Welcome!

I’ve been thinking about how to start this for a while now, and it feels right to begin simply.

Hi, I’m Sarah. If you’ve found your way here, I’m really glad you’re here.

Savory Spicy Sweet is a reflection of how I cook, eat, and move through life—balanced, a little layered, and never just one thing. Like most families, our days are full, and food has become both an anchor and a creative outlet in the middle of busy schedules and active lives.

I’ve been married to my husband, Jarred, for 12 years. He’s incredibly supportive, keeps us all moving forward, and somehow manages to be both very active and very patient with my constant “just one more recipe test.” He leans toward a paleo-style way of eating, which means our meals often focus on real, whole foods—lots of protein, vegetables, and bold flavor—without a lot of extras that don’t add much.

We have two beautiful daughters, June and Layla, who are as different from each other as can be. They keep things interesting, especially at the dinner table. Like most kids, they can be a little picky, but they genuinely enjoy healthy food when there’s variety. So I’m always mixing things up, changing flavors, and finding ways to keep meals interesting without turning dinner into a negotiation. Some nights I absolutely nail it… and some nights we all agree that breakfast-for-dinner is a win.

Cooking has always been deeply tied to family for me. I learned in a kitchen shaped by both creativity and comfort—one parent who loved to experiment and one who mastered the kind of meals that always felt like home. Somewhere along the way, I picked up both, and now I get to pass that on. Some of my favorite dishes come from family recipes that don’t always have measurements, just memories. Food like that tells a story.

We recently made our way back to Tucson after years away, and I can honestly say—it feels like coming home. This is where I was raised, where my parents and sisters are, and where the desert feels both grounding and full of life. We’ve been spending our time exploring, trying new restaurants, hiking, walking, and soaking up as much outdoor time as we can.

Clean eating matters to us, but so does enjoying life. We aim for nourishing, simple ingredients most days, while leaving room for dessert, comfort food, and flexibility—because this is real life, and it all belongs.

My hope for this blog is simple: to share what we’re enjoying, what we’re learning, and what feels worth repeating. There will be recipes, meals out, family traditions, and everyday moments—shared honestly, with flavor, and meant to be enjoyed together.

Thanks for being here at the beginning. Pull up a chair. I’m glad you found your way to the table.

— Sarah