Build Your Business Like an Artist: A Creative Leadership Mindset
The best leaders don't just manage—they create. Here's how Rick Rubin's The Creative Act changed the way I think about leadership, company culture, and building Apple Spice.
Embracing Enough: Welcome to Lou LaMedica’s Personal Blog
"Embracing Enough" is my exploration of a life well-lived—where gratitude meets growth. From mindset and parenting to small business insights, easy family recipes, and personal finance, this blog shares practical wisdom on appreciating what we have and finding fulfillment in the everyday.
Featured Posts
The Two Circles That Changed My Life
A difficult baseball game became the perfect opportunity to teach my son one of the most valuable Stoic lessons: focus your energy on what matters and what you can control.
Why Everyone Needs a North Star (More Than Goals)
Looking back at old journals, I discovered the difference between goals and a North Star—and how life can move in the right direction even when plans don't.
Starting Classical Guitar at 48 — Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)
At 48 years old, I decided to learn classical guitar — not because I needed another hobby, but because I missed the feeling of being a beginner again.
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Summer Recipes
Apple Spice Behind the Scenes
Asian-Inspired
Beans
Books
Breakfast
Business
Grilling
Chautauquas
Coaching
Comfort Food
Communication
Cooking
Emotional Health
Fall Recipes
Family
Gratitude
Grief
Habits
Health
Holiday Traditions
Italian Inspired
Kid Friendly
Kool Collectibles
Leadership
Leftovers Remix
Light Vibes
Meal Prep
Mindset
Music
My Story
Nature
nature
Nostalgia
Parenting
Patience
Personal Finance
Process
Purpose
Quick Meals
Reflections
Sales & Strategy
Sandwiches
Seafood
Seeing People
Slammin’ Sides
Slow Living
Soups
Sports
Sunday Funday
Sweets
Vegetarian
Winter Recipes
Pasta Meets Chickpea Stew—and It Works
What happens when silky chickpeas, golden broth, and ruffly pasta come together in one bowl? This dish—part stew, part pasta, all comfort.
Meat Candy in Lettuce Wraps: Reverse-Seared Pork Chops with Sticky Rice and Ssamjang Drizzle
A pork chop experiment turned flavor explosion. These bone-in beauties were brined for 48 hours, reverse-seared, butter-basted, and grilled to caramelized perfection—then sliced thin and wrapped in Boston lettuce with sticky rice, spicy pickles, and a thick ssamjang drizzle. It’s equal parts comfort food and Korean BBQ energy, built for hands-on eating and big flavor payoffs.
Rustic Pork & Rancho Gordo Cranberry Bean Stew with Shiitake Mushrooms and Tomatoes
A hearty, nourishing stew that marries tender pork, creamy cranberry beans, shiitake mushrooms, and a splash of aged balsamic. Perfect for cold nights.
Becoming What You Can’t Yet See
Frank Losi was loud, opinionated, and larger than life—and he believed in me before I knew how to believe in myself. This is a tribute to the man who helped me make the leap from employee to business owner, and what it means when someone sees your potential before you can.
The Ultimate Italian Chopped Salad with Creamy Avocado
This fresh Italian chopped salad is bursting with color and flavor—crisp romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, mozzarella, and creamy avocado. Tossed with red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, it’s the perfect healthy meal or side dish for any season. Learn how to prep and dress this vibrant salad in just minutes!
Rooting for the Hopeless: A White Sox Reflection
A funny, heartfelt look at what it means to cheer for the White Sox when they’re historically awful. From a lifelong baseball bucket list to a superfan yelling her heart out, this is a tribute to showing up even when your team can’t seem to win.
The Shin Gold Banger – A Late-Night Ramen That Eats Like a Meal
A warming, deeply satisfying ramen that takes the humble Shin Gold packet and turns it into something special with tender grilled chicken, roasted corn, creamy beans, and silky egg noodles.
⚾ Seeing What the Box Score Misses
A reflection on what it’s like to watch the Mets find new ways to lose, why situational baseball still matters, and how it feels to see the same patterns over and over while everyone else says it’s just variance.
When No Is the Right Answer
A reflection on the hard but necessary practice of saying no with empathy—and why boundaries are what make adult relationships work.
Beans & Greens: Corona Bean, Broccoli Rabe and Ditalini Soup
A comforting, pantry-friendly soup for gray days when you’d rather stay in. Corona beans with their broth, tender ditalini pasta, and bright greens come together in a thick, rustic tomato base. Perfect with warm bread and a good movie.
Garlicky Chicken Thighs with Lemony Rancho Gordo Giant Corona Beans & Saffron Ragout
Golden chicken nestled into brothy beans with lemon, garlic, rosemary, and saffron. Cozy and bright—comfort food without the heaviness.
Buffalo Chicken Power Salad with Feta, Rancho Gordo Giant Corona White Beans & Apple Spice Ranch
Rotisserie chicken turned into a bold, spicy salad with Rancho Gordo Giant Corona white beans,feta, panko, and Apple Spice ranch. Crunchy, creamy, herbaceous, and fully satisfying.
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