About

How I Found My Way to Cooking

I grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago in a household where dinner was always homemade, even if it wasn't always exciting. My parents both worked full-time, so my mom became a master at quick, practical meals that got everyone fed without much fuss. Meatloaf, spaghetti, casseroles—nothing fancy, but it was always made with love.

I didn't really get into cooking myself until after college. I studied graphic design and spent my early twenties working at an advertising agency in Minneapolis, living off takeout and whatever I could microwave after long days at the office. It wasn't until I met my husband, Matt, that I started spending real time in the kitchen. He loved to cook, and watching him turn random ingredients into something delicious made me want to learn too.

We'd spend weekends trying new recipes together, making mistakes, laughing when things didn't turn out, and celebrating when they did. Cooking became our thing—a way to unwind, connect, and create something together. When our daughter Amelia was born ten years ago, cooking took on a whole new meaning. Suddenly, I wasn't just feeding myself or impressing my husband. I was responsible for nourishing a tiny human, and I wanted to do it right.

Why I Started CrunchyFork

The name CrunchyFork actually came from Amelia. When she was about five, she went through this phase where she'd only eat things that were crunchy. Carrots, crackers, crispy chicken—if it didn't have some crunch to it, she wasn't interested. I started getting creative, finding ways to add texture to meals so she'd actually eat them. Matt joked that I should start a blog called CrunchyFork, and the name just stuck.

I launched the website about four years ago, initially as a way to keep track of the recipes I was making for our family. But it quickly became more than that. I realized there were so many other parents and home cooks out there looking for the same thing I was—reliable, approachable recipes that don't require a million ingredients or hours of prep time.

CrunchyFork is for busy families trying to get dinner on the table between homework and bedtime. It's for people who love comfort food but don't have all day to spend in the kitchen. It's for anyone who wants recipes that actually work the first time you make them. I share weeknight dinners, family-friendly meals, desserts that make regular days feel special, and seasonal recipes that celebrate what's available throughout the year. Everything here is designed with American home cooks in mind, using ingredients you can find at your regular grocery store.

How I Develop My Recipes

Every recipe on CrunchyFork is created and tested in my own kitchen. I don't have a fancy test kitchen or professional equipment. I cook on a regular stove with pots and pans I've had for years, and I shop at the same places you probably do—Target, Trader Joe's, the local grocery store.

When I'm developing a new recipe, I start by making it the way I think it should work. Then I taste it, evaluate what needs tweaking, and make it again. Sometimes I adjust the seasoning, change the cooking method, or simplify the steps to make them more manageable. If Amelia won't eat it or if Matt thinks something's off, I go back to the drawing board. A recipe doesn't make it onto the site until I'm confident it's going to work for you.

I also pay close attention to writing instructions that are clear and easy to follow. If there's a step that might be confusing or a technique that could trip someone up, I explain it in detail. My goal is that you can read through a recipe once, understand exactly what to do, and end up with something delicious without any frustration or guesswork.

Running CrunchyFork on My Own

I manage everything on CrunchyFork by myself, which keeps me pretty busy. I handle all the recipe development, writing, website maintenance, and everything in between. Some days it feels overwhelming, especially when I'm balancing it with being a mom and keeping up with Amelia's school activities and Matt's schedule. But I love having complete creative control over what gets shared and knowing that everything on this site comes directly from my own experience.

Matt and Amelia are my most important taste-testers. Matt will tell me honestly if something needs more garlic or if the texture isn't quite right. Amelia, at ten years old, has strong opinions about what tastes good and what doesn't. If she asks for something again, I know it's a winner. If she pushes it around her plate, I know I need to go back and rethink it. They keep me grounded and remind me that recipes need to work for real families with real preferences and real busy schedules.

What You Can Count On

My biggest commitment to you is that every recipe on CrunchyFork is reliable. I know how frustrating it is to spend time and money on ingredients only to have a recipe fail, and I never want that to happen with something from my site. These are recipes I make for my own family, and I want them to work just as well in your kitchen as they do in mine.

You won't find overly complicated techniques here or ingredient lists that require hunting down specialty items across multiple stores. What you will find is straightforward, honest cooking that delivers on flavor and doesn't require a culinary degree. Whether you're an experienced cook or just starting to figure things out, these recipes are designed to be approachable and achievable any night of the week.

How This Website Operates

I want to be upfront about how CrunchyFork stays running. The website earns money through advertisements and affiliate links. When you see ads on the site or when I recommend products and you purchase through those links, it helps support all the work that goes into creating, testing, and sharing these recipes. It's what makes it possible for me to keep everything free and accessible to anyone who wants to use it.

Thanks for Stopping By

I'm truly grateful that you're here at CrunchyFork. Whether you're searching for tonight's dinner solution, planning a special weekend meal, or just browsing for some new inspiration, I hope you find recipes that make your life a little easier and a whole lot tastier. Take a look around, try something that catches your eye, and let me know what you think. Happy cooking!