About

Hi there, I'm Iryna!

And just like you, I juggle many things at once. I'm a busy wife and mama to two beautiful girls. I take care of my household, cooking non-stop, managing kids activities and running a full time food blog.

I started this website in 2014 with a goal to share my parenting tips and tricks with busy and tired moms.

Over the following few years, my blog took a different direction and I found myself interested in cooking and sharing these recipes online.

Although originally the focus was geared towards European food, my diet and the position on many life issues have changed.

Watching dear people around me getting sick and struggling with ongoing health issues, prompted me to revaluate my food philosophy.

I started learning about nutrition and the way our food influences our health.

So after a few years of running a food blog dedicated solely to European comfort food, in 2020 I rebranded and changed my focus to sharing healthy and clean recipes for the whole family. Recipes, that will not make you feel guilty about eating them.

I strongly believe that plant-based diet, as well as reducing stress level and removing toxic substances from your home will reward you with the best long-term health benefits.

As it turns out, all changes come with a little bit of a transition. Despite that I became vegan, my husband and kids are still omnivores. They like salami, they like cheese and I'm not pushing the agenda onto them.

Whenever I cook, I make sure my family gets the most health benefits out of their food, regardless whether it's vegan, vegetarian or meat recipe.

These days, my mission is simple - to share easy and healthy recipes for families with mixed dietary preferences along with evidence-based nutrition facts and tips for eliminating toxic elements from your kitchen.

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My background

I was born and raised in Ukraine, a beautiful country, where food is made with heart and where everyone cooks from scratch. Popular Ukrainian soup - Borsch, was on our table several times a week.

From the early age, I started to embrace good food, traditions, the art of eating slowly and enjoying a good conversation over the meal!

I still carry these values and hoping to pass them on to my children. I cook with love and many of my family's favorite recipes you can find on my blog.

I moved to the US in my mid-20s. Soon after, I got married and had our first daughter. Since 2011 we've moved a lot and lived in different states. At this time we call Indiana our home.

Now, we're a family of 4 and my little ones keep me busy the whole time.

We are very active family. We love being outdoors as much as possible. Even if it's cold or raining, we could still be found roaming the nearby trails and enjoying the serenity of the woods.

What you can expect to see on my blog

• Easy plant-based and vegetarian recipes with a sprinkling of healthier meat recipes for carnivores in your family;
• Traditional Russian and Ukrainian recipes (see my Russian Vinegret Salad)
• My healthy delicious twist on classic comfort food recipes (see my Truffle Alfredo Pasta)

Thank you for reading my blog and leaving your lovely comments! If you have any questions, leave me a comment below or drop me a line at [email protected].

See you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept guest posting or ads?

This blog does not accept guest posting nor link insertion. All advertising on Lavender & Macarons are done through AdThrive and I don't accept an outside advertising.

Can we work together?

I love working with brands who align with my food philosophy and values. Some of the brands that I worked with are Le Creuset, Bob’s Red Mills, Village Harvest Rice & Grains, Silk, MaraNatha Foods.

If you're interested in partnership, please email me at [email protected].

Press

Since I started Lavender & Macarons, my recipes have been featured in a variety of popular online magazines. Some of them are: Elle, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, The Kitchn,  Greatist.

Here are my recent features:

Elle - 15 idées d’apéritifs de Noël au saumon fumé

Elle Quebec - 15 recipe ideas for a gourmet picnic

Cosmopolitan - 15 Vegan Holiday Recipes No One Will Even Suspect Are Healthy

The Kitchn - French Mustard Chicken Recipe

Good Housekeeping - 10 German Christmas Cookies to Please Any Holiday Crowd

Buzzfeed - 19 Valentine's Day Recipes That Feel Seriously Fancy; Just 33 Outrageously Good Spring Baking Ideas To Bookmark

Brit + Co - 10 Breads from Around The World to Try Other Than a French Baguette; 20 Quick + Healthy Bulgur Wheat Recipes; 11 Caper Recipes That Will Make You Clean the Glass Jar, 19 Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes to WOW Your Honey

Greatist - 21 Easy Eggplant Recipes That Aren't Just For Your Vegetarian Friends, 21 Easy Crepe Recipes You'll Regret Not Trying

Parade Community Table - 40 Family-Friendly One Pot Meals, 20 Hearty Vegetarian And Vegan Casseroles, 20 Must-Try Cheesy Recipes

PureWow - 16 Quick and Easy Dinners You Can Make with Farro, 15 Christmas Bread Recipes That Are Easy, Pretty and Festive

MSN - Incredibly Satisfying World Soups From A To Z, Easy-To-Make Finger Foods that Look Amazing, 100 Easy Pasta Recipes that Will Never Let You Down, Mouthwatering Holiday Foods from Around the World

Bob's Red Mill - Eggplant Tart With Tomatoes And Goat Chees

American Express Essentials - 11 Cheesy Classics Done Better

I also served as contributor to SoFabFood.

You can find my recipes RIGHT HERE.