Where we've been... it's pretty cool

Heather Arcay
Dec 8, 2021
3 min read

So, you've probably been starving since our last post, right? No idea on what to make? Ok, I'm sure you're totally fine and really didn't skip a beat but we wanted to fill you in on where we've been.

This is Heather and I'm sharing with you our story if you want some sappy readings for the day. Sometimes it's good to hear what others have been doing to know we're all still human and have challenges, good and bad.

First, we want to say thank you to those who have been following us for the short time Cook 'n' Kickass was rolling. It's been exciting to create fun and delicious recipes and share our love for the kitchen with others who enjoy it with us!

This was a stepping stone to greater monumental moments in life and in the food industry. As you may or may not know, I've been in culinary school through Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts for the past 15 months.

This was a need to improve my personal growth while pondering life and going through this crazy pandemic. This program was all online, it was an awesome experience.

My kitchen was my classroom I had Zoom meetings with my classmates, fantastic Chef instructors who will always be there for me if needed and I learned so much not just skill but a deeper appreciation for the culinary history and our food sources and how they should be treated. This was a turning point.

We've all had some questioning about our path at this time, would you agree? Did you find yourself seeking a greater purpose? Were you affected by the closings and did your career sink into the darkness of not being relevant enough? It affected me quite a bit and creating beautiful, delicious, and heart-warming dishes for others was always a love for Angie and me, thanks to our beautiful and talented Mom. Thank you, Mom!

My culinary experience along with a move to a new town gave me time to brainstorm and ultimately create a business I wouldn't have ever imagined. This is where my time and focus have been for the past several months. Research and development, testing recipes, and perfecting something people want and need.

Angie has been doing amazing things as well with a super-de-duper busy schedule and kicking but in her career. We have lots of fun and support each other in everything we do and would still love to feed people great food and great for you, by large numbers someday. Our 2-year goal is to start a vegan and gluten-free food truck but we have some work to do for now while we build smaller empires to get us there. Keep in touch with us both if want to see this happen!

GAIA Cookies

This is for ANYONE WHO LOVES COOKIES!

My new vegan and allergen-friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies do also cater to people with dietary gluten restrictions due to celiac disease, a serious and life-threatening disease that affects the lining of the intestines. Celiac disease requires strictly omitting gluten from the diet which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. Other important needs for this cookie are to serve people with severe to mild allergic reactions and intolerances to soy, tree nuts, peanuts, egg, dairy, corn, oats, and xanthan gum.

While in school and learning about our food and the way it's being processed and also having a few intolerances myself, I joined groups with food allergies to gain a better understanding. I began to hear endless and awful stories of the pain and suffering people have been enduring, while these numbers have consistently grown at an exponential and mind-blowing rate.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011! That's 14 years!

So here I am, building a business with all of my previous experiences and a passion to help and serve something delicious. I've created one small treat to include those who are often excluded from enjoying something so simple... like a chocolate chip cookie. This is a big thing for a growing population of food allergies and intolerances.

If you want to follow GAIA Cookies and learn more, visit www.gaiacookies.com, your support would be gratefully appreciated. I am working towards buying a commercial kitchen space so that I can reach customers through wholesale with restaurants and cafes as well as start online sales and ship out to homes nationwide.