You're here! Wonderful. Welcome. I'm Melinda, a self-taught recipe developer influenced by a large and extended family of amazing cooks.
I've called the beautiful Pacific Northwest home my whole life and I feel so lucky to live in a region known for incredible food! From fresh seafood to apples, potatoes and so much more - the flavors of the Northwest are a big inspiration for my recipes.
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🍽 Easy & Delicious
Smoked Salmon on a Pellet Grill is an impressive, smoky, fantastic way to enjoy smoked salmon made at home. Added bonus, it takes just five ingredients! It's a recipe my husband and I have made countless times on our backyard Traeger grill.
All of the recipes you'll find here use ingredients you will likely have in your kitchen. I was recently quoted in Chowhound with ideas for creating a charcuterie board by first using what we have on hand.
👩🏻🍳 Melinda's Story
Cooking is my passion. I've been dabbling with ingredients and recipes for over 35 years. Sharing family-favorite recipes like Chicken Spaghetti and Old-Fashioned Chocolate Pound Cake is something I love to do.
Family recipes and their inspiration are pure treasures in the kitchen. A recent article in Chowhound included my reference to my Grandma's process for making homemade sauerkraut.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Washington State University. Go Cougs! Check out my Cougar Gold Quiche recipe, made with the award-winning cheese from my alma mater.
Fun Fact: I was a TV news anchor and reporter across the Northwest for more than 15 years.
I always loved it when I could share a recipe or a food-related story on the air. See the photo above from a "celebrity" beef cookoff where I made Idaho Beef. I won!
While my kids were still little, I left the late-night hours of TV broadcasting.
Being home in time for dinner with my family was something I missed when I worked on TV.
📋 What You'll Find on the Crinkled Cookbook
Delicious food doesn't have to be complicated. I love sharing family-favorite recipes that are easy to make and perfect for busy days, quick dinners, cozy nights, holidays and everything in between. Sign up for my email newsletter. I'll send new recipes straight to your inbox each week.
Every recipe is one I've made many times and that my family enjoys. My kids will tell you one of their favorites is Oven-Baked Beef Burritos. If a recipe isn't easy, delicious and family-approved, it doesn't make the cut!
⭐ An Idaho-Inspired Recipe
Want a new condiment for burgers or fries? I highly recommend you try a batch of French Fry Sauce instead of ketchup. It's especially good with french fries and tater tots... or "tots" as we often call them here. Fry sauce is an Idaho favorite! So tasty.
⭐ More About Melinda
Yes! I recently retired from my job in higher education marketing, so I'm now creating recipes, photographing the process and posting it all here for you, full time!
Yes. No. Maybe? I love the idea. Stay tuned!
It's always nice to serve guests something they might not have had before. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is always a winner. For dessert, Old Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is easy to make, and is a wonderful follow-up to a great meal.
My kitchen, my head, my recipe cards, from friends and of course from my family. I will always let you know the origin of a recipe and will give credit where it's due. Check out Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, for an example of an adapted recipe.
🎥 In the Media
I've been fortunate to have my recipes and experience in the kitchen mentioned by national media outlets. Seeing my work shared with a wider audience is always a thrill!
Here are some of the recent articles where I've been quoted:
Looking for a delicious brand of yogurt for your breakfast parfaits? I was among the experts quoted in Simply Recipes about the best vanilla yogurt.
My favorite tip to make the best pasta salad was recently included in an article where several other food experts agreed! (Spoiler alert: rinse the cooked pasta lightly with cool water, but mix it with your dressing while the pasta is still warm.)
Are you looking to make the most juicy and delicious grilled chicken breast? Check out this Simply Recipes article where I was among the grilling experts who offered tried and true techniques!
I was also quoted in a recent Simply Recipes article about my favorite brand of baked beans - a longstanding side dish for any BBQ ever since I was a kid. (My favorite brand has SO many varieties!)
If you are a fan of Costco or Aldi stores, you'll enjoy reading this article in Mashed about how to get the most out of shopping in those spaces. I'm quoted in the article as I shared my Costco shopping strategy. (Hint, always go with a list.)
Being featured as one of five food experts in a recent Simply Recipes article was a fun opportunity to share my favorite cheddar cheese. Can you guess which brand I recommend? Check out the article for details then try my Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes recipe.
One of my most popular recipes is inspired by my Mom's cooking when I was growing up: Old Fashioned Salmon Patties, which uses canned salmon. Here's an article in Chowhound where I share how convenient it is to use canned salmon.
💭 In the Community
A few years ago, I donated 100% of my food blog's proceeds for the month to a non-profit called Stampede for the Cure, which helps make screening mammograms available for all women.
As a two-time breast cancer survivor myself, I deeply appreciate the value of early detection. I was a guest on KTVB's morning news broadcast to help spread the word about my campaign and I shared my No-Peel Apple Cake recipe.
- I also contributed to a Mashed article about the clever ways we can cook with tater tots. I've always enjoyed "tots" as we call them here in Idaho and especially served with Fry Sauce and my recipe for Cheeseburger Pie.
- Are you curious about how to store cucumbers? In the First for Women Magazine, I'm quoted in an article about how best to store them. Check out the article for my tips - plus, here's one of my favorite cucumber salad recipes!
- I love talking about food and food blogging. I was a guest on the Eat Blog Talk podcast to share my insights on brand and marketing.
👪 My Family
I'm married, 32 years, and mom to a 28-year-old daughter and a 22-year-old son. Everyone is so grown up now! The photo above is from my son's graduation from Idaho State University. (Hat tip to my husband for taking the picture!)
Fun Fact: In addition to being my number one group of taste-testers, my family also contributes to my food blog by copy-editing, holding the camera or suggesting which photos of a recipe, like Pinto Bean Chili, look best. That's another of their favorite meals!
🥘 Favorite Recipes
I love and enjoy making all the recipes you'll find here and these are the ones I make regularly!
I also enjoy sharing delicious food with friends and family, from casual gatherings to celebrations and special occasions. Here are tasty recipes perfect for the season:
St. Patrick's Day
- Homemade Biscuits (Easy, No Yeast Recipe)
- Delicious Crab and Shrimp Dip
- Creamy Seafood Chowder Recipe
- Cheesy Potatoes with Corn Flakes
⭐ Let's Stay Connected
I share a recipe on Pinterest every day. Follow me there for ideas and kitchen inspiration. And if you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see it! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can cheer you on.
I'm so glad you're here! Stick around, as you'll see, my website is full of recipes inspired by those found on well-worn, crinkled pages of family cookbooks.
Make yourself at home and thanks for clicking around!