Meet MaryAnne
Hi! My name is MaryAnne Hoekstra-Shekar, and I am the writer, recipe developer, and photographer behind this site. Gastronotherapy is where I create delicious recipes that are mainly vegetarian and vegan. I tend to make recipes that veer toward the healthy side, but I have a huge sweet tooth and love dessert!
What You'll Find on Gastronotherapy
The recipes contain step-by-step instructions, detailed photos, and the best tips and tricks for achieving success in your own kitchen. My goal is to enable you to recreate all the recipes on this site, while having fun and learning a few shortcuts.
I love to cook all types of comfort food, but with a healthier spin on them. I also try to cook seasonally as much as possible. I always try to focus on whole foods and avoid preservatives.
I call myself a flexitarian, as I eat mainly plant-based, but I don't have any hard and fast rules around my lifestyle. I eat dairy from time-to-time, enjoy seafood here and there, and eat meat a few times a year. In short, I eat what sounds good and makes me feel good.
There are a lot of easy dishes here that can be made in 30 minutes or less, like refried bean and cheese tacos, vegetarian tortellini salad, vegetarian chili, and garlic butter pasta.
If you're new to the world of eating plant-based/vegan, be sure to check out my vegan grocery list for beginners. Some of my most popular vegan recipes are Tuscan bean salad, roasted garlicky green beans and carrots, and oven roasted cherry tomato sauce.
If you are looking for flavorful vegetarian recipes, I recommend starting with lentil vegetable soup, Sweetgreen harvest bowl, and sweet potato frittata.
There are also fun weekend projects to jump into, like chocolate glazed donuts, black forest pie, cherry coffee cake, and Cinnabon copycat cinnamon rolls.
I also have several "how to" posts to help you along in the kitchen, like How to Reheat Quiche, How to Thicken Pasta Sauce, and How to Cook Corn on the Cob.
To see my full list of recipes, check out the Recipe Index, where you can browse recipes by category.
How It All Started
Growing up in Minnesota, I had no interest in learning how to cook but I had a fondness for baking (and eating!) at an early age. My lack of interest in cooking probably had to do with being fed a lot of frozen pizzas and bad pot roasts (sorry, mom!).
In my early 20's, I started taking cooking classes, baking classes, and candy-making classes. I found that I really enjoyed spending time in the kitchen and trying new recipes.
I also discovered that spending time in the kitchen felt therapeutic and relaxing. It helped me to get out of my head and focus on sensory pleasures - the way it feels to knead bread dough, the smell of warm spices wafting through my house, or the taste of fresh berries in the summer.
In recent years I have also become very interested in food justice and am always working to educate myself more on this issue. If you are curious and want to learn more, University of California Press has a great reading list here.
p.s. Check out my contribution to this Business Insider article about "outsmarting" grocery stores. 😀
Fun Facts About MaryAnne
- I started Gastronotherapy as a way to express myself creatively.
- I grew up in Minnesota with a fondness for baking.
- l Iove to eat. I am the person that is always thinking about her next meal (no joke).
- I lived in NYC for 17 years. While there, I sharpened my palate over the years while taking cooking and baking classes, making dinner for friends, and trying as many restaurants as I could afford.
- I have a Master's Degree in International Relations but I almost went to culinary school.
- I used to have my own chocolate company (H.S. Chocolate Co.). My confections were sold at Whole Foods and featured in publications like Food & Wine. You can read more about my story of taking a risk to open my own business in Canvas Rebel!
- I've taught chocolate making classes at various establishments, including Haven's Kitchen.
- I managed bakeries in NYC for several years, including Amy's Bread and Billy's Bakery.
- My husband and I moved to Southern California in the fall of 2020. We are enjoying the sunshine, warm weather, and general California vibe. And I finally have a small garden for the first time in my life!
- I am fortunate to have an Indian mother-in-law who has deepened my knowledge of (and love for) Indian cooking.
- I love desserts, and never travel without dark chocolate. I am the person who always finishes her meals with a bite of something sweet - it's just how I'm wired.
Keeping in Touch
A great way to engage with Gastronotherapy is by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or TikTok!
You can also subscribe to my email newsletter to get my FREE e-book of 20 vegetarian recipes, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox!
If you're interested in working with me, head to my FAQ page to see the services I offer.
If you're a fellow food blogger, listen to my appearance on the Eat Blog Talk podcast, where I discuss the benefits of joining an accountability group!
You can also email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!
