Love. Joy. Food. If you think these sound like the perfect ingredients for a memorable meal, newly minted cookbook author and popular food blogger Michelle Braxton would wholeheartedly agree. Add a generous serving of vegetables, and you’ll get a feel for the vibe of her debut cookbook, “Supper With Love: Vibrant, Delicious, and Comforting Plant-Forward and Pescatarian Recipes for Every Day,” released this month.
“Food is a way to share the love you have for whomever you’re feeding,” affirms the Decatur, Georgia, native. “For me, a plant-forward lifestyle is essentially making an effort to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables as possible into your weekly meal plan.”
A Plant-Forward Lifestyle
Braxton’s journey to a plant-forward lifestyle began in college after hearing a lecture by rap artist KRS-One. “I had decided at that time I was going to stop eating pork. And gradually over the years, my desire for meat just went away.”
The food blogger has followed a pescatarian lifestyle since 2009, which Braxton admits varies among individuals. “In my house, pescatarian cooking is eating mainly vegan or vegetarian-friendly foods—and occasionally fish and seafood. Also in my case, I often include dairy products and eggs,” she shares. “But some pescatarians may choose to not consume dairy or egg products.”
Cookbook Inspiration From Supper with Michelle
As for the inspiration behind writing her cookbook, it all sprang from the vibrant community Braxton created via her popular food blog, Supper with Michelle. Prior to starting her blog in 2014, Braxton would post photos of the meals she made on Facebook and Instagram.
“To my surprise, a lot of my friends and family would say, ‘This looks delicious. Where’s the recipe?’ I wasn’t even prepared for that! I didn’t think people would actually want the recipes,” she shares.
Today, the blog boasts 50,000+ page views per month and has landed Braxton collaborations with brands like Staub, Cuisinart, Kroger Company, and Zwilling.
By Jocelyn Amador
