The Flexible Menu Recipe Book

Soesja Leugs
5 days ago
2 min read

How cooking transformed from an obligation into a playground

Woman and child in kitchen, child on counter wearing pajamas with animal prints. They're smiling at each other. Black and white photo.

When I first became a mother, even the most mundane tasks felt overwhelming. Motherhood is such a deep transformation that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

During pregnancy, in the stillness of Covid, food began to take on an entirely new meaning. It became my ritual of freedom. With restaurants closed, that short outing to the grocery store felt like an adventure. Taking care of ourselves in a time of “sickness” made me realise something profound: we should always approach food as medicine, as an act of self-love and healing.

Feeding and nurturing not only myself but also the life growing inside me gave food a new depth. Cooking became a way of honouring life, my own and that of my child.

It was only a matter of time before I rediscovered the love language of food that my mother so royally shared with us. The Asian kitchen was calling me, but even more, the secret ingredients she infused in every dish: love and attention.

Creamy miso ramen with toppings in a bowl. Text: Flexible Base 1 Creamy Miso Ramen. Red background, inviting mood.

Becoming a single mother was another transformation altogether. Balancing the dual role of provider and nurturer can be deeply challenging, yet it pushed me to grow. My more feminine side of parenting expresses itself in how we communicate and how we eat. Taking care of my son has reignited how I take care of myself. It is one of the unexpected, quiet gifts of solo parenthood, its collateral beauty.

Over the past two years, I’ve turned my kitchen into a playground. A space to reconnect with my roots, my body, and my joy through food. Flexible reflects both my cooking style and my spirit, the ability to bounce back after chaos, to find stillness in ritual, and to embrace change with grace.

I also wanted to create healthy routines that fit a full life. Time is precious and short, so every recipe in my e-book is built on simple techniques from many Asian kitchens. They are mindful of busy schedules, yet never at the cost of flavour or nutrition.

The book contains 15 recipes divided into bases, vegetables, and proteins. Once you master these simple yet beautiful flavours, you can mix and match them endlessly. The combinations never get old, they evolve with you.