About Me

Hi, I’m Denise…author & publisher of Creative Kitchen!  It’s hard for me to believe it’s been almost 2 years since this whole adventure began. I’m a self-taught cook who just wanted an outlet for my passion…a place to share my recipes and thoughts with others. I never could’ve predicted the friends I would meet through this journey!Who knew “blogging” could be such a social thing? Food bloggers are the friendliest bunch around, and I’m still pinching myself that I was able to attend Food Blog Forum Orlando and meet so many of them!

I’m also excited about all the new skills I’m acquiring! I thought I’d just be cooking, creating, learning to take pictures and writing about food. I’m still doing all of that, but I’m also learning there’s a whole art to styling food!  And now with the launch of this new site…Creative Kitchen’s own domain, I’m learning the ins & outs of a new blogging platform WordPress which has allowed me so much more customization of my blog!

I hope you enjoy the new look. I put my heart and soul into the design of this new “home” for Creative Kitchen. It’s taken many late nights while still trying to be a good wife & mom (and food blogger!), but it’s been worth it! As you poke around the new site, I hope you’ll find it easy to navigate. Every detail was considered with you all in mind 🙂 I hope you like it!! Feel free to give me feedback. I love hearing from you guys! Below I’ve included my “intro” into food blogging & how it all started.

But first a few quick facts about me (since I’ve been told I’m way too private) ~ I’m a wife of almost 14 years to my wonderful hubby…we met while we were both in the Navy (during the first Gulf War…great love story there 😉 and became friends first, and mom to 3 wonderful girls (ages 12, 8 and 3). I love to be outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature (trees, beach, sky, camping, mountains, etc…I can’t get enough of it), and I’m a homesteader at heart, though I’m stuck in suburbia 🙂 Also love cooking (obviously), baking, photography (finally got my new dslr camera!!), travel, bike riding, kayaking, blogging and reading. I love spending time with family & friends! We are blessed to homeschool our girls and live in sunny South Florida (paradise ~ though I do miss FALL)!

My discovery of food blogging in the Summer of 2009 & why I started Creative Kitchen:

I have several other personal blogs about my family and children, but I had yet to really discover the world and whole community of FOOD blogging! Wow…how did I miss this revolution? I’m still amazed!

I love good food. Who doesn’t? And I love creating things in my kitchen. If I’m in the mood for a certain taste, or I get an idea for something for dinner that I’ve never made before…I turn to the internet & the wealth of information there. I always look up at least 3-4 recipes for the given item & then I “tweak” it and make it my own!

Every.single.time.

I don’t think it is humanly possible for me to FOLLOW a recipe to the letter.

Just.doesn’t.happen.here.

And over the last few years, I’ve found that I’ve been meeting people more like myself. That enjoy cooking & some of them even enjoy creating as well. But I had no idea what was taking place in the food blogging community….which is strange since I’m “at home” online & have been communicating with & made friends with others online since 2001 (early message board days!)

So I’ve stumbled upon Food Blogs just in the past few months. I’ve been drawn to reading them. I love the photography & only hope I can take pictures that great someday. I love to travel…so I find myself traveling away from the “here and now” a bit at a time as I immerse myself in someone else’s kitchen & reality for awhile. It’s better than any book I’ve read!

Some of these writers are very talented at making you feel that you are right there. That you are experiencing things with them, and that you KNOW them. I find myself wanting to be able to comment on their blogs….that I’ve tried a recipe or gotten a great idea from. The problem I find is that I don’t have a “food” blog. How can I reach out to these others that share my interests and passions without an outlet to share mine in?

Then I realized I had a true dilemma. I love to cook, I love to create, I love to bake, I love to eat. I love all things food related. I need a place to organize my recipes & have needed that for a LONG time! But I’m also a busy mom of 3 girls. I home school…try to be a good wife to my hubby, and in general have too many hats to wear already.

How in the world would I keep up with a food blog? Not to mention…there are SO many out there already. What could I possibly contribute? Obviously since you’re reading this (hopefully), I’ve delved into the food blog realm. It is my hope that I will meet many like-minded friends along the way. It’s the start of an exciting  journey for me & I hope you’ll stop by my “Creative Kitchen” often.

20 Responses to About Me

  1. Tee~ Hee! I’m your 1st comment!
    I LOVE the new site, I can’t wait to see everything you’re going to do with it. 🙂
    SOOOO happy & proud to have met you and steered you toward WP, etc. I’m so happy and excited for you! Keep up the good work, and looking forward to all you have to offer.

  2. Binky says:

    Yay! NOW I know about you! 😉 Congrats on a beautiful blog. Here’s to Creative Kitchen!
    Binky recently posted..Silicone Mold Dessert Eggs

  3. Rosa Haas says:

    Denise,
    I loooooove the new site!! Kudos to you!

  4. Tracy Wilson says:

    Well shoot, I dont know what your old one looked like but this one is pretty rockin’, mama!
    I’m a food blogger as well- it’s sort of addictive, dont you think?
    Do you enjoy the wordpress? I use Blogger, but who knows where I’ll be in a year…already thinking of going way bigger!

    Nice writing- glad I stumbled on your site:)

    • Denise says:

      Yes, VERY addicting!! 🙂 Thanks…glad you like everything! I really do LOVE the WordPress now!! I was so used to Blogger, and there was a bit of a learning curve, but not too bad. I think it’s worth it to be on my own domain and have all the neat plug ins. Off to check out your site!! Hope to see you again.

  5. Hehe…love the comments about following recipes to the letter. I say why? Part of the fun for me is either making something up on the fly or making my own version of someone’s else ingredients list…if I followed it to the letter I would be more of a sous chef right? Succeed or fail, it’s on ME!

    Always glad to see a ‘Blogger’ make the move to WordPress. Although I have a professional web biz; I started blogging to share personal interests and found quickly that the benefits so outweigh the negatives (and the only negative I can see is starting on Blogger and having to contemplate the move!). Congrats to you for a job well done!
    Barbara | VinoLuciStyle recently posted..Dark Chocolate Brownies with Espresso- Toasted Walnuts and Salted Caramel Glaze

  6. Great post, fun to get to know you today. Food is a fantastic subject for blogs & websites.
    Come & Play: Thursday Two Questions
    self sagacity recently posted..Vermicelli with Chicken Breast &amp Lemon Grass

  7. Mary says:

    What is the nutrition information for that flourless cake. i.e. fat, protein, and calories. Thanks!!!

  8. You seem like really nice person! I hope to meet you someday at Food Bloggers retreat or something. I started Food Blogging since December of last year so I have much to learn.
    Akemi Spendlove recently posted..For The Birthday Boy

  9. Malli says:

    What a splendid vacation on the beach……great photos!!
    Malli recently posted..#150 A Paris trend or a skinny alternative to Ham and Cheese Sandwiches?

  10. Angelgirlpj says:

    I love chocolate peanut butter combo too, this pie sounds yummy. I may have to try it soon.

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  12. Linda Rogers says:

    I follow you on Facebook
    Linda Rogers recently posted..Mini Chocolate Tiramisu Cakes

  13. Linda Rogers says:

    I follow you on Twitter!!
    Linda Rogers recently posted..Mini Chocolate Tiramisu Cakes

  14. Michelle Pratt says:

    I follow you on twitter already.

  15. Michelle Pratt says:

    … and now I “like” you on FB 🙂

  16. Hi Denise,
    I love finding new food blogs, and though you include meat in your recipes (I understand), you are still on the kind of journey I’ve been on. Please check out my website as well, and you’re blog will be bookmarked! By the way, I found you on a search about food budgeting. Cool.
    KS
    Kitchen Shaman (@Kitchenshaman) recently posted..Planning ahead, stress free cooking

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