I’m Helena-Laura.

A recipe creator, food photographer, stylist, and videographer with a lifelong love for all things delicious.

I grew up in the North, surrounded by the dark winters, bright summers, and the kind of comforting food that warms both body and soul. My Northern European heritage, with strong Scandinavian and Eastern European influences, continues to inspire the recipes I share today.

My food journey began at the age of six, when I cooked alongside my grandma. Such a cliché, but it’s true! Her buttery mushroom soup remains unbeatable, like her countless other comforting dishes. Grandpa was also a great home cook. They may have cooked traditional dishes, but they were never afraid to embrace modern ideas about food. Inspired by European flavors and classic American comfort, they filled their home with cookbooks collected during their retirement. Still, their truest recipes came from memory and heritage — they cooked not by the book, but by heart.

Later, I watched my dad run his sea-inspired pub-style restaurant. It was a fusion of world cuisines. Without realizing it, that close exposure to the hospitality world carved a special place in my heart and likely fueled my passion for food. Having grown up and become a mom, I experimented with two cute home bakeries and two tiny recipe blogs. Along the way, I discovered how deeply I love food photography and storytelling, which complements cooking and baking itself. After a few pauses and restarts, I realized there was no turning back: this is what I’m meant to do.

There have been numerous discussions and debates surrounding comfort food versus healthy food. But for me, cozy comforting food (sometimes even fast or so-called junk food, if it’s delicious) means 100% the same as deeply nourishing healthy food. Isn’t the most nutritious choice something that makes you feel happy and is satisfying to prepare or order? We don’t only feed our bodies, but also our souls, and the constant feeling of being left out of something delicious is emotionally and mentally draining.

Yoga has introduced me to another beloved cuisine, which I have incorporated into my kitchen: Indian, Bangladeshi, and other southern Asian cuisines. I first delved deep into the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, and then let it loose a bit again, for I didn’t want it to become another diet or a way of restricting myself. My heart belongs to timeless organic food, and I’m genuinely interested in all types of wholesome, nourishing diet-free recipes.

I believe that food should never feel restrictive. To me, cozy comfort food, funky street food, and healthy twists on fast food all have the same goal — to make you feel happy, nourished, and inspired. Whether I’m reinterpreting a traditional recipe, drawing from my roots, or bringing in flavors from other global cuisines, my kitchen is all about variety and joy.

Now, through this site, I share recipes, photos, and videos that reflect not only what’s on my plate, but the stories, heritage, and cravings behind them.

Here are my three mantras:

• Stop the endless dieting!
• Do what you love and eat what makes you happy!
• If you have a craving, then satisfy it now!