Hi, I’m Lily Hayes, the cook, writer, and heart behind Loving This Process. This blog is built on a simple idea that food is not just about the final dish, but about everything that happens while you’re making it. The thinking, the tasting, the adjusting, the learning, and the quiet moments in between.
Food has been a constant presence in my life, not as something flashy or perfect, but as something deeply grounding. Cooking has always felt like a process worth savoring, even when it’s messy, slow, or imperfect.
How My Relationship With Food Began
I didn’t come to food through a single big moment. It happened gradually, through repetition and curiosity. I found myself drawn to kitchens, to grocery aisles, to handwritten notes about what worked and what didn’t.
Food became a way for me to slow down and pay attention. I loved how a recipe could evolve over time and how small changes could completely shift a dish. That curiosity turned into consistency, and consistency turned into confidence.
Discovering Cooking as a Practice, Not a Performance
At some point, cooking stopped being about following instructions and started becoming a practice. I began cooking with intention rather than pressure. I learned to trust my instincts and to listen to what a dish needed instead of forcing it to look a certain way.
This mindset shaped how I approached food and eventually how I approached writing about it. I realized that the process itself was just as meaningful as the outcome, and often more rewarding.
The Beginning of Loving This Process
Loving This Process started as a quiet habit. I was cooking regularly, documenting meals, reflecting on what I learned, and sharing thoughts alongside recipes. Over time, that habit turned into a blog.
I wanted to create a space that felt honest and approachable. A place where food didn’t need to be perfect to be worth sharing. The blog grew organically, shaped by real experiences in the kitchen and a genuine love for the rhythm of cooking.
Growing as a Food Blogger
Over the years, I’ve developed deep experience as a food blogger. I test recipes thoroughly, refine them based on real-life cooking, and write with clarity and care. I’ve learned how to communicate flavors through words, how to anticipate questions from readers, and how to make recipes adaptable rather than rigid.
Being a food blogger has taught me patience, discipline, and attentiveness. It’s a constant learning process, and that’s something I truly love about it.
What You’ll Find on Loving This Process
This blog is a mix of thoughtful recipes and reflections on cooking as a daily practice. You’ll find meals that are meant to fit into real life, food that evolves as you make it, and guidance that encourages flexibility.
I focus on flavor, balance, and ease, but also on mindset. I believe cooking should feel supportive, not stressful.
My Food Philosophy
I believe food is something you grow into. Recipes are starting points, not rules. Mistakes are part of learning, and repetition is how confidence is built.
Cooking doesn’t need to be rushed or overcomplicated to be meaningful. Showing up, paying attention, and enjoying the process matters more than chasing perfection.
Life Beyond the Kitchen
When I’m not cooking or writing, I’m usually reflecting, planning, or finding inspiration in simple routines. I’m drawn to slow mornings, seasonal ingredients, and spaces that feel calm and lived in.
Food remains at the center of my life, but it’s always connected to something bigger. Care, curiosity, and presence guide everything I do.
A Note From Me
Loving This Process is an invitation to cook with patience and curiosity. Whether you’re here to try a recipe, learn something new, or simply feel less alone in the kitchen, I’m glad you’re here.
Thank you for being part of this space and for loving the process alongside me.