Annette's Kitchen: Family Food Made Fun and Healthy

This book is a collection of my family recipes made healthy. Growing up, I was exposed to many different flavors from all over the world. My family is Armenian with Russian background. As a child, I remember my mom making delicious meals from scratch every day. She introduced me to cooking and baking homemade foods of every description. I remember her making homemade yogurt and fruit compotes and jams. When grapes were in the season, it was time for making wine! My mom, Louise Marterossian, was the inspiration for me to write this cookbook. She taught me how to cook and shared her cooking secrets with me. For all the wonderful memories and happy family times and for all the delicious meals that we have shared. She still cooks amazing food with love, and it is one of the reasons our families look forward getting together at her place – to enjoy her delicious food! Food doesn't just nourish our bodies—it nourishes our souls in many ways. Food creates connections. It brings us together in shared appreciation. Not all recipes are totally healthy, but they provide for something deep inside you that goes beyond physical hunger—hence the term "comfort food." Occasionally we all need that! I have included all types of recipes in this book, including more than 100 vegetarian and vegan recipes, for just that reason—to nourish both body and soul. Most recipes are healthy, though a few are a little more decadent—we all need to indulge sometimes. At the end of each recipe, under "Notes," you will find alternative recipe suggestions, nutritional facts and health benefits, ideas on what to pair the recipe with, and other tips and suggestions. Nowadays majority struggle with some form of illness and persistent ailment. There are many chronic conditions we battle in the modern age: chronic fatigue, inflammation, digestive issues, autoimmune diseases, and more. Truly, what we consume makes a difference, and can even alleviate many of these conditions. Processed food is more readily available these days than ever before. But it contributes to our problems: we need to limit our consumption of processed foods and make time to cook more often in our kitchens using real ingredients. This is an investment in our health that will be well worth our time and effort—the returns will be tenfold, if not more!

Annette Derovanessian received her certification as an integrative nutrition health coach in 2016 from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. She also holds a bachelor's degree in accountancy. Her ambition and drive to rise in the corporate world as an accountant shifted when she discovered the power of food to impact our physical and mental wellbeing—she chose to apply her work ethic and drive to improving people's wellness instead of their finances. Becoming an integrative nutrition health coach ultimately allowed her to combine her love for health with her love for helping people reach their goals. She is a mother and a wife, and enjoys creative healthy cooking and outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, volleyball and cycling, as well as yoga and Pilates. Her passion for health and wellness has encouraged her to create recipes that are not only nourishing and wholesome but also delicious and satisfying.