Meet the Members of the Cooking Light Bloggers' Connection

Each of these bloggers brings a unique perspective, background, and style of cooking, making them valuable additions to the conversation around healthy eating. Check in with them daily, follow them through social media outlets, and join our conversation around the beautiful power of home-cooked food.

Name: Annie Garcia

Based in: Santa Monica, CA

WhatAnniesEating.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Mostly healthy, sometimes indulgent, always delicious.

Why do you love cooking? ​I have loved the kitchen, cooking, and all things food ever since I was a little girl. Cooking for myself, friends, and family is my happy place—it’s creative, sensory, nostalgic, mindful, and it’s the absolute best way to bring a group of people together.

Name: Faith Gorsky

Based in: West Seneca, NY

AnEdibleMosaic.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Unique recipe collection of updated American classics & international favorites; emphasis on seasonal dishes & tantalizing food photography

Why do you love cooking? I love cooking because of the way it nurtures and inspires creativity. One of my favorite things to do is head into my kitchen at dinnertime without a plan or agenda, peer pensively into the pantry and fridge, and see how dinner unfolds.

Name: Holley Grainger

Based in: Birmingham, AL

HolleyGrainger.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: At @holleygrainger, you can always count on doable, practical and delicious nutrition advice and recipes for the entire family.

What should readers know about you? I’m a registered dietitian, wife, mom, and business owner that does her best to keep it real and have fun with her family, readers, and clients all while balancing a sink of dirty dishes, a clingy toddler and a glass of red wine. 

Name: Alexandra Caspero

Based in: St. Louis, MO

DelishKnowledge.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Healthy, whole-food vegetarian recipes with a dash of nutrition tips.

Why do you love cooking? My love language is food. I love creating nourishing meals that I can share with people I love; sitting around the kitchen table is my favorite way to connect.

Name: Elizabeth Shaw

Based in: San Diego, CA

ShawSimpleSwaps.com

What should readers know about you? I am always up for a challenge and relish in shopping on a budget! I love to use ingredients most people have on hand in innovative ways to create meals in minutes. I love sharing my passion of food through writing and showing the public that healthy eating is possible through small changes over time. Simple swaps is my motto!

Why do you love cooking? Cooking for me is a way to bring my family and friends around one table to share and laugh together. I absolutely love it when I can sneak in a stealth health maneuver, like cottage cheese in the dark chocolate cake, to dispel the myth that healthy eating tastes like cardboard. I heard two of you ask for seconds, right?!

Name: Carrie Madormo

Based in: Milwaukee, WI

DietDeepDish.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Diet Deep Dish is where you will find simple, seasonal, healthier versions of your favorite Midwest comfort food.

What should readers know about you? While I love finding easy ways to lighten-up a recipe, I still splurge when it’s worth it!  I am always trying to balance my love of deep dish pizza, Portillo’s chocolate cake shakes and anything fried on a stick with a healthy, happy, active lifestyle.

Name: Joanne Bruno

Based in: New York City

joanne-eatswellwithothers.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A mostly crazy, sometimes ridiculous, always delicious, vegetable and cupcake-laden account of life as an MD/PhD student in NYC

What should we know about you? I’m a vegetarian who occasionally eats sushi and I’m also an exercise nut. I’ve run two marathons with plans to run a third in November. I’m also snarky with a penchant for hyperbole...so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Name: Lori Holtzman

Based in: Chicago, IL

glorioffood.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A personal celebration of food: decadent/healthy, unique/classic, simple/complex…all things delicious #glorioffood

Why do you love cooking? Cooking is so rewarding because good food does so much more than just feed the body. It makes people happy, brings them together, and even becomes woven into life stories. My favorite recipes are those that remind me of a special time, person, or place in my life. Of course, I also just enjoy the process of putting different ingredients together and then seeing and tasting the final product.

Name: Kaitlin Lunny

Based in: Philadelphia, PA

ICanCookThat.org

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A twenty-something on her own for the first time trying to learn the ins and outs of cooking.

What should we know about you? I make mistakes, forget to add ingredients, and never let the butter completely soften. But I still end up with delicious meals, even if it’s not perfect. I also love using new ingredients, methods, and cooking techniques to continue to challenge myself.

Name: Rachael Hutchings

Based in: Southern California

LaFujiMama.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: La Fuji Mama is a website focused on bringing world flavors to the family dinner table.

When and why did you start blogging? I started my blog in February 2007 while living in Tokyo, Japan, to document my experiences living as a new mom and expat, and write about my love for Japanese food and culture. When we moved back to the US, my blog slowly morphed into a food blog.

Name: Kristy Still

Based in: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

mommyhatescooking.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: In a Cooking Rut? Check out how @MomHatesCooking went from burnt oven mitts to homemade meals with some of her tasty, easy recipes!

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in the summer of 2010 because we were in a cooking rut. I was not a fan of cooking and was making the same few recipes over and over. I decided that it was time to take extreme measures, so I started my blog to teach myself to cook and show those who were in the same situation that there is hope and you can cook!

Name: Josie Spain

Based in: Atlanta, GA

pink-parsley.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Family friendly, with an emphasis on seasonal and southern food.

Why do you love cooking? I love turning simple ingredients into something special—whether it’s a humble salad or a complicated and intricate dessert—the process and the end result are equally gratifying.

Name: Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen

Based in: San Diego, CA

RaiseHealthyEaters.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Raise Healthy Eaters gives parents peace of mind when it comes to feeding their family by simplifying nutrition, taking the struggle out of feeding and making nutritious meal preparation EASY.  

What’s a dish you make that family and friends always request? I make a mean salad with greens, candied pecans, apple slices, green onions, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Now I'm just expected to bring salads to family parties!

Name: Robin Gagnon

Based in: Rhode Island

MomFoodie.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A food and lifestyle blog, with an emphasis on healthy eating.

Why do you love cooking? It is a wonderful and practical way to express creativity, in everyday life. Cooking is an accessible art readily shared with those you love.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? It was more of an evolving thing, from 20 years working in restaurants, then finding myself a stay at home mom with plenty of time to experiment in the kitchen.

Name: Christiane Potts

Based in: Winston Salem, NC

TakingOnMagazines.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: I test out magazine recipes at home for accuracy, ease of home cooking, taste and clean-up. Then my family and I report the results to you.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? The first pie I made (in high school) had a crust that was so hard that we couldn’t pound through it to get to the apples. I think when I finally learned to make a perfect piecrust, I felt the love bloom.

Name: Marina Delio

Based in: Santa Barbara, CA

yummymummykitchen.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Beautiful photographs of healthy mostly meatless recipes the whole family will love.

What should readers know about you? I’m proud to be a stay at home mommy with two sweet little girls. My style is a relaxed elegance that shows up in my recipes. I love learning about food and getting it from the source. Our family has 4 chickens and a small vegetable garden in our backyard. I would much rather eat the eggs than the chicken.

Name: Katrina P

Based in: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

katrina-runs.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Katrina Runs for Food combines running, clean eating, and food photography to show that healthy food can look and taste OUTSTANDING!

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in 2008 as a runner dealing with long-term injuries. While working on the physical fitness, I started documenting my transition to clean eating and general food interests.

Name: Jelena (JT) Meisel

Based in: Miami, FL

www.thefauxfoodiegirl.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Discovering a True Foodie Within Me One Bite at a Time & Other Pleasures of Life

What should readers know about you? I would like to consider myself a foodie [according to WIKIPEDIA - a foodie is someone who simply loves food for consumption, study, preparation, and news.[1]], the only problem is, I lack the part in interest in preparation of food. I prefer consumption ONLY, hence the blog name THE FAUX FOODIE GIRL. I may not be savvy around the kitchen, but I am very savvy with my cookbooks, foodie blogs and recipes. The key to good and healthy eating is good planning, and I am a very good planner!

Name: Joelen Tan

Based in: Chicago, IL

whatscookinchicago.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: What’s Cookin’ Chicago captures food adventures in and out of the kitchen as a former chef and private caterer.

What should readers know about you? I embrace food and culture and can find something to link in every cuisine.

Name: Betsy Haley

Based in: San Diego, CA

betsylife.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A sunny perspective on cooking, baking, healthy living, and creating the life you crave.

Why do you love cooking? For me, cooking is instant gratification artwork. You start with nothing, and pretty soon you have created something! It’s art you can do every day. I find never-ending inspiration in ingredients, recipes, magazines, cookbooks, blogs, etc.

Name: Susan Schuman

Based in: St. Augustine, FL

OurFamilyEats.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Simple recipes, encouragement, and tips for getting healthy, family-friendly meals on the table in a hurry.

What should readers know about you? In early 2011 my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD. Instead of drugs I changed our diet to remove all artificial ingredients and her symptoms vanished. Now I’m passionate about sharing information on how dangerous artificial ingredients can be.

Name: Susan Napolitano

Based in: Monroe, CT

RealKidsEatSpinach.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Real Kids Eat Spinach serves up the dish on healthy family food: getting kids involved in the kitchen, eating together as a family, and thinking outside the inner aisles of the grocery store.

What should readers know about you? I’m a certified holistic health coach, single parent, and avid runner. None of my own recipes contain refined sugar or "white" products, and most are free of gluten and dairy as well.

Name: Kristina Sloggett

Based in: Portland, OR

Spabettie.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Spabettie recipes are accessible and uncomplicated, made with fresh, vibrant flavors and colors, always leaving room for indulgence.

What should readers know about you? I’m a mostly vegetarian who prefers to focus on fresh food more than labels. I live for summer evenings, wine country, one smart engineering guy, and dachshunds!

Name: Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD & Serena Ball, MS, RD

Based in: Deanna – Philadelphia; Serena – Chicago

teaspoonofspice.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Two dietitians & moms who love food as much as you do and blog about healthy, easy & tasty ways to feed yourself and your family.

What should readers know about you? Though we are dietitians, we are NOT the food police. We love fruits and vegetables but we also love bacon and donuts. We like to talk about the joy of food and how to prepare it instead just listing milligrams of calcium or grams of protein. We strive to cook healthy and delicious the majority of the time but guess what? Some nights, cereal is what’s for family dinner and we think that’s OK.

Name: Regan Jones, RD

Based in: Evans, GA

TheProfessionalPalate.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Where something delicious is always in the works; written by an RD/foodie, social media/photo junkie playing wife & mom in my free time.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? My first cooking memories are of being in my grandmother’s kitchen making a homemade plum cake. I think I was barely out of diapers, but remember it fondly. It’s the first recipe I ever remember cooking, and I’ve never wanted to stop.

Name: Maria Lichty

Based in: Salt Lake City, UT

TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A fun place where husband and wife team up to create simple, fresh, family-friendly recipes.

When and why did you start blogging? (Summer of 2008) We started blogging shortly after we were married. We were spending a lot of time in the kitchen together and family and friends kept asking us for our recipes. Josh had a personal blog, so I started posting the recipes on his blog. Soon, strangers were visiting and we decided to transition the blog into a full-time food blog.

Name: Elizabeth Cowie

Based in: Saint Louis, MO

tasteandsprout.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Taste and Sprout features tasty, healthy, family-friendly recipes that are quick and easy to prepare.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in 2011 as a way to share my joy of creating in the kitchen and my passion for helping others transition to healthy eating. My recipes are the same food I cook on a daily basis for friends and family. Join me on a journey of lifelong health and learn to prepare delicious, fresh, healthy meals your whole family will love (and won’t even know that it’s good for them!)

Name: Allison Strauss

Based in: Lansdale, PA

TypeAKitchen.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Healthy, easy, weeknight recipes from the heart and kitchen of a list-loving, multi-tasking, meal-planning maniac.

Why do you love cooking? I can control everything about it! The amount of time I spend, the degree of difficulty the recipe requires, the quality of the ingredients—I can control it all. And I find that the more I practice in the kitchen, the less I have to think about what I’m doing, which allows for a pretty stress-relieving dance party around the kitchen island.

Name: April Aceto

Based in: Milwaukee, WI

FoodnFocus.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Food n’ Focus is a fusion of healthy recipes and tasty treats.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? My grandmother’s homemade meatballs and gnocchi. We would have a family dinner every Sunday growing up and this was my favorite.

Name: Rashmi Nigam

Based in: Los Angeles, CA

YumKid.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Yumkid.com (@yumkid) is about real kids, real food, real quick. It’s about raising children who will eat everything.

Why do you love cooking? Cooking is how I nourish my family and celebrate life with friends. A perfect evening for me is a full dinning table with delicious food, free flowing wine, and lots of laughter and conversation.

Name: Cricket Azima

Based in: New York, NY

www.thecreativekitchen.com/blog

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Appetites (big & small) agree The Creative Kitchen blog is THE place to find family-friendly recipes, product reviews, giveaways, and more!

What should readers know about you? In the classroom and at home, I’m a mom who believes that kids gain more when learning and retain more educational content when using all of their senses - and of course, when having fun!  Through the efforts of my company, The Creative Kitchen, I specialize in cooking for and with kids. In addition to learning how to make a delicious and healthful recipe, children learn lesson about math, science, geography, history, social studies, art, language, and reading skills. They are also exposed to and develop skills related to socialization, physical activity, and lifetime learning.

Name: Hilliary Wolfe

Based in: Minneapolis, MN

haw-happilyeverhealthy.blogspot.com/

Describe your blog in a Tweet: My blog is a collection of easy and healthy recipes, my adventures with running and my journey to living a Happily Ever Healthy.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging two years after I graduated from college. I needed a creative outlet, and a place where I could write about my personal journey to a happier and healthier life!

Name: Erin Sellin

Based in: Fort Collins, CO

DinnersDishesAndDesserts.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A mix of sweet treats and every day food for the whole family.  Simple.  Fun.  Delicious.

What should readers know about you? I am a wife and a mom. I love cooking, and trying new ingredients and recipes. I never back down from a challenge, and will continue to work at something until I succeed.

Name: Jeanette Chen

Based in: New Canaan, CT

JeanettesHealthyLiving.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Healthy whole food recipes from around the world, all tried and true. Everything not only has to look good, it has to taste great!

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in June 2010 initially as a place to chronicle my experience cooking for friends with cancer. As time went on, I started including recipes I cook for my family of four boys. Most of my recipes are gluten-free or gluten-free adaptable.

Name: Amber Breeden

Based in: Washington, DC Metro Area

Mom-Machine.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: It’s mama potpourri—recipes, DIY, baby/kid gear, fashion, parenting info, design—everything a busy mom needs, all in one spot!

Why do you love cooking? So many reasons—I love making delicious, healthy things for my family, carrying on family traditions and recipes, creating new dishes, watching people enjoy the food I make (that last one’s a bit selfish, but I still love it!).

Name: Katie Sullivan Morford, MS, RD

Based in: San Francisco, CA

MomsKitchenHandbook.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: It makes me happy. I love the creativity and the end result of sitting down with friends and family over delicious food.

Why do you love cooking? So many reasons—I love making delicious, healthy things for my family, carrying on family traditions and recipes, creating new dishes, watching people enjoy the food I make (that last one’s a bit selfish, but I still love it!).

Name: Raven Cauthon

Based in: Somers, Connecticut

RavieNomNoms.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: You know that sound you make when something is really tasty? My food, recipes & photos are meant to capture just that. Simply, NomNoms.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? Irish Soda Bread. I know this is a strange choice, but I remember making this for the first time and noticing how easy it was and how delicious it tasted. It wasn’t the first time I had eaten it, I come from a long line of Irish Soda Bread makers. However, it made me wonder how many other things were that easy to make and had such an amazing outcome.

Name: Jessica Goldman Foung

Based in: San Francisco, CA

www.SodiumGirl.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: From making bloody Mary’s to traveling abroad, Sodium Girl shows you how to eat deliciously and live a limitless low-sodium life.

When and why did you start blogging? As a twenty-one year-old with lupus-related kidney failure, I was forced to quickly learn how to live a limitless life on a strict low-sodium diet. After a few years, I started my blog to share my tasty tricks and treats with others who face similar restrictions and inspire them to find flavor beyond the shaker. And almost a decade later, I am releasing my first cookbook in Jan 2012 with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Name: Liz Della Croce

Based in: Grand Rapids, MI

www.TheLemonBowl.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Delicious recipes that just so happen to be healthy. 

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? My Great Aunt Vieve’s traditional hummus with toasted pine nuts. She would always garnish the hummus platter as though it was a painting in a museum.  A lot of love went in to her food (as well as a lot of lemon and garlic!)

Name: Anjali Shah

Based in: San Francisco, CA

www.PickyEaterBlog.com/

Describe your blog in a Tweet: The Picky Eater is a healthy food blog with easy, delicious recipes, and bite-sized tips to help you transform your life. 

When and why did you start blogging? I started my blog in 2010 to chronicle my adventures in creating healthy meals that my “fast food-loving” husband would enjoy. I wanted to show that healthy food could actually be delicious and desirable!

Name: Natalie McLaury

Based in: St. Louis, MO

www.TheSweetsLife.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: The Sweets Life features real food—from healthy to indulgent—for the busy cook who still wants to eat well!

What should readers know about you? I always have a lot on my plate [in life, though usually when it comes to food too!], but I refuse to succumb to fast food or frozen meals. The recipes on my blog reflect my life—there isn’t always time to make a four-layer cake or spend three hours prepping dinner, but you can still eat well when cooking time is limited!

Name: Maeghan Lovejoy

Based in: Kennebunkport, Maine

www.TheWayToHisHeartBlog.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: You'll find great tasting, easy meals that are beautiful enough to be made for company or for a weeknight @The Way to His Heart

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? My mom’s Sweet and Sour Pork. I remember a “World Cuisine” day at school in 4th grade where my mom and I prepared this dish. I helped my mom with all of the prep work. I loved watching all of the beautiful colors go into the dish and I loved the delicious end result!

Name: Kristina Kubik

Based in: Chicago, IL

www.WhippedBaking.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Whipped is a healthy cooking, baking, and nutrition blog, dedicated to all things yummy, fun, and easy! 

What should readers know about you? I’m a 20-something foodie with a passion for cooking and healthy living. I believe good food shouldn’t just taste good – it should make you feel good too! That’s why Whipped is all about finding happy healthy recipes – for happy healthy bodies!

Name: Kristen McCaffrey

Based in: Santa Monica, CA

www.SlenderKitchen.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Slender Kitchen celebrates healthy and delicious recipes using real food that you want to eat and your family will love.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging to break out of my normal cooking routine. Although I have always loved to cook, blogging about it pushed me to try new recipes and experiment more.  And I simply love doing it. 

Name: Bobbi McCormick

Based in: Yucaipa, CA

www.bobbimccormick.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A fun blog filled with healthy recipes, fitness, fashion and pure JOY!

What should readers know about you? I believe that life is too short to not have joy everyday. Everyday is a new beginning! By posting healthy recipes and workouts daily, I hope others will gain some insight on how they can say YES to a healthy lifestyle even if they are a busy-bee like me.

Name: Stephanie Greenwood & Franki Arnold

Based in: Stephanie: Eugene, Oregon; Franki: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

www.ThoseYoungMoms.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Two young moms, each from different parenting stages, taking motherhood one chic, eco-friendly, and healthy step at a time!

What dish made you fall in love with cooking?
S: Before I became a vegetarian, I made my first semi-challenging cookbook recipe for my mother: a balsamic chicken with arugula and quinoa. When it didn’t burn, it was the first time I actually felt capable of making a delicious and healthy homemade meal!

F: The first dish I made on my own was a quinoa and chicken with lemon salad. It was so delicious and healthy, and I realized how attainable eating nutritiously was.

Name: Sando Weis

Based in: Frederick, MD

www.TheDailyDeelight.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: My blog is like welcoming you into my home. It’s warm--cozy and something good is always happening in the kitchen.

Why do you love cooking? It’s how I show my love. Food brings people together, and good food brings a smile to people’s faces. Plus it lets me be creative in a way that is so satisfying.

Name: Wendy Copley

Based in: El Cerrito, CA

www.Wendolonia.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Wendolonia is about the bento lunches I pack for my kids, healthy family food, parenting two boys and our crafty endeavors.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? The first dish I learned to make all by myself was chocolate chip cookies. I would make a batch for my family every week or so and I’d memorized the recipe before I finished elementary school. Once I had the basics down, I started experimenting with different add-ins and I loved it when my creations were well-received.

Name: Lynn Walls

Based in: NE Oklahoma

www.LynnsKitchenAdventures.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: A place where I share recipes, tips, and ideas on how I fit my love of cooking for my family into my busy life.

What should readers know about you? After years of health issues I started eating gluten free in 2009. Then in 2010 my daughter was diagnosed with a peanut, tree nut, sesame allergy. My site does not focus on gluten-free, or nut-free eating, but I do have an allergy section where I share recipes, tips, and ideas for living the gluten-free and allergy-friendly life.

Name: Amie Valpone

Based in: Manhattan, NYC

www.TheHealthyApple.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: Here to inspire you to eat clean, be healthy and love life—no matter how dark your days are—you can find sunshine through food!

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in January of 2009 when I became very ill. I was working in corporate America and was experiencing 30 lbs. fluid in my legs everyday and chronic low white blood cells along with numerous stomach pains. I ended up on disability from my job and was given 24 hours to live with c-diff colitis. I suffered from heavy metals and severe food allergies and intolerances. I healed myself through detoxing my food and my entire home and started helping others here in Manhattan and nationwide to eat clean, real foods.

Name: Michelle Hershman

Based in: Washington, D.C.

HealthyRecipeEcstasy.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: (Mostly) healthy recipes that will make your taste buds scream with delight.

Why do you love cooking? Cooking not only gives me an opportunity to be creative in the kitchen, but it’s also strangely relaxing. I say strangely because sometimes I wind up covered in flour with more of the ingredients on the floor than in the dish. Despite the chaos, I usually feel better when I’m cooking.

Name: Kristianne Hannemann

Based in: San Francisco, CA

MySanFranciscoKitchen.com

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in 2011 as a stress outlet from pharmacy school, and to keep an electronic recipe book of recipes passed down to me from my mom and grandma. Before I knew it, I fell in love with cooking and photography more and more, and blogging became addicting.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? Chicken and vegetable curry – ever since I made homemade curry, I fell in love with the intricate relationship between the different spices and flavors. It’s incredible!

Name: Steven Dunn

Based in: Massachusetts

OuiChefNetwork.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet?  A dad teaches his kids how to cook real food from around the globe, and together they hope to encourage other families to do the same.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? My first soufflé. I honestly couldn’t believe that I had made something so beautiful and so delicious all by myself. From that point on, I was hooked.

Name: Nicole Morrissey

Based in: Saint Joseph, MI

PreventionRD.com

What should readers know about you? I’m a Registered Dietitian who strives for that perfect balance between good for you and great tasting.

What’s your favorite healthy snack? Dried fruit and nuts.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? Homemade pizza

Name: Stephanie Weaver

Based in: San Diego, CA

RecipeRenovator.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Inspired, creative recipes. Gorgeous photos. Surprisingly, gluten-free and plant-based. I can eat like this and still be healthy? Awesome!

What’s your favorite healthy snack? Avocado mashed on a Lundberg rice cake with hot sauce, lime, salt, and cracked pepper.

Name: Melanie Flinn

Based in: Dupont, WA

NutritiousEats.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Blog written by a mom, RD & fitness enthusiast who shares delicious recipes with healthy ingredients, as well as occasional treats.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? I made a seared Ahi tuna with a sesame-soy dressing that was out-of-this world. I would’ve paid big bucks for it in a restaurant so I was very proud that it came from my kitchen.

Name: Jessica Chang

Based in: Los Angeles, California

BaconandSouffle.com 

What should readers know about you? Whenever I travel to a new place, I like to take a local cooking class to learn the ingredients and techniques that are native to that place. It is definitely one of the best ways to learn its history and culture! 

Why do you love cooking? Cooking is my passion and my creative outlet. I am a financial consultant, so after spending much of the day working with numbers, nothing sounds better to me than to venture into my own kitchen and create something amazing. 

Name: Aura Caplett

Based in: Grand Rapids, MI

DinnerwithAura.com 

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Whole foods, plant-based recipes and food photography to inspire the home cook.

Why do you love cooking? Cooking says so much about where we come from, who we are, and what we believe in.  Food creates community and is something that everyone can relate to.  When I cook, it creates a reason to gather friends around my table, something that brings me so much joy.

Name: Nancy Vienneau

Based in: Nashville, Tennessee

NancyVienneau.com 

When and why did you start blogging? I started Good Food Matters in December 2008, as both a place to journal my food adventures and a jumping off point into the wide virtual world of cooks, their kitchens, gardens, traditions, recipes, and ingredients.  

What should readers know about you? I started out being a picky-picky eater; I don’t know how I survived. But in my late teens, that flipped. What I resisted became my passion, leading ultimately to my profession.

Name: Kirsten Hall

Based in: Castle Rock (south of Denver), Colorado

MyKitchenintheRockies.com

What should readers know about you? I am German and grew up very close to the French boarder which reflects in the dishes that I prepare. It is very close to my heart to know where my food comes from. Beef from my local rancher, eggs from the chickens a local friend keeps, organic and local ingredients whenever possible, and that GMO food has no space in my pantry.

When and why did you start blogging? I started my blog “My Kitchen in the Rockies” in February 2010. The main reason was to keep a recipe collection of our family’s favorite dishes and to make it easier to share these recipes with my friends and family.

Name: Vianney Rodriguez

Based in: South Texas

SweetLifeBake.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? A Texas girl addicted to Margaritas, Tex-Mex, Mexico, comida and la familia.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? Frijoles de Olla, my mom made them every week. When I finally nailed her recipe there was no turning back.

Name: Coleen Hill

Based in: Philadelphia, PA

TheRedheadBaker.com

What should readers know about you? I was an incredibly picky eater as a child. While trying to lose the “freshman 15” after graduating from college, I finally opened up to a wider variety of ingredients and flavors. Now I love browsing the farmers’ market for new things and finding recipes in which to use them.

Why do you love cooking? I nurture my family by cooking for them. It gives me great satisfaction to hear them tell me they love my food.  

Name: Julia Mueller

Based in: California

TheRoastedRoot.net

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? A nutrition-oriented food blog sharing mostly vegetable and meat-based recipes along with snazzy beverages and healthful gluten-free treats.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? As lame as it sounds, roasted vegetables! Once I began cooking with vegetables, I became addicted to using new-to-me fresh produce, herbs, spices and various oils. I couldn’t get enough!

Name: Laura Cipullo, RD

Based in: New York, NY

MomDishesItOut.com

What’s your favorite guilty food pleasure? I don’t feel guilty for eating any food. In our home, we look at foods as “everyday” foods and “sometimes” foods.

What should readers know about you? The founder of MomDishesItOut.com is an RD, Certified Diabetes Educator & Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian, a social savvy New Yorker, and most importantly a mom of 2 fabulous kids!

Name: Stacey Snacks

Based in: New Jersey

StaceySnacksOnline.com

When and why did you start blogging? 5 years ago. It was a way for my friends to keep my recipes, so I didn't have to keep giving them out. 

Why do you love cooking? It allows me to be creative using local ingredients and things I have on hand.

Name: Alexandra Voss

Based in: Far Hills, New Jersey

TheNakedChip.Wordpress.com

Why do you love cooking? It’s the ability to be creative, to follow a recipe or follow your instincts, and see something amazing come together. I love experiencing the foods of so many different cultures. In a day you can go to Italy, Mexico, then end the night in Paris! 

What should readers know about you? I’m willing to try any food once (preferably without beaks or tails attached), and I believe that anyone can be a good cook with a little practice and determination. In the kitchen, I’m fun, fearless, and I’m up for a challenge. I approach everything I do—and cook—with enthusiasm, patience, and a big dose of humor. I’m quick to admit my mistakes (burned sugar in the bottom of a pan, anyone?) and equally as proud of my triumphs.

Name: Meghan Swint

Based in: Chicago, IL

TheTastyFork.com

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in the fall of 2011. I was just finishing culinary school and wanted to share things I learned. At first I used the blog as a way to share recipes I made for friends and family but now my reach goes beyond people I know. It’s so fun to interact with people from all over the world!

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Inspiring others to stop ordering carry-out. You can make restaurant quality food in your own kitchen.

Name: Nina Moore

Based in: Charlotte, North Carolina

PeaceLoveGoodFood.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? A Southern, Italian soon-to-be mom foodie. In my world sparkle is a color, caprese salad is a food group, and everyday should be treated like Christmas.

Why do you love cooking? I love cooking because I love to enjoy good food. In my (Italian) family, food is a celebration and associated with traditions and memories. For me, cooking is a creative outlet, a relaxing hobby, and the carrying on of a family tradition.

Name: Shea Goldstein

Based in: Helena, AL

DixieChikCooks.com

Describe your blog in a Tweet: I’m a Southern Belle who’s thinking about what’s for dinner while eating lunch.

What should readers know about you? I care about my recipes and what I post; I don’t throw up random things for the sake of having content. I take pride in my blog and what my readers receive from me. I love feedback and I hope that I inspire someone to taste something new to them, to make something outside of their comfort zone or to start their own food blog.

Name: Tanya Schsroeder

Based in: Cincinnati, Ohio

LemonsForLulu.com

Why do you love cooking? It’s a great way to challenge myself and challenge my taste buds.  Plus food brings people together like nothing else can.

What should readers know about you? I could live on hummus, buttercream, watermelon, coffee and Goetta.

Name: Jennifer Fisher

Based in: Austin, Texas

TheFitFork.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Dig into a heaping helping of #healthyrecipes served with a side of #workouts, all shared with friendly know-how, show-how style!  

What should readers know about you? I’m a mother of three ‘tween to teen boys, competitive runner, gym frequenter, stand-up paddle boarder, warm-weather beach lover, kitchen-gadget hoarder, girl not afraid to grill, healthy-cooking coach, hope to one day grow a garden, non-coffee-drinking caffeine connoisseur, and sandals and sundress wearer when not in sneakers.

Name: Lindsay Levine

Based in: Los Angeles

WeeknightBite.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? A fresh and fun cooking blog featuring videos of healthy, delicious recipes that are quick & effortless - perfect for any night of the week! 

What should readers know about you? I’m a 20-something foodie from Southern California - I live for a good meal and have a major sweet tooth, but find balance by creating healthy recipe alternatives and keeping an active lifestyle. I try to show my readers that you can have your cake and eat it too!

Name: Derek Howes

Based in: Boston, MA

dhftns.com
www.youtube.com/dhftns

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? High Protein desserts, meals, sides, and shakes. All of my recipes are in video, picture, and text form with calorie information!

What should readers know about you? I fully believe that losing weight, packing on muscle, or simply living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be done without compromising the taste of food. It's something I've practiced and preached for years without fail!

Name: Jane Craske

Based in: Ottawa, ON

JanesAdventuresinDinner.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? Here are the adventures of a happy, Canadian, wife and mummy who loves to: cook, drink wine, attempt to be a better photographer and shop too much. Glad you're along for the ride.

What dish made you fall in love with cooking? I love making bread-any bread. Playing with dough is my favourite thing.

Name: My Vermont Kitchen

Based in: Monkton, Vermont

MyVermontKitchen.com

How would you describe your blog in a Tweet? MyVermontKitchen focuses on healthy cooking and eating deliciously through the Vermont seasons. 

Why do you love cooking? Cooking for me is both a creative and meditative act. I work full time, so nothing relaxes me more than getting in the kitchen after work and chopping and stirring. And I love the challenge of making that elusive perfect meal or dish.