Hi, my name is Nataliia. I am a recipe developer, a photographer, a writer, and any other role possible behind Sava's Kitchen. I created this blog in 2021 to share my favorite recipes with anybody who loves nutritious and delicious food.
My head has always been busy thinking about what new I can cook for my family today. I have a husband and a young son, and one of them (not the son!) is picky. Whatever I cook, it has to be tasty and contain maximum nutrition. So one day, I just bought this domain and started putting my recipes out in the world hoping my website can be useful for someone.
When you dream about something with all your heart, it will eventually come true (I know that!). The only condition - is you have to work for it.
My story
I was born and grew up in Ukraine, I always knew that one day I will move to the USA. I grew up watching American shows and movies and secretly dreamt about one day living there. I did not even know how I could do it.
I grew up in Ukraine eating seasonal foods from my grandparents’ huge gardens, enjoyed going to the chicken coop to pick fresh eggs for breakfast, and ate strawberries straight from the bush sitting on the ground barefoot.
Prepackaged foods and snacks were super expensive, so my mom would be creative to make homemade pizzas, candy bars, and chips. I didn’t even try Cheetos until I met my husband who introduced me to this snack and other processed foods. Meanwhile, I made him in love with Ukrainian Borscht. Balance in everything is the key.
My mom passed away when I was 13 (breast cancer) and my dad passed when I was 20 (heart attack). After my dad died, I finished my degree (I knew my dad wanted me to finish my education) and joined the Au-pair program to go to America.
I joined the Unites Stated Army, got my citizenship, and met my future husband while serving the military. We are both proud veterans who now have one goal - to have a peaceful life without moving much and raising our amazing son.
I always knew how to cook, but I truly fell in love with cooking when I moved to the United States and started my own family. I was fascinated by the number of different produce, grains, meats, and spices available all year round, and how many great recipes I can make for us.
MY VIEWS ON FOOD AND NUTRITION
For me, food is a powerful tool that can change my mood, how I feel, my body composition, the way my brain functions. There should be no judgments about what you eat because it is only your choice what foods to put in your body.
I like to know what is on our plates, and even if we eat out sometimes and even allow store-bought sweets, I always try to make all our meals from scratch using nutritious, wholesome, and versatile ingredients.
WHAT RECIPES YOU WILL FIND ON SAVA'S KITCHEN
I develop nutritious, versatile family friendly recipes. I always try to make sure every recipe I create is rich in nutrients. Whether it's soup or muffins, there will be an ingredient or few to add nutritional value. And of course, you will find occasional treats in my blog.
My recipes are easy, affordable and family friendly. I try to use as many seasonal and organic ingredients as possible.
I aim for lower sugar and lower sodium recipes.
My 3-year-old son and my husband always test my recipes. If the boys do not approve a recipe, it is not going on my website. Ok, I'll be honest: if my son approves it, but my husband is not impresses by the recipe, it's still going on my website. My husband is a super picky eater.
I hope to inspire at least a few people to start cooking more homemade meals. It is fun, rewarding, and more affordable.
Start with the MY RECIPE INDEX to browse around my food creations.
FACTS ABOUT ME
I left Ukraine with one suitcase and one hundred dollars on international Au-pair program visa.
I am very proud that I got my US citizenship by joining and serving the United States Army for 7 years.
My husband proposed to me over the phone on a weekday, by asking what I was doing for my lunch break. And we did get married that day, at local DMV with no rings (we got them later the same day).
I never tried Hot Cheetos until my husband introduced them to me.
My mom would be so proud of my food blog because growing up I never was interested in helping her to cook. She was worried, that I will grow up not knowing basic cooking skills, and I will never marry because I cannot cook (lol). In Ukraine, the times I grew up, cooking was one of the main skills a woman should master to be a successful wife.