Celebrate Every Day — Day Thirty Four I remember standing in a dressing room under the worst kind of lighting; the fluorescent kind that doesn’t just expose your skin, it exposes your shame. I tugged at the waist of a pair of jeans that didn’t quite fit and whispered, “Get it together,” under my breath. Not to the jeans. To myself. That was the soundtrack for years. Push harder. Eat less. Do more. Disappear, but smile while doing it.

Skillet-roasted potatoes & shallots with maple-Dijon glaze. Crisp edges, cozy flavor. A little love letter to your body because comfort food can still feel kind.

Recipe + reflection now on Celebrate Every Day—Day 34.

#mealandgrace #celebrateeveryday #skilletmeals

Celebrate Every Day — Day Thirty-Three The best part? It worked. The waffle pan was a dream and so was the breakfast. But more than that, I remembered that single focus doesn’t always look like hustle. Sometimes it’s standing over the stove, testing something new, daring to believe it might be good.

Got coconut creamer and a waffle craving?
I tested my new Nordic Ware waffle pan and whipped up some Coconut Cream Waffles that just might change your mornings. Light, crisp, and full of flavor. 🧇🌴 Come for the recipe, stay for the story.

#MealAndGrace #CelebrateEveryDay

Celebrate Every Day — Day Thirty Last month, the not-okayness felt heavy. For me, for my people. So I made a batch of S’mores Hot Cocoa. Marshmallows, crushed graham crackers, a square of chocolate melting into the warmth. No one’s tears disappeared, no one’s problems were solved. But the kitchen felt softer. The conversation got easier. The kindness tasted like chocolate.

When someone’s not okay, sometimes the best thing we can offer is a warm mug and a little kindness.
Today’s post is about cocoa, comfort, and showing up. Read the full story and recipe on the blog. Link in profile.
#CelebrateEveryDay #MealAndGrace #SmoresHotCocoa

Celebrate Every Day — Day Twenty Nine It’s such a simple word. Six letters. A handful of sounds. But every time my brother says it; whether in a text, at the end of a phone call, or over a cup of coffee it feels like a benediction. Like a gift. Like a quiet invitation to exhale.

Shalom looks like a quiet kitchen, warm waffles, crispy chicken, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Today’s post is about peace, belonging, and a sandwich that’s as sweet as it is savory. New on the blog. Link in profile. #CelebrateEveryDay #MealAndGrace

Celebrate Every Day — Day Twenty Six You might expect to meet God in church, on a mountaintop, or tucked inside a beautiful, quiet prayer. I meet Him in the kitchen. Flour on the counter, butter softening on the stove, a bowl tilted just so, sunlight catching in the messy bits. That’s where I find Him most often. In the ordinary acts of creating something meant to nourish and delight.

Sometimes God shows up not in grand gestures but in butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Today on Celebrate Every Day I’m sharing how baking reminds me of His quiet faithfulness. Plus, a recipe for the loveliest Lemon & Elderflower Cupcakes. #MealAndGrace #CelebrateEveryDay

Celebrate Every Day — Day Twenty One There are days I feel like I’m drowning in citations, questions, and uncertainty and on those days, I make meatballs. Not glamorous, not complicated. Just warm, steady, and wildly comforting. Like saying, “You’ve done enough today.” This recipe has become one of my go-to resets. It’s as simple as tossing a few things in the crockpot and trusting that something good is happening, even when I can’t see it yet.

Grad school. No bell schedule, no classroom. Just a laptop and a whole lot of doubt. Today on Celebrate Every Day, I’m writing about imposter syndrome, meatballs, and showing up even when you feel like you don’t belong. Maybe that’s enough.

#MealAndGrace #CelebrateEveryDay

Celebrate Every Day — Day Seventeen I recently made one of the easiest and most nostalgic desserts I know: No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. But in our house, we don’t call them that. We call them Yum Yumms, because they are yummy yummy. That name started when I was a kid, and it just stuck. Even now, my grown-up friends and family still call them that, like it's the most natural thing in the world. There’s something about the name that makes you pause and smile, that invites you to slow down and savor not just the cookie, but the moment. Calling them by their proper name feels too formal, too buttoned-up for something that’s always been about joy, about simplicity, about not missing the sweetness right in front of you.

Today’s post is about slowing down, prepping on purpose, and remembering that sometimes joy shows up in the form of a cookie. In our house, we call them Yum Yumms, because they’re yummy yummy.

What are you learning to savor?
Let’s talk about it.

#CelebrateEveryDay #MealAndGrace

Celebrate Every Day — Day Fifteen There was nothing fancy about that salad. But making it reminded me that I am capable of creating something new. Not just dinner, but joy. Momentum. Change. I didn’t need permission. I just needed a spoon, a bowl, and a little courage. If you’re feeling stuck in a pattern of your own making, try doing one thing differently. One new meal. One blog post shared. One quiet act of intention.

Craving something bright, I tossed together this Creamy Herb BLT Pasta Salad. Lemony, crisp, full of flavor and grace. It reminded me that showing up in the kitchen is one way I get unstuck. Sometimes freedom looks like bowtie pasta and fresh herbs.

#MealAndGrace #CelebrateEveryDay

Celebrate Every Day — Day Nine There was a time when I believed showing up meant being strong, steady, and sure. Fixing the problem. Being the strong one. And sometimes, yes, that is part of it. But more often, I am learning, showing up looks quieter. Smaller. Slower.

Love isn’t always perfectly balanced. Some days, it means showing up in quiet, unexpected ways. Today’s reflection is about what it really looks like to carry each other, with grace.

Gracefully yours,
Jeanie Jo

#celebrateeveryday #mealandgrace

Tucci Tuesdays Because We All Need More Pasta and Stanley in Our Lives

Tucci Tuesdays start May 20!
I’m sharing a 5-week Substack series inspired by Tucci in Italy—a journey through food, culture, and history with Stanley Tucci as our guide. A little Eat Pray Love, a little Will & Grace, and a whole lot of pasta.

#TucciTuesdays #MealAndGrace #TucciInItaly

The Table That Waited for Sunday Easter Brunch, a Sheet Pan Supper, and the Sacred Gift of Gathering

The table was simple. The sunlight was golden. The food was made with love. 🌿 Find the full post with recipes for both brunch and dinner now on Substack. You’re always welcome at the table.
#EasterAtTheTable #MealAndGrace #HomecookedHoliday #BrunchBoard #SheetPanDinner #SubstackWriter

The Recipe Between Friday and Sunday My Grandma’s Greek Chicken & Potatoes, Holy Saturday Stillness, and the Sacredness of Waiting

Cooked Babs’ Greek Chicken & Potatoes last night—bright with lemon, full of comfort, and just right for Holy Saturday’s sacred stillness. A good meal for the waiting.
#MealAndGrace #HolySaturday #FoodMemoir

Hot Cross Grace Baking Hope on Good Friday, One Spiced Bun at a Time.

Made Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday—the recipe I sticky‑noted last Easter, vowing never to settle for store‑bought again.

As the dough rose, so did the reminder: grace is at work, even in the waiting.

open.substack.com/pub/mealandg...

#GoodFriday #MealAndGrace #HotCrossBuns