Welcome to my kitchen!

My name is Monica. I’m a home cook, blogger, and food photographer, living in Virginia with my husband, son, and daughter. Nourish and Fete began as a personal blog in 2016, when we were living in Belgium and I was a new mom working hard to complete an accelerated masters degree. The blog was a much-needed creative outlet; I had no ambition or idea that it would grow into my full-time job.

For years, I’d loved to bake, motivated both by my own sweet tooth and my love of sharing treats with family and friends. (Especially chocolate chip cookies!)

When I became first a step-Mom and then also a bio-Mom, that same love grew into a passion for cooking. I’m a devotee of family dinners. The satisfaction of enjoying and connecting over a nourishing meal with your loved ones is unmatched.

As a self-taught home cook, I’m fiercely committed to providing well-tested recipes and practical tips. When you see a recipe here, you can feel confident that I’ve tested and retested it in my own kitchen. These are the recipes I would share with my closest friends, whether they have a special meal to prepare or just need to beat the daily dinner grind.

I hope Nourish and Fete will become a place you trust when you need dinner inspiration. I’m thankful you’re here!

My Favs

Close up of a pulled BBQ chicken bowl with rice, coleslaw, and pickles.
FOR A CROWD

Pulled BBQ Chicken Bowls

This Sesame Cashew Chicken recipe uses lean ground chicken and a 4-ingredient homemade sauce to unlock a flavorful meal. It takes just about 20 minutes and one skillet only. Paired with broccoli or edamame, rice, and plenty of extra sesame seeds, it’s one of my favorite easy lunches or dinners.
FOR CHOOSY KIDS

Sesame Cashew Chicken

Small white plate with a meal of teriyaki coated salmon garnished with sesame seeds, brown rice, and steamed broccoli.
FOR HEALTHY PROTEIN

Teriyaki Salmon

Close up of ravioli with a simple pesto sauce, burst cherry tomatoes, and tender peas.
FOR THE BUSIEST DAYS

Ultra-Fast Pesto Ravioli

A Few Fun Facts

  1. There are always tortellini in my freezer.
  2. I am former CIA counterterrorism analyst. I loved the work and only left because I craved more flexibility for my family life.
  3. I am a NASM-certified Personal Trainer and proud to train a few camps weekly at my local Burn Bootcamp. That place changed my life and I absolutely love being a part of it.
  4. I have a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (go Hoyas!), a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from William James College, a certificate in Nutrition Studies from Cornell University, and am working on a Nutrition Coach certification through Precision Nutrition. I hope to be a lifelong learner and would jump at the chance to earn another degree under the right circumstances.
  5. My family lives outside of Washington, DC and is so lucky to take advantage of this area. My son’s favorites are the Smithsonian Air and Space and Natural History Museums.
  6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a special place in my heart. I was born and raised less than an hour outside the city, and my Mom still lives in the house where I grew up. Black and gold for life!
  7. We rebuilt our house in 2022 after a massive tree fell and split the old one in half — yes, while we were inside — the year before. Now I really empathize with those who experience a major home loss, and have come out on the other side and enjoyed the opportunity to design and build my own lovely kitchen. 
  8. I’m a soccer, swim, piano, and ballet Mom, who would have it no other way. I share quick and easy meals because that’s what fits into my own life.
  9. I am a Pinterest Mom exactly twice a year: my kids’ birthdays. These are two of my favorite days every year, and I plan for weeks if not months ahead.
  10. I’m obsessed with FitRadio. On the very rare occasion I’m alone in the house, odds are I’m playing music no one else likes at an inappropriately loud volume.
As seen in:

Podcast Interviews

I love chatting about all things food, fitness, business, motherhood, and the chaotic mix of them all. Please direct all podcast inquiries to me directly at monica [at] nourish and fete [dot] com.

Photo Use Policy

You are welcome to use one image from any post on nourish-and-fete.com in a recipe roundup or other promotional web content as long as you provide a link back to the original post and provide explicit photo credit to “Monica Lensink” or “Nourish and Fete” as the original content creator.

Other content use, including the republishing of full recipes, is not permitted without express written agreement. Please contact me for licensing requests or other inquiries.

All content is copyright Nourish and Fete.