Hello! I’m Laura, cook, photographer, and delicious food enthusiast! I am a wife & homeschooling mom of five kids ages 9 and under which means life for me is always full of love and laughter! Here on JoyFoodSunshine you will find recipes that are fast, easy & family-friendly, as well as recipes that take patience, time and love to create. I believe the memories made around cooking and enjoying delicious food are ones that last a lifetime.
My love for being in the kitchen started with baking. Cookies, pies, cakes, you name it I wanted to learn how to bake the best desserts ever. I believe life is short and you should always “treat yo self!”
On JoyFoodSunshine you’ll find a mixture of real-deal desserts as well as healthy dessert recipes that don’t taste healthy at all. Because if I’m going to eat a sweet treat every night, I like to make healthier options as well as our family’s favorites!
Once I mastered baking, my focus shifted to cooking. Here on our site you will also find nourishing and delicious dishes that are easy to make and kid-approved.
I have plenty of healthy main dish recipes – like our famous pizza dough and pizza sauce, homemade mac and cheese, chicken chili, etc. Plus lots of yummy breakfast recipes like green smoothies, breakfast bars, cinnamon rolls, etc. Also sides, snacks, etc. Basically, I hope to help all you busy people out there by creating delicious, tried and tested recipes that take minimal effort and turn out perfectly every time!
Here are a few of my favorite things in no particular order…
My husband. I mean, look at him. Aww. We got married in August 2007 and have been on an adventure together ever since. He’s the most talented man I’ve ever met. He can do everything, and I mean it. I am 98.77% sure he can actually fly…
My kids! Again, look at them. How could I not? Bethany, age 9, loves reading, riding her bike, and building Legos. Gabe, age 7, is all about knives, guns, and mac ‘n cheese. Naomi, age 5, loves her babies, her mommy, and dancing around in pretty dresses. Mara, age 3 loves dancing and singing to music and is the family DJ! And our newest addition Keilah Faith is 1 and she loves all of her siblings & her daddy, but loves mommy the most!
My kids are my sunshine. I am mediator when they fight and counselor when they are sad. I’m disciplinarian, cook, storyteller, teacher, and the queen of their make-believe kingdom. I’m replaceable everywhere else, but my kids will only ever have one mommy…and I am thankful it is me.
My Faith. Grace really is amazing. The Gospel
Peanut Butter. No need to elaborate. It ranks up there with my kids and husband. Enough said. Check out all my peanut butter recipes!
Vitamix. I joke that if my house was burning down and everyone I love was safe I would run back in and save my Vitamix! It’s just a joke. But seriously. I make so many recipes in the Vitamix, Check them out here: Vitamix Recipes.
Since starting this blog I have fostered a wonderful relationship with the Vitamix team and am now am part of their affiliate blogger program! If you click on any of the links to the Vitamix website from my site you will receive free shipping on your order!
I started this blog because sometimes we lose ourselves. Sometimes every day becomes the same as the one before. Sometimes in the midst of it all we lose our Joy. We don’t care about Food. And we are desperate for a little Sunshine. I hope you enjoy your visit as I share a little of who I am with a little of whoever you are.
Some of my favorite recipes:
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER – We are mildly famous for this recipe! 🙂
- These homemade cinnamon rolls are even BETTER than Cinnabon!
- I eat one of these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Breakfast Bars every day along with this Green Smoothie Recipe!
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- This Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is my go-to to feed a crowd or to bring a meal to someone!
- Black Bean Brownies – one of my favorite healthy desserts!
- We make this Easy Homemade Pizza Dough and Homemade Pizza Sauce every week for pizza night!
- Flourless Brownies and Flourless Chocolate Cake are the two desserts I’d make on my birthady!
- Cashew Chicken Stir Fry a go-to weeknight staple!
See my list of baking staples HERE.
And my kitchen must-haves HERE!
I would love to stay connected! You can find @joyfoodsunshine on all social media channels! Or email me at joyfoodsunshine@gmail.com!
Instagram: @joyfoodsunshine
Pinterest: JoyFoodSunshine
Facebook: JoyFoodSunsine
Twitter: @joyfoodsunshine
Note: All the phots of our family in this post have been taken by Brooke Steinicke, our favorite family photographer! She is incredibly talented and has been taking our photos for years! Check her out at http://brookesteinphoto.com/!