Cups of Love . . .
from Spencer
Meet Our Cooks
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All of our Cups of Love menu items are homemade from Spencer's favorite family recipes using as many organic ingredients as we can find. The Cups of Love entree cups are creations Gina adapted from meals she has been serving her own family for many years. Keeping soups and casseroles on hand became necessary when she started making real food for Spencer's g-button feedings. This took so much time, there was no time left to cook additional meals for the rest of the family. Converting the casseroles to "cups" was the final step that made making meal blasts for Spencer really easy, while at the same time, provided simple, healthy meals easily accessible for the entire family.
About Gina - Soups & Entrees
I have always loved to eat, so becoming passionate about cooking came naturally. Spencer grew up helping me in the kitchen and garden, and he developed a sophisticated palate very early in life. Because of his low muscle tone, he has always needed stimulation to awaken his senses - even his sense of taste. I started making "kicked up" food using herbs, spices and homegrown ingredients, and Spencer loved to eat more than anything else in spite of the difficult process it was for him.
We started growing our own herbs when Spencer was 5 or 6 years old. He helped me build our first herb garden by hauling all the stones for the border in a wagon he pulled behind his power truck (never call it a wheelchair). We cooked everything together and he was able to grow and thrive for many years getting all of his nourishment eating real food by mouth. He was extremely healthy in spite of his frail body and never experienced any of the usual illnesses that most children suffer who are "made like him". I give all the credit for Spencer's 16 years of amazing health to good, nutritious eating and plenty of fresh air, both of which he enjoyed immensly.
Nothing makes me happier than to make an incredible meal and then to share it with people I love and watch them enjoy it. Cups of Love provides a way for me to do that again. Since Spencer had his major medical event, which left him unable to eat real food by mouth, I have missed having him in my kitchen. Now that I have figured out how to feed him real food again, I am hopeful that he will become healthier than ever and we can return to our former lives - AND Spencer can return to the kitchen where clearly, he belongs!
About Susan - Cupcakes are her specialty
Spencer and I have been friends for the past year. I've watched him thrive and improve eating healthy, whole food. When Gina asked me to join her in helping others facing the same obstacles to good nutrition as Spencer, I said absolutely!
Baking has always been a special love of mine. I have wonderful memories of growing up at a time when 6 p.m. was "supper time"; when you had to try everything on your plate; and, when the meal always ended with dessert. Meals were about healthy eating - meat, vegetables, fruits, grains in the right proportion and portion controlled.
Gina and I agree in our belief that you are what you eat which means using the best health-conscious ingredients to create the most mouth-watering, homemade foods that you may ever taste. It's the love in our food that makes the difference!
Amelda - Test Kitchen & Packaging
I've known Spencer for several years now and started working with him as an attendant this past summer. I am excited to be a part of his recovery team, and have enjoyed watching him improve greatly in the past few months.
I am passionate about good food, and although I'm not helping in the kitchen yet, my role is the best because I get to sample every menu item fresh out of the oven! The process of perfecting the recipes has been an enjoyable one and now that our menu is finalized, packaging and presentation is what I contribute.