foodandthestory on LTK

Home cook, writer, and accidental food historian. And I can’t help but wonder… is there anything butter can’t make better?

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I couldn’t help but wonder… what if progress sometimes shows up quietly, the way fruit softens over time, not all at once, but steadily?

Today’s flavor is rhubarb and strawberry. Tart and sweet, familiar and bright. The kind of spread that feels right on warm toast or spooned over yogurt, reminding you that balance matters.

This jar is part of Spreading Jam and Awareness. Each day, I open a Bonne Maman Advent jar, share a trafficking statistic, and wear a dress to support Dressember and the work of International Justice Mission.

Today’s truth:
In one South Asian city, trafficking of minors has decreased by seventy-six percent through joint efforts between International Justice Mission and local government.

Change happens when systems show up, stay engaged, and protect what matters most.

Small acts. Big hope. Donate.
Link in my bio @mealngrace

#Dressember #DressemberDay2025 #SpreadingJamAndAwareness #DressUpDoGood #adventcalendar

#LTKootd #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

I couldn’t help but wonder… what if real change often begins long before we ever see the results?

Today’s flavor is strawberry passion fruit, bright and lively with a little tropical warmth. Sweet, tangy, and cheerful, it’s the kind of spread that feels right on toast, folded into yogurt, or spooned onto something simple.

This evening’s jar is part of Spreading Jam and Awareness. Each day, I open a Bonne Maman Advent jar, share a trafficking statistic, and wear a dress to support Dressember and the work of International Justice Mission.

Today’s truth:
43,590 local officials and community members have been trained to better protect their communities and care for survivors. Training matters. When people are equipped with knowledge, compassion, and tools, prevention becomes possible and survivors are met with dignity and care.

If you would like to join me or donate, the link to my Dressember page is in my bio @mealngrace

#Dressember #Dressember2025 #SpreadingJamAndAwareness #DressUpDoGood #MealAndGrace

#LTKootd #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

I couldn’t help but wonder… what if the hardest truths are the ones that don’t look the way we expect them to?

Today’s flavor is mandarin, bright and gently sweet, with that clean citrus note that feels like a pause button in the middle of a busy season. It’s lovely on toast, spooned into yogurt, or paired with something simple.

This evening’s jar is part of Spreading Jam and Awareness. Each day, I open a Bonne Maman Advent jar, share a trafficking statistic, and wear a dress to support Dressember and the work of International Justice Mission.

Today’s truth:
Only 0.2% of trafficking victims are kidnapped. That is about 1 in every 500 people. Almost all exploitation happens at the hands of someone the victim knows and trusts.

Awareness matters because it reshapes how we protect, believe, and respond.

If you would like to join me or donate, the link to my Dressember page is in my bio @mealngrace

#Dressember #dressember2025 #SpreadingJamAndAwareness #DressUpDoGood #adventcalendar

#LTKHoliday #LTKfoodie #LTKootd

Yesterday would have been my dad’s birthday and this year it landed heavier than expected. Losing my mom earlier this year seems to have shifted how the grief shows up. Quieter. Deeper. Less dramatic and more lingering.

So I did what felt possible. I slept. I got a video up for my P.F. Chang’s collaboration and would love if you gave it a little love. I read. I accidentally fell into a chocolate cake debate on Threads. I took a bubble bath. I let myself remember the way we marked my dad’s birthdays growing up, often more enthusiastically than he preferred. A VCR one year. His favorite movie wrapped separately. A shirt on his birthday and pants at Christmas because the dates were so close together. Practical. Thoughtful. Very him.

Dinner stayed simple. A brick panini cooked right in the cast iron, crisp and comforting in a way I needed.

Today feels forward-facing. The day before our Christmas. Chad works on Christmas Day, so tomorrow will be pierogies, dinner, Christmas Eve service, and presents. Which means today holds cookies and chocolate candy, a church cookie potluck, a little last-minute shopping, and planning the big day.

Some days are for remembering. Some are for preparing.
Both deserve a place at the table.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKdayinmylife #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

I couldn’t help but notice how food keeps marking time for us lately.

Yesterday started simply with bagels and coffee before church. The kind of morning that feels steady before the day takes off. Dessert at the mall somehow became part of Christmas shopping, which felt exactly right. Shopping wrapped up, almost everything crossed off the list, and yes, I waited too long for matching Christmas pajamas. Next year. Always next year.

Dinner was an experience. Brazilian sides, garlic mashed potatoes, and endless cuts of meat carved tableside. I tried lamb for the first time and honestly, I am not sure about it now.

Today slowed down. Lighter food, quieter moments, and time to play with our food in the best way. Gingerbread houses; sticky fingers, & laughter will matter more than how straight the walls will be.

Some days are indulgent. Some are gentle. Some are both. And all of them seem to find their way back to the table.

What did your weekend taste like?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#foodwriterlife
#todaystable
#kitchendiaries
#holidayeats
#slowfoodstories

#LTKdayinmylife #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

I couldn’t help but notice how Sundays like this feel equal parts ordinary and indulgent.

Bagels and coffee before church. Butter cake at P.F. Chang’s while Christmas shopping, because traditions come in all forms and some involve forks. And tonight, dinner for two. The kind where you sit back, say yes to everything, and let the evening unfold slowly.

Fire-roasted cuts, carved tableside. Simply seasoned, cooked over open flame, and served without rush. A meal built on tradition, skill, and the joy of lingering a little longer than planned.

Some days are about planning.
Some are about savoring.

What’s on your menu today?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#foodblogger
#lifeandfood
#sundayvibes
#whatimcooking
#foodstories

#LTKfoodie #LTKdayinmylife

I thought I was just making bread. Flour. Water. A jar on top of the fridge.

But after sixteen days of feeding, adjusting, and waiting through dormancy, I started to wonder if sourdough was really about something else entirely.

This week’s Food and the Story explores fermentation, ancient bread traditions, and the quiet work of rising.

Rise & Wait is live on Substack. Link in bio @foodandthestory

#foodhistory #sourdough #foodwriter #substack #foodhistorian

#LTKfoodie

This is the first loaf Herb and I made together.

What started as a jar of starter on the counter finally became real bread, using the Beginner’s Sourdough Bread Recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. All that quiet work in Part One led to this moment.

I preheated the oven with the Dutch oven inside until it was screaming hot. I set a piece of parchment paper on a cutting board so I could lift the dough in and out without panicking.

Then, I took Herb’s dough out of the fridge and gently unwrapped the tea towel, relieved when it lifted right out. I dusted the top with a little flour and scored a simple cross with a few small cuts around the sides.

The dough went onto the parchment, into the hot Dutch oven, and baked with the lid on first, then with the lid off until the crust turned deep and golden and the whole kitchen smelled like every warm thing I had been hoping for.

I waited an hour for it to cool, then came the moment that made all the feeding and waiting worth it. When we finally sliced it open, I could not stop smiling. It was really, really good sourdough. We did it!

Recipe I used: Beginner’s Sourdough Bread Recipe by Farmhouse on Boone.

Save this for your first bake and tag me if you and your starter get here too.

#MealAndGrace #HerbTheStarter #MyFirstLoaf #SourdoughBread #BreadFromScratch #FarmhouseOnBoone #SourdoughBeginner #KitchenStories

I did it. I actually made my first sourdough loaf with Herb.

What started as a jar of flour and water on my counter turned into a real loaf of bread, using the Beginner’s Sourdough Bread Recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. I followed her method step by step, hoping the science would catch up with my faith.

First I mixed Herb with water, flour, and salt, watching the dough come together in that shaggy, hopeful way. The dough rested, and then I gave it three rounds of stretch and folds, thirty minutes apart. Little check ins. Quiet moments where I wondered if anything was really changing, or if I was just gently tugging at the edge of a miracle.

After another rest, I folded both sides inward, tucked it into a round, and set it seam side up in a floured tea towel. I covered it with plastic wrap and slid it into the fridge for an overnight cold proof, trusting that time would do what I could not hurry.

This reel is Part One of Herb and my first sourdough bread story, all the slow, hidden work that had to happen before the bake. Part Two will show you the bake.

Follow along and save this if you are thinking about starting your own first sourdough.

Recipe I used: Beginner’s Sourdough Bread Recipe by @farmhouseonboone

#MealAndGrace #MyFirstLoaf #SourdoughBeginner #BreadFromScratch #farmhouseonboone

#LTKvlog #LTKHome #LTKfoodie

How often do you think about butter?

Some people daydream about faraway vacations or their high school crush. I catch myself thinking about butter. The way it melts into toast, softens in a dish on the counter, waits in the fridge like a tiny golden emergency contact. Every day, not all day every day, but every day. 🧈

If you are also a butter person, consider this your official invitation to the club. I even made a few butter themed iPhone wallpapers so your lock screen can match your snack priorities. They are free and waiting for you in my stories.

If butter has a permanent spot in your brain, tap the heart, hit save, and send this to a friend who always says yes to “extra butter.”

If this little reel landed in your feed and you love butter, we might be meant to find each other. We butter be connected. 👀🧈

#MealAndGrace #butterlover #landolakes #buttermakesitbetter #iphonewallpaper #freewallpaper #coastalkitchen #homecooking

#LTKfoodie #LTKMidsize #LTKootd

Yesterday’s Dressember look, sharing by request. I started this year’s journey with last year’s dress, I wore it every single day of Dressember 2024 as part of my 100-day Wool& dress challenge. It felt sweet to pull it back out again as I opened the first little door on my jam advent calendar.

Wearing:
• Wool& Sierra Tank Dress
• Wool& Ponte Culotte Pant
• JCrew Girlfriend Long Sleeve Tee
• CC Confetti Beanie
• White Mountain Bendees Leather Clog

Spreading jam and awareness all month long. If you would like to join me or donate, the link for my Dressember page is in my bio @mealngrace

#Dressember #Dressember2025 #DressUpDoGood #WoolAnd #OOTD #EthicalFashion #CoastalGrandmotherForRealLife #MealAndGrace

#LTKOver40 #LTKootd #LTKMidsize

Today’s look: easy, coastal, and ready for whatever the day brings. Chambray, linen, and my favorite woven tote — the unofficial Meal & Grace uniform.

Tell me — what’s your go-to outfit when you want to feel comfortable but pulled together? 👖👜

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKgrwm #LTKMidsize #LTKootd

Leftover Thanksgiving sourdough sandwiches for brunch and Lily is making @simplified game day chili that will simmer for dinner.

We are finally putting up the Christmas tree, and I am ready for the glow of the lights to make the whole house feel softer.

What are you having today? I hope your Sunday finds a little comfort too.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKHome #LTKdayinmylife #LTKfoodie

I started the morning with fried eggs and toast because it sounded good and it felt like the right kind of simple for today.

We will head to the Christmas lighting and parade later. I love seeing the lights come on for the first time each year. It always gives me that little spark that says the season is really here.

I will bake sourdough too. Herb looks ready and I have been wanting a warm loaf all week. There is something about fresh bread that makes the whole day feel cozy.

What are you having today? I hope something comforting finds you.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKdayinmylife #LTKfoodie #LTKSeasonal

It is a slow day after Thanksgiving and the kitchen finally feels calm again. Brunch will be a choose your own situation. Toast, oatmeal, eggs, cereal, a bagel. Everyone can pick what sounds good and make it when they are ready.

Dinner will be the mini leftover Thanksgiving puff pastry pies. Warm, golden, and exactly right for the days after the big feast.

Dessert will be the pumpkin cheesecake with the gingersnap crust and the spiced brown sugar whipped cream. We were so full on Wednesday that we did not have room to eat it, so today feels like the right day to finally start it.

What are you having today? I hope your Friday feels gentle after a full week.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKfoodie #LTKdayinmylife #LTKHome

A quiet morning at the table and a football night under the lights — that’s my kind of Friday. 💛 See what’s cooking on the blog.

Press that little ❤️ if this post made you smile, stirred a memory, or left you just a little bit hungry.

What’s on your menu?
Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#MealAndGrace #WhatsOnTheMenu #HomeCooking #ComfortFood #FromMyTableToYours #CozyKitchen #FoodAndStory #MadeWithLove #DinnerInspo #SimpleMeals #HomeCooksOfInstagram #EatWithGrace

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

It’s 54°, the AC is off, and I’m curled up on the couch with my puppy, a hoodie, and fuzzy socks. 🍂 See what’s cooking on the blog — it finally feels like fall. 🍁🍃🍂

Press that little ❤️ if this post made you smile, stirred a memory, or left you just a little bit hungry.

What’s on your menu?
Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#MealAndGrace #WhatsOnTheMenu #HomeCooking #ComfortFood #FromMyTableToYours #CozyKitchen #FoodAndStory #MadeWithLove #DinnerInspo #SimpleMeals #HomeCooksOfInstagram #EatWithGrace

#LTKHome

The storm rolled through last night and this morning feels different — softer, cooler, calmer. See what’s cooking on the blog.

Press that little ❤️ if this post made you smile, stirred a memory, or left you just a little bit hungry.

What’s on your menu?
Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#MealAndGrace #WhatsOnTheMenu #HomeCooking #ComfortFood #FromMyTableToYours #CozyKitchen #FoodAndStory #MadeWithLove #DinnerInspo #SimpleMeals #HomeCooksOfInstagram #EatWithGrace

#LTKHome

Pierogies for breakfast, dirty rice for dinner, and a slice of cinnamon maple pumpkin spice bread somewhere in between. 🥟🍚🍞 Some days taste like comfort in three acts.

Full menu on the blog — link in bio @mealandgrace.blog ✨

What’s on your menu?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

It’s leftover casserole-for-breakfast kind of Monday. Hash Brown Casserole from Magnolia Table is bubbling with cheese and comfort and tonight’s tortilla soup will keep the rhythm going. Full menu and notes are up on the blog — link in bio @mealandgrace.blog 🥔🥣✨

What’s on your menu?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

It’s the kind of Friday where leftovers taste better than anything new. Mario’s pizza on the porch, a dirty soda in hand, and a slice of pumpkin spice bread waiting in the kitchen. Sometimes the table sets itself. 🍕🥤🍞

Full menu and notes on the blog — link in bio @mealandgrace.blog

What’s on your menu?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#plantoeat #mealandgrace #dinnerinspo #whatsonthemenu #brunchideas #homecooking #foodgram #foodblogger

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKSeasonal

Sept 2025 Menus

Sunday supper: beef tips over saffron rice.
Slow simmered. Golden. Slightly dramatic in the best way.

The Jeanie Jo & Joanna project, proving once again that comfort food is the real love story.

🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#thejeaniejoandjoannaproject #magnoliatablecookbook #joannagaines

#LTKfoodie

After a busy day of writing, I couldn’t help but wonder… Why do leftovers sometimes feel more dependable than dinner plans?

Sunday’s Mushroom, Spinach & Swiss Quiche, from Magnolia Table, Volume 1, waited patiently in the refrigerator. Buttery crust. Earthy mushrooms softened with onion. Spinach folded into cream and eggs. Nutty Swiss melted into a golden, lightly set center. It was simple at brunch. It was perfect tonight.

Maybe it’s the way the flavors settle into each other. Or maybe it’s just the comfort of knowing something good is already made.

And just like that… leftovers became the best part of the day.

Gracefully yours,
Jeanie Jo

#jeaniejoandjoannaproject #magnoliatablecookbook #joannagaines #breakfastfordinner #recipereview

#LTKfoodie

Winter always pulls me back to soup.

There’s something grounding about it. Lighting a candle. Turning on music. Getting every ingredient out before the first burner clicks on. Letting the chopping slow your thoughts and the pot carry the weight once everything’s in.

This is Spinach Tortellini Soup from Magnolia Table, part of my Jeanie Jo & Joanna Project, where I’m cooking my way through Volumes 1, 2, and 3 one recipe at a time.

Even on long, busy days, soup feels like a quiet decision to care. It asks for a little time, a little attention, and then gives it back in warmth. Worth it. Every time.

What’s the soup you always come back to in winter?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#jeaniejoandjoannaproject #wintercooking #homecook #magnoliatable #soup

#LTKvlog #LTKfoodie #LTKstorytime

JJ & Joanna Pro

Some stories don’t live in books; they live in dough, in potatoes, in hands that remember. Swipe left for more …

This Food & the Story, I’m sharing Roots of Resilience. A piece about pierogies, migration, and the women who carried culture forward through everyday cooking.

Adapted from my master’s thesis. It begins with my grandmother. It ends at the table.

Full story and recipe on Substack!

#pierogi #potato #foodhistory #mastersthesis #foodwriter

#LTKfoodie

I couldn’t help but wonder when mac & cheese became more than just dinner.

Today, The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese is out and I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing it early. The book traces this dish across centuries and kitchens, honoring the people who adapted, stretched, and fed others anyway.

I shared my full review and my mac & cheese recipe on Substack, for anyone who wants to read a little history and make a pot of comfort of their own.

#foodwriter #netgalley #bookreview #theepichistoryofmacaroniandcheese #foodhistory

#LTKfoodie

Sing me Soft Kitty …

Under the weather and craving comfort, so I made an at-home version of the Starbucks Medicine Ball. No drive-thru. Just the kettle and a little quiet time in the kitchen.

To make, you will need:
lemonade mix
mint tea bag
peach tea bag
honey
fresh mint leaves
lemon slices
hot water

What you will need to do:
In a large mug I added 2 tsp lemonade mix, a mint and peach tea bag, 2 tsp honey, a handful of mint leaves, a couple lemon slices, and topped it with hot water. Stir and sip slowly.

Save this for the next time you need someone to sing Soft Kitty to you.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#sickday #cozydrinks #copycatrecipe #kitchenstories #foodwriter

#LTKSeasonal #LTKselfcare #LTKfoodie

What’s in the box? | Vanilla Extract Edition

A little patience and a lot of flavor. Inspired by @thepioneerwoman, I’m making homemade vanilla extract and it’s the easiest pantry project you’ll ever love. Just two ingredients, a few months of wait time and you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

What You Will Need:
• 6 whole vanilla beans
• 1 cup Vodka

What You Will Need To Do:

1. Split the vanilla beans lengthwise, place them in a clean jar, cover with vodka, and give it a shake.
2. Seal tightly and store in a cool, dark place for at least 6–12 weeks, giving it a gentle shake every so often.

The result? Pure vanilla magic.

Gracefully yours,
Jeanie Jo

Source: The Pioneer Woman – How to Make Vanilla Extract

#LTKHome

What’s in the Box? | Taco Seasoning Edition

Let’s skip the packet and shake up something homemade.

This little blend right here? It’s bold, smoky, just a touch sweet. Everything I want in a taco night without the mystery ingredients. It makes ground beef sing, but it’s just as good on roasted veggies, chicken thighs, or even stirred into black beans.

Here’s what’s in the box today:
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

That’s it. No fillers. No preservatives. Just flavor.
Double it. Triple it. Share it with a friend. Taco Tuesday is about to get a whole lot better, save this post!

Gracefully yours,
Jeanie Jo

🍑🍅 Sweet peaches, burst tomatoes, glossy rigatoni… forgiveness never tasted so good. Curious how pasta can teach us about grace?

Read Celebrate Everyday Day 53 + recipe on the blog today.

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

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