should we look forward to the unknown?

curiosity might be better than certainty

I don’t often talk about milestones, but I feel like this one is worth sharing. Last week, I had a significant moment in my journey as a creator and recipe developer. With that in mind, I’m going to use this platform as a space to share my thoughts, experiences, and reflections transparently, as I usually do, especially because this industry can feel so uncertain at times.

One thing I’ve learned over the last few months is that many partnerships in this industry are about being in the right place at the right time. But it’s also about consistently putting yourself out there—because no one else is going to do it for you. Whether it means following up two or three times or reaching out to dream brands with the hope they’ll recognize your name down the road, there’s no rulebook for recipe development. That’s what makes it both forgiving and daunting.

I don’t feel bad about inundating someone’s inbox, but at the end of the day, a brand has to be drawn to you in some way if they’re going to want to work with you. And that puts a lot of pressure on creators.

All in all, it’s tough to find answers amidst all the uncertainty, especially when it feels like everyone else has it figured out. What am I doing? What’s my dream job? How do I see my career evolving? These are questions I’ve been wrestling with for a bit. But I think sharing the realities of this industry—talking openly about the challenges and unknowns—helps create a more realistic conversation around the “need to know” mentality we often feel pressured by.

For those who’ve been following along or are just joining, I made a big shift in my career. I walked away from a field I’d studied for years to dive into a creative industry where I had no experience, no connections, and no clear vision of where it would lead.

This decision has been more rewarding than I ever expected.

And last week, two of my recipes were published for a company whose product I’ve used in my own kitchen long before I knew there was ever a chance of collaborating with them. This feels like a milestone that marks the beginning of many more unknowns—but in a positive way. The opportunity to test, create, and meet the visions of so many brands is incredibly fulfilling.

Long story short, enough sappy yapping, take a look at my recipes on Graza’s site!!!!!!!

https://www.graza.co/blogs/recipes/avocado-and-beet-crispy-rice-bites

http://graza.co/blogs/recipes/green-curry

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Meet my pins for a series i like to call If This Were Food where i reimagine my pins as recipes inspired by patterns, colors, and textures.

symmetry in squares and rectangles, circular accents, rich reds and pinks, neutrals against neutrals, patterns within garnishes.

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Meet the menu inspired by my pins.

Crispy rice bites. Lemon pepper smashed potatoes.

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LEMON PEPPER SMASHED POTATOES

Recommendations:

• For extremely crispy potatoes, I’ve left these in the oven for up to 80 minutes. It’s all about personal preference—take them out when they reach your ideal level of crispiness.

Grocery List: Lemon Pepper Smashed Potatoes