How easy was it to adjusting to your husbands diagnosis given your need for higher sodium levels and cooking for your family?

The honest answer… hard. Every comfort dish we knew, loved, seemed untouchable. While I didn’t sit and cry, a silent panic whirled within my mind. Cooking in the kitchen turned into a strange version of survival mode. It’s said when you’re put into that survival mode most people either fight or they take flight. I decided to fight. I refused to give up and take no for an answer when it came to dinner flavor profiles or when grocery store products contained too much sodium. It took time to adjust, to find ways to modify or tackle new recipes, and too once again find myself at ease while cooking. 

Where do you find inspiration for your recipes?

More so where do I not find inspiration. Somedays it comes straight from a super craving of a dish I loved and now need to modify by using salt sparingly. Or when the down home inklings of my husband’s heritage demands for me to visit our family’s roots for recipes handed down or shared. Inspiration for me comes from the handed down cast iron pans , the ladle inscribed with initials of those we love, the wooden spoon used for only making jam and preserves, for the family reunion cookbooks stored with the history and love of the seven sisters before (my husbands heritage), and my heritage and family. The seasons run hand and hand with every recipes creation, and above else the comfort from eating a meal surrounded by loved ones at home.

What’s your favorite ingredient and seasonings?

I have a devastating love affair with garlic and onions. I also love blackening seasoning and creole seasoning. While I’ve lived in many places while growing up, most of my years where spent down south in North Louisiana. There ain’t nothing down there that’s not seasoned to perfection. Oh and let’s not leave out spices with some heat!

Why did you create Salt Sparingly?

To share. Empower those in need of varying family sodium needs with knowledge and options. Also, to highlight how much natural and added sodium exists in food. When we were given my husbands diagnosis, I was shocked to discover how much sodium existed in so many products we used to buy at the grocery store or in the recipes we used while cooking. With my need for higher sodium levels I never had a second thought about how much sodium we actually took in daily. 

Do you eat every recipe shared?

Goodness, yes! Every recipe gets tested on my kiddos and husband. Thankfully they have super picky tastebuds, especially my son, and if it doesn’t pass their approval and certainly my approval, then it goes back to the chopping board.