012
• FINE COOKING - THE BEST OF BLOGS - A Special Soup for Thanksgiving - November 14, 2012
• MARTHA STEWART LIVING - 10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds - October 26, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Dark Chocolate Recipes : Cakes, Cupcakes, Brownies, and more - October 24, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Poutine Recipes: Make This Canadian Delicacy - October 23, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Pear Recipes: 31 New Ways With The Fall Fruit - October 15, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Pumpkin Seed Recipes: Ways to use jack-o-lantern recipes - October 12, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Salted-Caramel Recipes: Cakes, Tarts, Recipes and More - July 17, 2012
• THE KITCHN - Fizzy Rhubarb Collins - May 10, 2012
• GOURMET - Roundup St. Patricks Day Fair: Dubliner Sandwich - March 16, 2012
• GLAMOUR MAGAZINE - Afternoon Snack: Avocado Boats - March 2, 2012
• YUMMLY - Minty Fresh Sweets for National Mint Chocolate Day - Feb 19, 2012
• YUMMLY - Holiday Cookie Contest 2nd place - Dec 13, 2011
• THE KITCHN - Pumpkin Seed Pesto - Nov 9, 2011
• YUMMLY - Savory Risotto Recipes that Make a Gourmet Snap - Nov 6, 2011
The Flourishing Foodie has been featured on the following sites.
• HOME GOURMET MAGAZINE - tba
• TOFFEE MAGAZINE - tba
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - The Top 10 Food Bloggers of June - June 11, 2013
• LEARN FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY - 60 Amazing Food Photographers - June 10, 2013
• FOOD AND NUTRITION MAGAZINE - Non-Dairy Milk Substitutes - July-Aug 2013 Issue
• WHITE MAGAZINE - Apple, Fennel, and Mache Salad - May 2013 Issue
• LIFESCOOP - 8 Favorite Whole Foods Blogs - May 16, 2013
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Chocolate Recipes - The 100 Best - April 22, 2013
• MINT DESIGN BLOG - In the Kitchen: Flourishing Foodie - April 3, 2013
• BUZZ FEED FOOD - 32 Ways to Eat Quinoa - March 27, 2013
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Cheese Fries Recipes: You May Not Need One, But You Probably Want One - March 4, 2013
• NEET MAGAZINE - Feature Recipe - Seasonal Salads, Butter Lettuce, Avocado, and Radish Salad (pg. 147 - 150) - Spring 2013
• BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS - Best of the Blogs Meatless Meals - March 1, 2013
• NATURALLY ELLA - Lovely Food Sites - February 7, 2013
• TEA WITH ME BLOG - Interview - December 6, 2012
• THE LOVELY CUPBOARD - Contributor - March - August 2012
• FINE COOKING - THE BEST OF BLOGS - A Special Soup for Thanksgiving - November 14, 2012
• MARTHA STEWART LIVING - 10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds - October 26, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Dark Chocolate Recipes : Cakes, Cupcakes, Brownies, and more - October 24, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Poutine Recipes: Make This Canadian Delicacy - October 23, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Pear Recipes: 31 New Ways With The Fall Fruit - October 15, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Pumpkin Seed Recipes: Ways to use jack-o-lantern recipes - October 12, 2012
• THE HUFFINGTON POST - Salted-Caramel Recipes: Cakes, Tarts, Recipes and More - July 17, 2012
• THE KITCHN - Fizzy Rhubarb Collins - May 10, 2012
• GOURMET - Roundup St. Patricks Day Fair: Dubliner Sandwich - March 16, 2012
• GLAMOUR MAGAZINE - Afternoon Snack: Avocado Boats - March 2, 2012
• YUMMLY - Minty Fresh Sweets for National Mint Chocolate Day - Feb 19, 2012
• YUMMLY - Holiday Cookie Contest 2nd place - Dec 13, 2011
• THE KITCHN - Pumpkin Seed Pesto - Nov 9, 2011
• YUMMLY - Savory Risotto Recipes that Make a Gourmet Snap - Nov 6, 2011