Photography by Tammi Camp
The Cook
Lia Weber
Family
Husband, Max, and children Ella, 3, and James, 1
Neighborhood
Florissant
“I love to bake, but cooking is my zen,” says Lia Weber, owner of Made. by Lia Craft Bakery in Old Town Florissant. After spending the day creating from-scratch cakes and pastries, Lia turns her attention to plant-based family meals for dinner. Lia says, “When I get home, all I want is salt!”
The Family That Cooks Together…
Making dinner each night is a family affair. While Lia and her daughter Ella, 3, prep ingredients, Lia’s husband, Max, and son James, 1, are in the kitchen too, unloading the dishwasher or setting the table. For the Webers, cooking and eating together are an important family value.
Becoming Vegan
Lia noticed that when Ella was a newborn, she was fussy right after nursing. Ella’s doctor suggested that Lia eliminate dairy and other potential food allergens. Once Lia started a vegan diet, Ella’s tummy trouble subsided—and so did Lia’s. “My stomach used to always hurt after I ate, even as a kid,” says Lia. Husband Max was not a vegan prior to Lia deciding to change her diet, but he was very open to making the transition to plant-based meals. He’s enjoyed trying different foods and getting out of the rut of having the same foods for so many years. His preferences helped expand their dinner menu and introduced the family to meals that Lia would never have thought to make before.
Raising Chefs
With Lia’s help, Ella cuts mushrooms, trims asparagus, and helps select the veggies that will appear in that night’s meal. She even knows her way around vegan baking. Ella once suggested using a flax egg (a mixture of flax meal and water) when the family had run out of chicken eggs. Lia laughs. “How many 3-year-olds can come up with an egg substitute?” she asks.
All About Sauce
Lia posts many of her vegan recipes on her blog, Made. Simple, such as her cult-favorite cashew cream sauce. “The first time I tasted it tossed with my favorite pasta, I honestly shed a tear,” she writes.
A New Way of Shopping
Recently, Lia’s been shopping from Fresh Thyme via Instacart. “I’ve been happy with the food, and it’s saving me time,” she says.
Sample Weekly Dinner Menu
Monday: Stuffed peppers in coconut curry sauce (vegan)
Tuesday: Black bean and veggie enchiladas (vegan)
Wednesday: Arugula & Farro Salad (vegan)
Thursday: Capellini noodles with veggies and cashew cream sauce (vegan)
Friday: Pizza from Amore
Saturday: Grilled homemade bean burgers, sweet potato fries, and salad (vegan)
Sunday: Potluck with extended family
Check out Lia's blog for more recipes.
