Welcome to my blog!

My name is Jordan Thielen and I'm a 31 year old whose passion is exploring & creating in the world of food. 

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     I grew up in an itty bitty town in Arkansas with my parents, brother, and the various animals we had as pets over the years. My dad was the cook in our family. He'd been working in the food industry since he left high school. He worked in many local restaurants and even worked for a big named chicken company. At the age of two my dad put me up on the kitchen counter and gave me a task to do. I've never looked back. I've been growing as a cook since that very moment. I moved off the counter, onto a stool, and eventually I was standing right next to dad in the kitchen. 

     Dad was not the only cook that helped inspire my passion. I also had two grandmothers that contributed a lot. I can remember using my Grandma Jones' entire kitchen table to lay out and dry homemade fried noodles and Easter sugar cookies. We had huge family gatherings there on holidays that always centered around a family prepared meal.

     My Gran was also a wonderful cook even though I got to spend a lot less time with her. She used to make me this zesty popcorn when I would stay over at her house that i'm certain spawned my popcorn addiction. She brought over her homemade cream noodles to us whenever we were sick, and she made sure we always got ice cream for dessert. She also put bacon in my oatmeal when she knew I was having a rough morning. She just got me. 

     I've met and known so many other amazing cooks/chefs in my life that have helped me grow over the years. A best friend's mom who makes the best biscuits and gravy after a Saturday night sleepover. A mom of 7 who has learned how to stretch her dollar to feed her family of nine on such a tight budget. A friend who is obsessed with baking and is my go-to for baking related questions. A co-worker who has shared some of the most delicious week night recipes her family can't stop eating. Not to mention the countless things I have learned by watching some of my favorites on Food Network or The Cooking Channel. 

     When I was 13 my family moved...to Indiana...I was devastated. My child brain could not comprehend how much of an incredibly good thing that would turn out to be. My mom took a relocation package with her company and we would have to move more than once. Mom wanted us to experience the bigger and better things that this world had to offer. Those things could not be found in our tiny Arkansas town. I knew that going in but it sure didn't make things easier. I had a hard time adjusting to my new school along with the weather. No matter what happened at school I always looked forward to coming home and helping dad make dinner or go to the grocery store. On the weekends we would make soups, homemade bread, casseroles, or bake things. Eventually, of course, I made friends and spent a lot of time with them.

     Three years in, we moved again and I was again, devastated. The second move was definitely easier than the first. One thing we gained was a much bigger kitchen. At this point I was 16 so it was a lot harder for dad and I to be in the kitchen at the same time so the extra space was wonderful. I remember teaching my boyfriend how to make sausage balls in that kitchen, I taught my friends how to make homemade sugar cookies at Christmas, and I taught my dad a few things as well. 

     Fast forward to the end of high school and I'm off to Ball State to become an elementary school teacher. I had very few thoughts on what I wanted to be when I grew up...at one point I thought for sure I would become a pediatrician. I thought about how long I'd have to be in school, the debt, and what I really wanted out of life. The doctors life was definitely not for me. After that thought, the idea of teaching took hold. I'd had so many amazing teachers in my life that instilled a life long love of learning in me. I had done a practicum while still in high school and really enjoyed it. So, I was becoming an educator. 

     While at Ball State I was constantly begging my hall mates in my dormitory to go in on groceries with me so I could cook in the kitchenette. I was also the first to jump on board trying new places or eating out. I spent free time reading food blogs, pinning recipes, watching cooking shows, and eventually learned to cook for one when I no longer lived on campus. 

     During the summer between my junior and senior year at school I was given the opportunity to participate in a study abroad trip for two months. We would be based in Liverpool, England but given the opportunity to travel over much of Europe while we were there. I had traveled some in my life (Gulf Shores, Pine Ridge, Des Moines, Gatlinburg, etc) but this was on a whole other level. I was so excited to explore new countries, cities, languages, cultures, and FOOD. Some of the wonderful food experiences I had while there included: the BEST fish and chips, a full english breakfast, a deep fried mars bar, all different varieties of hard cider, sticky toffee pudding, homemade crepes and croissants, Guinness, burgers made with local beef, fresh made guacamole and chipotle chicken, sangria, croquet madame, fettuccine alla panna, gnocchi, and of course real Italian pizza and gelato. Not to mention all the coffee I could get my hands on (I have a problem). I traveled to Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy while there and loved every moment (even after getting a little homesick). I, of course, caught the travel bug and i'm now obsessed with experiencing new foods and flavors everywhere I go.

     I graduated with my teaching degree in 2013 and started working in the schools. Over the next few years I got married and my husband and I started traveling more. He had not experienced travel much in his life, and our honeymoon was his first time on a plane. We've traveled to over 25 new cities together ranging from Punta Cana to San Francisco to Galway. Now he is just as obsessed with traveling and food as I am.

     After five years working in a public schools I had developed severe anxiety and depression. I started my 2018 school year thinking I was totally refreshed as an educator and ready to conquer anything. Now, I won't go into massive detail or get on an education soap box but after the first month of school (It was labor day weekend) I had a massive breakdown. I had no support from administration, and my peers could only do so much to help. I had to worry constantly about my student's safety, as well as my own, because I had more than one out of control student in my classroom. I was constantly stopping fights or destructive behaviors, stopping lessons to call parents, and writing students up. I was forced to give up my personal lunch time to have cafeteria duty because the monitors quit, claiming our students were too out of control. We lost 14 teachers in the summer of 2018 in one building. My husband saw me come home daily, defeated. So after speaking with my husband and close friends/family I decided to resign. I know this was the right decision for me. My mental health was at stake and I had put it on the back burner for too long. It had finally caught up to me. 

     It was at this point that I asked myself "What do I do now?" I took some time off. I slept. I relaxed (or tried to). I spent time with friends and my family. I realized that I don't want to spend my life in place that broke me after only 5 years. I don't know what the future has in store for me career wise but I'm open to all possibilities. 

     For now, I get to spend plenty of time in my kitchen at home with my begging dogs, lazy cat, and loving husband. I'm enjoying every minute of it and I even took up yoga (and I'm loving it)!

     So here's to a new place for me to share my thoughts, ideas, and experiences with food. Happy eating y'all!