mealandgrace on LTK

Coastal life, timeless style & stories of food, faith, and grace. From the kitchen to the closet and everything in between.

Trending posts 🔥

Collections

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

I couldn’t help but wonder… what happens when survivors are not only supported, but trusted to lead the way forward?

Today’s flavor is cherry and pink peppercorn. It’s the kind of spread that feels at home on buttery toast or a warm croissant, spooned over plain yogurt, or paired with something simple like shortbread or a soft cheese.

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:
Dressember advocates support 34 Global Survivor Network chapters around the world.

The Global Survivor Network was launched in 2019 to equip survivors of slavery, abuse of power, and gender-based violence to become agents of change. Today, more than 4,000 survivors across ten countries are using their lived experience to shape laws, reform justice systems, and protect others from violence.

Survivors leading. Communities learning. Justice moving forward.

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

#LTKootd #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

I couldn’t help but wonder… what if noticing the quiet details is one way we refuse to look away from the harder truths?

Today’s flavor is pear, mandarin, and cinnamon. Soft, gently spiced, and comforting in a way that feels steady rather than loud. The kind of spread that belongs in a slow December morning, when warmth matters.

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:
More than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion involving minors were received between October 2021 and March 2023.

Paying attention matters. So does continuing to show up. If you would like to join me or donate, the link to my Dressember page is in my bio @mealngrace

#LTKHoliday #LTKfoodie #LTKootd

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 couldn’t help but notice how much I rely on rhythms until they disappear.

This week has been off. Later nights, slower mornings, school schedules shifting, my girl home, the holidays hovering close enough to feel but not quite touch. I love the extra time and the softer pace, but I also feel it. When the routine slips, I wobble a little.

Still, the kitchen has a way of catching me.

Ricotta and cream cheese pancakes were thick, tender, and deeply comforting. I made them big. One perfect pancake, one burnt because I got cocky, and one that redeemed the whole situation. Honestly, that feels like a metaphor I didn’t ask for but probably needed.

I’m still writing and creating, just a little quieter right now. Dressember has my focus, and I’m sketching ideas for what comes next. Recipes are coming. Stories are too. After my twelve days of Christmas pause, I’ll share it all.

Today will be gentle. Bagel and coffee to ease into the morning/afternoon, mini chicken and waffles later because comfort food always knows what it’s doing, and spreading jam and awareness woven in between. Nothing fancy. Just familiar flavors, small plans, and finding my footing again one meal at a time.

What’s anchoring you today?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#foodblogger
#homecooking
#slowliving
#foodstories
#everydaylife

#LTKfoodie #LTKSeasonal #LTKdayinmylife

I couldn’t help but wonder… how can a day feel completely full and still leave room for softness?

Yesterday was one of those in-and-out-of-the-kitchen days. Dinner surprised me in the best way. The pork tenderloin came together beautifully with a few small changes, glossy and savory, and that corn was the real showoff. Sweet, a little charred, absolutely fabulous.

Later, we gathered for a service called The Longest Night. A pause in the middle of the fa la la. Space to breathe, to name the hard things. Losing my mom this year. Children scattered across states and military bases. Holding them all quietly in my heart. Lily sang with the choir and watching her felt like its own kind of grace.

Afterward, peppermint shakes with the girls, twinkly lights hung in the kitchen by Chad, lamb’s ear wreaths glowing softly. Home, but gentler.

Today feels lighter. Lily’s last day of school before resuming in January. A protein shake to start. Day 18 of spreading jam and awareness. And later, pancakes I dreamed up after lasagna. Ricotta and cream cheese, because sometimes inspiration just shows up uninvited.

What’s on your table today?

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday #LTKdayinmylife

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

I spent a couple of days thinking I may have ruined my starter.

Days 10 through 16 with Herb included about three days of true dormancy. No rise, no movement, nothing dramatic. The book did not mention this stage, and I wish it had, because it can last a few days or even a full week. It feels like everything has stalled even though something important is happening underneath.

Dormant does not mean dead.

A new starter often needs this quiet stretch to rebalance the yeast and bacteria. It may look still on the surface, but the strength is building.

Then almost out of nowhere, Herb began doubling in size and he did it four days in a row.

This is the moment you wait for.

Predictable rise, steady bubbles, and consistent feedings that begin to show results.

Tonight I am giving Herb another feeding with the plan to start my first loaf tomorrow!

Follow along as I attempt my first sourdough bread.

#SourdoughStarter #NewWorldSourdough #MealAndGraceKitchen #LearningAsIGo #GulfCoastBaker

#LTKfoodie #LTKvlog #LTKHome

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

I didn’t expect this Magnolia recipe to taste like a hug.

Inspired by Julie and Julia, I’m cooking my way through Magnolia Table Volumes 1, 2, and 3. I’m calling it The Jeanie Jo and Joanna Project. Recipe 125 of 457 is the Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup from Volume 2 and here is how it turned out.

The poblanos softened in the butter and filled the whole kitchen with that warm, earthy smell. The broth turned silky with the cream, the chicken folded in, and suddenly dinner felt comforting without trying too hard. Crispy tortilla chips on top. Fresh cilantro. A little crunch from the radishes. Cozy and a little smoky in the best way.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#TheJeanieJoAndJoannaProject #MagnoliaTable #MagnoliaTableVol2 #JoannaGaines #PoblanoSoup #ChickenSoup #ComfortFood #SoupSeason #MealAndGrace #HomeCookLife #CoastalKitchen

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal #LTKfoodie

There is something wonderful about mushrooms sautéed in butter that makes a kitchen feel like it is waking up.

Inspired by Julie and Julia, I’m cooking my way through Magnolia Table Volumes 1, 2, and 3. I’m calling it The Jeanie Jo and Joanna Project. Recipe 123 & 124 of 457 are the Mushroom Gruyère Quiche and the Homemade Tart Shell, and here’s how they turned out.

This was my first time making a tart shell and I will admit it felt a little scary to pour liquid filling into a pan that was not solid. But lifting the tart frame and seeing a clean, perfect edge felt like the best kind of win. The final result was buttery, earthy, and tender in all the right places.

Recipes to go: 333
Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#TheJeanieJoAndJoannaProject #MagnoliaTable #MagnoliaTableVol2 #JoannaGaines #MushroomQuiche #Gruyere #TartShell #HomemadeQuiche #BrunchRecipe #MealAndGrace #CoastalKitchen #HomeCookLife

#LTKHome #LTKfoodie

Golden potatoes, sizzling sausage, and weekend morning vibes — this Skillet Potato Hash from Magnolia Table, Vol. 2 is everything brunch should be. 🥔✨
The GoodCook PRO Veggie Dicer from Walmart made prepping the potatoes and onions quick, clean, and even — perfect for a crisp, golden finish in the skillet. A total brunch essential if you love cooking but don’t always want to do all the chopping.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome

JJ & Joanna Pro

Got leftovers and no desire to cook? These little puff pastry pies will cover dinner without much effort at all. Everything goes into one bowl, the pastry does the work, and the oven brings it all back to life. Warm, golden, and exactly right for the days after Thanksgiving.

Mini Leftover Thanksgiving Puff Pastry Pies

What you will need
1 sheet refrigerated puff pastry
Leftover mashed potatoes
Leftover stuffing
Leftover chopped turkey
Leftover gravy
Melted butter for brushing
Flour for dusting
Vegetable spray

What you will use
Cutting board
Knife
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Pastry brush
Muffin tin

What you will need to do
Preheat the oven to 375. Spray a muffin tin with vegetable spray. Lightly flour your board and open the puff pastry. Brush with melted butter and cut into squares. Press into the muffin tin.
Stir leftover mashed potatoes, stuffing, chopped turkey, and gravy in a bowl. Spoon into each pastry cup.
Bake until the centers are warm and the pastry is golden. Let them cool a moment before lifting them out.
Serve with leftover cranberry sauce or whatever dessert is still in your fridge.

For my full Thanksgiving reflection and this week’s Meal & Grace newsletter, head to Substack and read the newest post. Link in bio @mealngrace

Gracefully yours
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#MealAndGrace #LeftoverRecipe #ThanksgivingLeftovers #CozyKitchen #HomeCooking #PuffPastryRecipes #EasyDinner #GalvestonKitchen #SlowLiving #ThisWeekAtTheTable #JeanieJoCooks

#LTKHome #LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday

Save this for Thanksgiving morning so you have something cozy to snack on while the parade plays in the background. These Quick & Easy Pumpkin Spice Puff Pastry Swirls with @jus_rol_northamerica come together fast with simple ingredients and a warm maple cream cheese frosting. It is a small batch recipe that you can double or triple depending on your guests and how quickly they wander into the kitchen.

What you will need

For the swirls
Half a sheet of refrigerated puff pastry
1½ tablespoons softened butter
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of salt

For the frosting
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon maple syrup
A little milk
Tiny pinch of salt

What you will need to do
Lightly flour your surface and unroll half a sheet of puff pastry. Lay it flat and spread 1½ tablespoons of softened butter all the way to the edges. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar with ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and a pinch of salt, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the butter. Roll the pastry from the long side into a tight log and slice into 4 or 5 swirls. Bake at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes until the swirls are puffed and golden.

While they bake, stir together 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of maple syrup, a little milk, and a tiny pinch of salt until smooth. Drizzle over warm swirls and enjoy.

If you do not have pumpkin pie spice
Whisk together 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1½ teaspoons ground allspice, and 1½ teaspoons ground cloves. Store the extra in a jar.

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#bestdough #jusrol

#LTKfoodie #LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal

When brunch meets autumn. 🍎
Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage, onions, and apples — cozy, caramelized, and ready in one pan.

Recipe on the blog, link in bio @mealandgrace.blog

Gracefully yours,
🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHome

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

Recent posts