Har ~ vest: {noun} A supply of anything gathered at maturity, and stored.
Once upon a time (c. 2009), I started a food blog. Focused primarily on an unattainable desire of mine to attend culinary school, I worked my way through a few culinary school textbooks and wrote about my efforts along the way. I loved everything about the process of learning my way through each chapter, skills lesson, and concept and I genuinely got a lot out of the experience. But the real value in doing this DIY Homeschooled Chef blog of mine existed beyond all of the knife skills, master sauce recipes, and lessons on how to properly mise en place. In the end, I gained a much greater appreciation for how gratifying it can be to really stop and appreciate the food you eat – to just think about it for a second. From the effort that goes into preparing it and learning where it comes from to the simple pleasures of sharing it with others and hearing their own food stories. A food blog, I quickly learned, is the perfect vehicle to help you do all of those things, and that’s really what it’s all about for me.
“Find something you’re passionate about, and keep tremendously interested in it.” – Julia Child
Here, I work to create delicious, seasonal recipes that are {hopefully} accessible and realistic for kitchens anywhere and everywhere. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out the very best way to make something with as little fuss, cost and unnecessary ingredients as possible. I adopted a minimalist approach to cooking years ago when I was a graduate student and I’ve stayed true to the notion ever since. I won’t stick to an ingredient number limit for my recipes here, and not every one will even fall into the minimalist category, as I don’t want to be too restrictive. But for the most part, you can expect the recipes you find here to be simple, straightforward, and seasonal in nature with extra attention paid to keeping things minimal whenever possible.
With this space, not only am I sharing recipes for your table – I also want to share inspiration, motivation and support to other creatives out there, as I think that is such a vital component to creative work, of any sort really. I benefit so much from the encouraging words of others every day, whether they’re from friends and personal acquaintances or from kind people online with whom I’ve never crossed paths. Words can be powerful, medicinal forces sometimes, can’t they?
“Why bother? Because right now there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words.” – Sean Thomas Dougherty
I am not a chef. But I am a passionate and curious food lover – a lovestruck home cook – and I think it’s safe to say that my interest is tremendous. Food and cooking have always been my greatest passions, and they stand as the primary ingredients behind the storytelling and connecting that I love so much. Harvest and Honey is like a savings account for my favorite things. It is my open-ended love letter to the world of food – its people, its flavors, and its stories – and like a good story, food is best when shared. So, thank you for letting me share my favorite things with you.
~ Lauren
Hello! I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award. For more details, please click on the link: http://tessbalexander.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/liebster-award/
I’ve enjoyed looking through your blog! When I read, “pavlova”, it made me so happy! Congratulations!
Glad you managed to overcome your allergy to chocolate! 😉 Lovely blog x
Thanks for following my blog, Lauren! I’m looking forward to traveling with you on your journey. Cheers ~ Jeff
You are most welcome, thank you, and right back at you, Jeff!
Hello Lauren! I’m Read Urban’s mother and had the wonderful occasion to sit next to you at his wedding dinner. I follow you regularly and as a fellow devotee of the joy of “food”‘ can’t tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I hope someday we will meet again and share the age old delight of making a meal more of an adventure, rather than just a meal. Best wishes, Nancy
Thank you so much, Nancy! This made my day and I so appreciate your kind words. I’m thrilled you enjoy my blog, as I thoroughly enjoy doing it. Would love to spend some time together again and talk food … maybe even cook something with that son of yours as well. I hear he’s pretty good in a kitchen himself 🙂 Thanks again!
No way. I love all your photos and put continuous like on instagram . Also I really like your blog and I will follow with great pleasure. See you soon
What a lovely comment! Thank you so very much, Barbara. Your support and kind words mean a lot to me! xx
I tried to subscribe to your blog for new recipes or whatever you want to send out. But, I get a page does not exist when I click on the button. I know that I’m not the only one who would like to subscribe. So, could you please have someone fix the page? I happen to be a good HTML programmer myself, so,I’ll fix it if you’ll let me.
No matter who does it, would you please get it fixed?
Ah! Yes, I just removed the opt in service I was previously using, a couple days ago. (i’m reworking some things on my blog). I am also starting a brand new blog and website this week, and will have subscription options renewed on my old one as well as my new one. Thank you for your interest!
Dear Lauren, I am in awe. I’ve been following you on Instagram for a while now, but never actually took a look at your blog until now. I have missed so much. The story accompanying your strawberry rose meringue recipe is breathtaking and this short introduction to your blog just confirms everything already apparent in that post. You cook, bake, eat and write for all the right reasons, for all the reasons I so cherish myself. Food gives life in so many ways beyond the mere nutritional value and that is what your blog expresses. Thank you for sharing this with us x
You absolutely made my day with this incredibly sweet comment. Thank you for not only taking the time to read my blog but to share your thoughts as well! Means the world to me. xx
So glad I stumbled on your blog site. Creative and delicious! A rare find kind of narrative.
Thank you!! I’m glad you stumbled upon it too 😉 xx
Thank you for such sweet words!! I so appreciate it. Xx
Hi. I found your food blog as a result of reading Saveur magazine. It looks quite interesting and well done. I did have a problem with signing up for your post notifications. I received a confirming email, but when I checked it, it was not approved. For some reason the request went through WordPress,com. The email address I gave is not listed on WordPress.com. The signup procedure should not be so restrictive. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment, Bob! I will look into this issue, and see if I can better understand how to improve things. I am so glad you’re interested in my blog – thank you! – Lauren
Thanks. I look forward to future posts. I’m surprised you answered so quickly. I thought you were in the States but perhaps you’re in Europe as I am. I’m in The Netherlands,