Hi there! I’m Himani and welcome to Val’s Recipe Box.
This little corner of the internet didn’t begin with me.
It began with Val my neighbourhood aunt whose kitchen held more warmth than any fireplace ever could.
She was more of a friend and I’ve come to know her in the most unexpected way.
Her handwritten cards with fading ink, oil splatters, tiny notes that say more about her personality than any photo could.
Notes like “A little extra butter won’t hurt” or “Stir until it feels right.” That sort of instinctive, unfussy wisdom is what drew me in from the very beginning.
After she left us, when I first opened that weathered box, I wanted to preserve her legacy. Over time, as Val’s Recipe Box grew, I found myself not just cooking her dishes but connecting with her with the kind of love, simplicity, and grounding her recipes carried.
And that’s how I ended up here, continuing a story that started long before me.
Why I’m Here?
I’m someone who finds comfort in quiet corners and familiar flavors. I’m not loud, I’m not flashy, and I’m definitely not the type to pretend everything has to be perfect. Cooking, to me, is a refuge a way of creating warmth, even on the messiest days.
Val cooked the same way. She used food to care, to heal, to celebrate, to gather.
And that’s exactly what I hope to keep alive.
I share her recipes not just because they taste good (they really do!), but because they remind me that food can be an anchor something steady in a world that moves too fast. And as I experiment with my own twists, I like to imagine Val would smile at the changes… especially the ones involving extra butter.
What You’ll Find Here
Comforting, No-Fuss Recipes
Meals that feel like home, whether it’s hearty comfort favorites, Sunday-style pancakes, or pies you don’t need to overthink. If it’s simple, cozy, and full of flavor, it belongs here.
Stories That Come With the Food
Every dish has a little moment attached to it something from Val’s kitchen or mine. I truly believe food without a story just feels unfinished.
A Community That Makes Every Recipe Better
My favorite part of running this blog is hearing from readers who add their own touches. Swap ingredients? Reduce sugar? Add a memory from your own family? I love it all. Every message feels like one more thread added to Val’s legacy.
Why It Matters
Food is never just food.
It’s the smell that reminds you of someone you miss.
It’s a recipe card that has survived three generations.
It’s the dish you make when you’re lonely, or celebrating, or trying to feel like yourself again.
Val’s Recipe Box is a reminder that the simplest recipes often carry the deepest meaning and that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel to create something beautiful.
So whether you’re here for nostalgia, inspiration, or just something warm for dinner, I’m really glad you found your way to this kitchen.
Pull up a chair. Make a mess. Tell your stories.
Because the best kind of cooking isn’t perfect — it’s personal.
Thanks for being here,
Himani
This little corner of the internet didn’t begin with me.
It began with Val my neighbourhood aunt whose kitchen held more warmth than any fireplace ever could.
She was more of a friend and I’ve come to know her in the most unexpected way.