I must confess – I’m somewhat of a cooking show geek. Every time I see a new one, it becomes my latest binge. The Great British Bake Off? Yep, it’s my Friday night must-watch when it’s finally released each year.

Several weeks ago, Snack vs Chef popped onto our radar. We added it to the list, finished some of the other shows we were watching over the holidays, and started moving through the eight episodes this week. It’s an interesting science-meets-chef show where contestants go head-to-head to make some of the most iconic snacks. Think Pringles, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and Oreos. While it may gross you out to find out what the chefs use to create these food products, it’s also intriguing watching science and cooking meet in the middle.

We also started watching Cook At All Costs, a show where three contestants can bid on mystery boxes, and must use the ingredients in the box to create a delicious meal. It’s fun … and a little bit crazy. You won’t believe how much some people spend on certain ingredients.

It’s also inspirational, giving us an idea for 2023 to spice up our own approach to cooking dinner.

We’ve started a new “game” where one person is “it” for cooking dinner. At noon, they receive three ingredients they must turn into an entree for dinner later that day. They have a few hours to think about it, research ideas if they choose, and even go to the store if they need additional items. But those three ingredients must be the stars of the meal. I had a chance to “play” last night.

My ingredients were:

• Red pepper
• Pomegranate seeds
• Tempeh

I added a sweet potato, and marinated the red pepper, tempeh, and sweet potato in a mixture of olive oil, pomegranate molasses, red chili flakes, and garlic, then baked it until the veggies were tender. I topped it with vegan feta, pepitas, and pomegranate seeds – yum!

3 things I’m reading

One

Preeminence Magazine – Yes, I might be biased as I have an article in here, but there is a wealth of information from some amazing women from around the world. I highly recommend you get a copy … it’s free!

Two

Dr Zach Bush has become one of my go-to authorities on health and food. Whenever he writes an article, speaks on a podcast, or shows up in the news, I pay attention. His article and webinar on GMOs are worth paying attention to.

Three

For some reason, I’ve been paying attention to historical fiction a lot lately. Susan Elia MacNeal popped into my radar over the holidays, and I read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. It’s inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots in Los Angeles during WWII. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up another of hers, The Hollywood Spy, with a similar theme set in LA in 1943. Powerful female characters – which I love!

3 things I’m doing

One

Can a block of wood give you better health? I saw the owner of Block Therapy in a telesummit a couple of months ago and tried it out. I was sold, so I invested in her starter program and ran through the routines using a bath towel. I felt better – so I’m upgrading. I ordered the starter package as a gift to myself, and can’t wait for it to arrive.

Two

Suzanne Allard Design popped up in my IG feed one morning, and I was hooked. I’ve had “painting” on my resolution list for years, and 2023 is the year I will do something about it. She’s got a cool class on sketchbook paintings – my sketchbook arrived in the mail earlier this morning. You know where I’ll be this weekend 😉

Three

Years ago, I waited patiently for the next 21-day meditation from Oprah and Deepak Chopra. While they’ve stopped offering these programs, I’ve started one from Deepak and Alicia Keys this week from a couple of years ago, and I realize how relevant it is to today’s world. It’s on the Divine Feminine, and the path to wholeness. Yes, please.

3 questions

What’s your favorite dessert?

Ice cream! I’ve loved it since I was a girl. When I was dating my hubby, we’d each pick up a pint and settle in for a movie night. I don’t eat pints at a time anymore. I also pick up vegan or dairy-free treats that are somewhat healthier. We have a Salt and Straw nearby, and they’re celebrating January with The Dairy-Free Decadence Series – the Bananas Foster is mmm…

What’s the one kitchen gadget you can’t live without?

My Vitamix! It makes smoothies every morning, and sauces almost every evening. I’ve been trying to figure out how to take it with me when I travel – it’s the one thing I miss most when I head out of town.

What’s your goal for this year?

Gorgeous Wellth is so new, my goal is to spread the joy of good cooking with the world this year. I love my 21 day kitchen class, and adore my workbooks and journals. I know they’ll help a lot of women eat healthier and enjoy cooking more. It’s all about getting my message out to the world this year. I have a few other plans in the works too – you’ll have to stay tuned to discover what’s coming up next!