The vibrant energy of spring is officially in the air, even if recent weather patterns might suggest otherwise! Just last weekend, we were caught in an unexpected late-season snowstorm that brought a surprising amount of snow. While it made for some challenging travel conditions, prompting my Mom to wisely reconsider her trip for Hattie’s birthday, the beauty of the fresh powder quickly gave way to the promise of warmer days. Thankfully, the snow has now completely melted, leaving behind the fresh scent of budding life and the clear path for all the exciting adventures that lie ahead. This seasonal transition always feels like a fresh start, perfectly mirroring the dynamic shifts happening within my little corner of the internet – my food blog!
Currently, I find myself amidst the bustling energy of Salt Lake City, Utah, attending the highly anticipated EVERYTHING FOOD Conference. This is an event I’ve dreamed of participating in since the very beginning of my blogging journey. For years, life’s beautiful distractions, primarily pregnancy and nursing, have kept me from attending. Now, finally being here feels like a significant milestone. I am incredibly excited to soak in all the knowledge, connect with fellow food bloggers, and finally meet in person some of the wonderful friends I’ve chatted with online for what feels like an eternity. The atmosphere is electric, filled with shared passion for culinary creation and digital storytelling.
It certainly felt like the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and share a comprehensive life and blog update with all of you. It’s hard to believe it’s been since January since my last “Chapter” post. Time truly does fly faster each year, doesn’t it? I know it’s a cliché often heard, but in the whirlwind of juggling a growing family and a blossoming blog, it couldn’t be truer!
Since our last check-in, the blog has been buzzing with several exciting developments, collaborations, and delicious new recipes. These partnerships not only bring unique content to you, my dear readers, but also allow me to explore new ingredients and techniques, constantly evolving my culinary skills and the scope of this food blog.
Recent Blog Highlights and Delicious Collaborations
Martin’s Apples: A Sweet Victory for My Food Blog
I was absolutely thrilled to receive the news that I had won a fantastic contest hosted by the Food Bloggers of Canada! The grand prize? An incredible package of Martin’s apple chips and related goodies. When the giant box arrived, it was like Christmas morning! Inside, we discovered an impressive assortment of their delicious dried apple chips, alongside gourmet apple syrups, rich apple butters, pure honey, and a variety of fun branded merchandise. I was particularly excited to discover unique flavors like caramel and cinnamon apple chips, which are incredibly versatile for snacking or incorporating into creative dessert recipes. The quality and natural sweetness of Martin’s Apple Chips are truly exceptional, making them a pantry staple for healthy snacks. Both my boys and I were equally ecstatic about this win, highlighting the joy that such collaborations bring to our family and to the content I create for you. This partnership allowed me to showcase a high-quality product that aligns perfectly with my focus on delicious, wholesome ingredients.
“Let Me Feed You” Cookbook Review: A New Family Favorite Recipe
For those who love discovering new culinary inspiration, I truly hope you had the chance to read my sponsored review post featuring Rosie Daykin’s latest cookbook, Let Me Feed You. As part of the review, I prepared her exquisite roast chicken with Dijon herb butter. Let me tell you, this recipe has quickly, and deservedly, earned its place as a new family favorite in our home. The succulent chicken, infused with aromatic herbs and tangy Dijon, is incredibly flavorful and surprisingly simple to prepare. I cannot stress enough how genuinely delicious this dish is! It’s the kind of comforting yet elegant meal that truly impresses without requiring hours in the kitchen. If you’re looking for a reliable, crowd-pleasing dinner idea, I highly recommend checking out Rosie’s cookbook and giving this roast chicken recipe a try. It’s a testament to the fact that simple ingredients can yield extraordinary results.
Bob’s Red Mill: Mastering Grain-Free Baking and Easter Treats
Last month, I had the pleasure of participating in a delightful Easter campaign sponsored by the ever-popular Bob’s Red Mill. Who isn’t a huge fan of Bob’s Red Mill products? Their commitment to quality and diverse range of flours and grains makes them a staple for many home bakers, myself included. I particularly adore their super-fine almond flour and versatile coconut flour, which are fantastic for gluten-free and grain-free baking. For the campaign, I created two absolutely delightful grain-free treats perfect for spring celebrations. First, I crafted these lovely 5-ingredient gluten-free crepes, light and fluffy, perfect with a fresh strawberry cream cheese filling. Then, I also designed this colorful and decadent chocolate coconut tart, a truly indulgent dessert that doesn’t compromise on flavor. It was such a fun creative challenge to develop these recipes! As an added bonus and a moment of genuine excitement for any food blogger, my grain-free crepes were even featured on Bob’s Red Mill’s official Instagram page, which brought a lovely boost of visibility and connection with their incredible community.
Russian Standard Vodka: Crafting Creative Moscow Mule Recipes
If you know me, you know my absolute favorite cocktail is a classic Moscow Mule. There’s something so refreshing and perfectly balanced about it. Last week, I had a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Russian Standard Vodka to develop a creative twist on this beloved drink. The result? These incredibly refreshing blackberry-mint Moscow mules. The addition of muddled fresh blackberries and fragrant mint truly elevates the classic ginger and lime flavors, making it an ideal spring or summer cocktail. I often find myself daydreaming about unwinding in the sunshine, perhaps in my backyard, with one of these in hand. However, with the relentless onslaught of late-season snow we’ve been experiencing, that dream feels a little further from reality. “Go away, winter! Shoo!” as I often tell the cold air. But seriously, if you’re looking for an impressive yet easy cocktail recipe to enjoy once the weather warms up, you absolutely must try these blackberry-mint Moscow mules.
Spring Blog Hop: Connecting and Sharing Seasonal Delights
This past spring, I was delighted to participate in another wonderful blog hop, thoughtfully hosted by Kendra from Joy in Our Home. Blog hops are always such a fantastic way to connect with other talented bloggers, discover new content, and introduce my readers to new voices in the online community. For this particular spring-themed event, I contributed a recipe for these incredibly addictive lemon cream cheese cookies. Have you had a chance to bake and try them yet? The combination of tangy lemon and rich cream cheese creates a perfectly balanced and utterly delicious cookie that is bright, soft, and bursting with spring flavor. You truly can’t go wrong with anything lemon-flavored, especially as the days grow longer and brighter!
Want the Recipe: An Inspiring Food Blogger Interview
Did you happen to catch my recent interview feature on Want the Recipe? I was truly honored and excited to be interviewed by their team. It’s always a privilege to share insights into my blogging journey, my culinary philosophy, and what inspires the recipes I create for Love in My Oven. Beyond my own feature, I also thoroughly enjoyed reading up on interviews with other incredible food bloggers featured on their site. It’s a wonderful resource for discovering new perspectives and talents within the food blogging sphere. I highly encourage you to go check it out – you might just find your next favorite food blog!
Mealshare Ambassador: Making a Difference, One Dinner at a Time
This month, I am immensely proud to serve as an ambassador for the impactful Mealshare program. Their mission to end youth hunger, one dinner at a time, deeply resonates with me. As a food blogger, I believe in the power of food to nourish not just our bodies, but our communities. Mealshare’s simple yet effective model allows restaurants to provide meals to youth in need with every specially marked purchase. I’m particularly looking forward to May 8th, when I’ll be joining some friends at a local brewery for a special dining event dedicated to fundraising for Mealshare. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support a vital cause and enjoy delicious food and company. Learning more about their initiative and how a simple act can contribute to such a significant cause has been truly inspiring.
Everything Food Conference (EFC): Learning and Networking in Salt Lake City
As I mentioned, I am currently immersed in the enriching experience of the Everything Food Conference here in Salt Lake City. So far, it has been everything I hoped for and more! I’ve already had the chance to meet some of my wonderful blogging friends in person, turning long-distance online connections into real-life friendships. The next few days are packed with invaluable learning sessions focused on everything from advanced SEO strategies and food photography techniques to monetization tips and social media growth. I’m eager to absorb all this knowledge and bring fresh, innovative ideas back to Love in My Oven, ultimately enhancing the content and experience for all of you. Beyond the formal sessions, the networking opportunities are incredible, allowing me to connect with industry leaders and fellow passionate creators.
It truly has been an exciting and incredibly productive past few months for my little blog! The pace has been invigorating, and I’m already looking forward to what’s next. I have some fantastic new recipes lined up specifically for the upcoming summer season, focusing on fresh, vibrant, and easy-to-make dishes perfect for warm weather entertaining and family meals. I’m optimistically hoping this summer will prove to be much more productive than last year, given that I was lovingly “chained” to the couch, caring for our sweet newborn. This year, with a little more freedom, I anticipate a burst of creative energy!
Speaking of our newborn, can you believe our precious Hattie is now ONE! We celebrated her first birthday with a delightful and healthy smash cake, which she absolutely adored (and her big brothers were certainly not shy about helping her finish it!). I crafted the cake using whipped cream sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup and colored it with a vibrant pink hue thanks to natural beet juice. To add some stability and allow me to pipe those pretty rosettes, I also incorporated a touch of cream cheese into the frosting. It wasn’t overly sweet, which was perfect for a first birthday, and Hattie certainly didn’t seem to mind the healthier approach. I’m aiming to have an updated video tutorial for my smash cake post available soon, so you can recreate this special treat for your own little ones!
Beyond the smash cake, I’m diligently working on getting a few other recipe videos produced for the blog. They are incredibly fun to create and a fantastic way to bring recipes to life, offering a dynamic visual guide for you. However, they also require a significant investment of time, effort, and technical skill, which is why they take a little longer to roll out. But rest assured, more engaging video content is on its way!
I’m also actively developing a fresh, new format for my email newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now is a fantastic time to do so! I’d love to hear your thoughts: do you enjoy when I diversify the newsletter content beyond just linking to my latest blog post? Perhaps you’d appreciate exclusive tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or personal anecdotes not found on the blog? Your feedback is incredibly valuable as I strive to make the newsletter a truly engaging and worthwhile experience for my subscribers.
On a more personal note, much of my life outside the blog remains a joyful whirlwind of family activity. Etienne and I have been discussing the possibility of a special trip this summer for our anniversary, just the two of us. While the idea of a romantic getaway is undeniably appealing, I confess I always find it incredibly difficult to leave my babies. We’ll weigh our options and see if we can make it work. It’s a constant balance, isn’t it?
Our summer calendar includes just one wedding, and the boys are enrolled in a few fun camps, which they’re incredibly excited about. We’re also hoping to plan another trip out to the beautiful Okanagan region at some point. The thought of fresh peach picking and enjoying the stunning scenery is already filling my mind with anticipation. Those sun-ripened peaches are truly unparalleled!
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for following along with my journey, for reading my posts, trying my recipes, and being an incredible part of this community. Your support means the world to me. 🧡
Warmly,
Katherine