Hi, I'm Julia - Welcome to My Kitchen!
- I started JuliasAlbum.com in 2012 as a space to share the recipes I love and cook for my family and friends. Since 2016, this food blog is my full-time job.
- I live with my husband in a picturesque small town in Colorado, surrounded by stunning mountains that serve as my playground when I'm not in the kitchen.
- The recipes you see here? They're real meals that I cook and enjoy with my loved ones.
- My goal is to inspire home cooks with fresh, seasonal ideas for easy, delicious, well-balanced, and visually appealing meals-especially simple dinners and vibrant salads. I focus on recipes that are rich in protein and fiber, made with fresh ingredients, and quick enough for any night of the week. I'm here to help you create healthy, satisfying meals without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Before food blogging, I followed a pretty traditional path-earned a business degree, then an MBA in Supply Chain Management, and worked in various business roles. I tried to climb the corporate ladder, hoping for promotions... until I realized I wasn't exactly thriving in the world of office politics. That's when I knew I needed a new direction. Swapping spreadsheets for sauté pans turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I've been sharing recipes with millions ever since.
Join Me on Social Media:
- Facebook page (1,100,000 followers).
- Pinterest account (716,000 followers).
- Instagram account (139,000 followers).
Subscribe by Email:
- Subscribe to my e-mail list here to get new recipes and weekly meal plans from me. The subscription is 100% free and you can unsubscribe at any time!

The Recipes You Will Find Here:
- Savory Recipes: I focus heavily on savory recipes (complete dinners, salads, side dishes, etc). I do love a good dessert, but my my focus and heart lies in satisfying, protein-rich meals made from scratch.
- Easy Weeknight Dinners using Fresh Ingredients : My recipes are generally protein-forward meals using chicken, pork, beef, lamb, or seafood, often paired with vegetables or fruits for balanced, nutrient-rich dishes. I regularly post 30-minute one-pan meals designed for busy weeknights.
- Pasta Dishes: I love pasta (probably a bit too much)! You'll find recipes using spaghetti, fettuccine, orzo, gnocchi, ravioli, and more. I always combine it with proteins like chicken, salmon, shrimp, or scallops. Often tossed in creamy or flavorful sauces.
- Salads That Are Actually Satisfying: I eat salads daily, often as a full meal (usually with added protein). Most of my salads can easily be turned into a main dish with added protein like salmon, shrimp, or rotisserie chicken.
- Easily Adjustable: Many of my recipes are naturally gluten-free or include easy tips for dairy-free, meatless, or low-carb variations.
Inspired by Seasons:
I love cooking with whole foods and fresh, seasonal ingredients! My meals are all about balance: nutritious, full of flavor, and made to be truly enjoyable. The changing seasons are a huge source of inspiration for me, and you'll see that reflected in the ingredients I use and the recipes I create throughout the year.
🍁 In the Fall
When the air turns crisp, you'll find me cooking with cozy fall flavors and ingredients: butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash on repeat. I also love adding fall favorites like pecans, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, and pumpkin into everything from salads to mains. And when apples are in season (hello, August through December!), they make their way into both savory and sweet dishes.
☀️ In the Summer
Summer cooking is all about color, freshness, and simplicity. I always make use of ripe tomatoes, fresh berries, and my homemade basil pesto-it's a season of vibrant flavors! I especially look forward to peach season (July through September) and try to work those juicy gems into as many recipes as I can. From May to September, fresh corn is another staple in my salads and dinners. And during cherry season (June through August), I make the most of those sweet beauties while they last!
My Food Philosophy
- Real Meals from My Kitchen: The recipes I share on my website are real meals that I cook for myself, my family, and friends. They reflect my eating habits and my philosophy of incorporating a wide variety of ingredients. I focus on using whole foods and seasonal ingredients, ensuring that my meals are well-balanced with protein, vegetables, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Protein-Rich and Fiber-Rich Recipes. I prioritize protein-rich dinners, typically featuring one of my favorite proteins such as chicken, beef, salmon, shrimp, scallops, or lamb, accompanied by cooked or fresh vegetables and fruits. My meals are simple, flavorful, and nutritious. I often serve these dinners with complex carbohydrates that are high in fiber, including a variety of vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, and many others. Some of my favorite complex carbs include sweet potatoes, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, beans, wild rice, quinoa, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
- Low-Carb and Mostly Gluten-Free. I prefer to eat mostly low-carb and gluten-free foods. However, I do enjoy high-quality, protein-based pasta around three times a week (see below).
- Flavorful Pasta Dishes. I include pasta dishes in my meals about three times a week. These dishes always feature a protein (such as chicken, steak, or seafood) and vegetables. Often smothered in a delicious creamy or cheese-based sauce.
👩🍳 A Little About Me - Beyond the Blog
- I am a twin! I have an identical twin sister who's also a full-time food blogger. We've been best friends since childhood, always creating things together. As kids, we made clothes from scratch for our dolls-and for ourselves! We even made our own dolls. As adults, we've both channeled that creativity into making recipes from scratch.
- MBA in Supply Chain Management. Before blogging, I got an MBA in Supply Chain Management-so technically, I was trained to manage warehouses and track down missing widgets. Yep, I could have been knee-deep in spreadsheets, managing warehouses, or hunting down obscure spare parts for a factory somewhere. But instead, here I am, handling the logistics for pasta and procurement for the best basil pesto!
- ✈️ Passport, Please! I love exploring new places-especially when Colorado's mud season rolls around and hiking's off the table. In particular,between 2016 and 2019, I ventured far and wide and shared destination guides and travel tips here on the blog. I've visited Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand), Europe (Italy, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Monaco), the Caribbean (Barbados), the Middle East (United Arab Emirates), and Canada. My travels have been a huge source of inspiration in the kitchen.
- Living in Colorado gives me daily inspiration and balance. I love hiking in the mountains near my home-it's where I feel most energized and centered. Nature is how I stay active, clear my mind, and recharge from the screen-heavy world of food blogging. Whether it's a steep solo hike or a quiet walk through the aspen groves, the outdoors fuels my creativity.

Featured On
- My recipes have been featured on major sites, such as Huffington Post, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Parade, The Kitchn, Delish, Brit+Co, Food Network, BUZZFEED, PUREWOW, and Greatist.
- For a detailed list of some of my recipes featured on these sites + links to those features, check out my Press page.
Join Me on Social Media:
- My Facebook page has over 1,100,000 followers.
- My Pinterest account has 716,000 followers.
- My Instagram account has 139,000 followers.
Subscribe to My Recipes by E-mail:
- Subscribe to my e-mail list here and I will send you delicious recipes every week. You will also get an email every time I publish a new recipe. The subscription is 100% free and you can unsubscribe at any time!
- How to UNSUBSCRIBE? At the bottom of all my e-mails is the Unsubscribe link - scroll all the way down to the bottom of an e-mail and click on it - you will be unsubscribed!
SAVE YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES (create a RECIPE BOX)
- Save your favorite recipes to your RECIPE BOX. Click on a HEART in the lower right corner of any recipe TO SAVE it, and it will appear here. Click on the TAG next to the heart icon to access your FAVORITES.
- Create an account to find your saved favorites by clicking on the saved tag next to the heart, or click the magnifying glass (search function).
How to Contact Me
- The most effective way to get in touch with me (and get my response) is to leave a comment on any recipe on this site, or on this ABOUT page in the comments section below, even if your message isn't related to a specific recipe. I always read your comments!
- If you prefer to keep your comment private, just let me know, and I won't publish it. Since my site is still pretty much a one-woman show, comments on this page (or any other recipe page on JuliasAlbum.com) are the only realistic way to reach me-I check and respond to them daily (or within 3 days at most).
I am very happy that you landed on my website!
I appreciate your feedback on my recipes, whether positive or negative, as it helps me improve. I always read your comments and strive to respond promptly. I encourage you to visit my homepage which now offers a comprehensive overview of my recipes for easier navigation and is updated regularly. If you would like to see my most recent food creations, you can find my latest recipes here. I also share weekly meal plans in my weekly newsletter, which also includes little snippets from my life. You can find all my recent newsletters here, and can subscribe to receive my weekly newsletter and other recipes by e-mail. Alternatively, you can visit my latest recipes page each week to catch my newest recipes!
Your comments mean the world to me!
- A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who engages with my content! Your comments and quick reviews are incredibly valuable-they're one of the best ways to support a little food blog like mine. Not only do they keep me encouraged and motivated, but they also help me feel like I'm not just chatting with myself (though I admit, that does happen, lol!).
- This food blog is my life, and when I see comments, it reassures me that I'm not just tossing recipes into the void. At least someone out there is paying attention-besides my husband, who's too busy chewing and mowing down my food to give me any real feedback!
- So, if you enjoy my recipes, and my photography, have questions, or if you've tried one of my recipes, please leave a comment or a review (preferably on the specific recipe page, but any page works if your comment isn't tied to a particular recipe!). Your feedback makes all the difference and ensures my recipes don't end up in a culinary black hole! I can't wait to hear what you think!
- Feedback loop: I love keeping this blog lively, interactive, and personal-it's not just me talking at you - your feedback, questions, and ideas help shape what I cook and share next. I read and reply to almost every comment (and try to do it quickly!), because this space is a two-way street. In a way, this blog is like a delicious feedback loop: I create recipes, you try them, tell me what you loved (or tweaked), and that inspires me all over again!

I have enjoyed many of your recipes, but our all-time favorite is chicken with apples and maple-lime sauce. It always gets rave reviews! Thank you!
Thank you, Bobbie, so glad you enjoy my recipes!! โค๏ธ
I love all your recipes - in particular the savory ones!!
You are adorable! I'm originally from Austria and have traveled the world,
particularly in places that you have mentioned, and love Colorado!
I'm trying to scale down my grandmother's Viennese recipes by using olive oil instead of their vegetable oil. If you can come up with any variations, kindly post! My favorite recipe that I have gotten from you was the Hungarian Soup, and I'm also part Hungarian!!! The mushrooms and paprika make it superb!
Thank you! You inspire me everyday!
Hi Elfi - your comment truly means a lot to me. I love that youโre from Austria, part Hungarian, and love Coloradoโฆ thatโs such a great mix of places and food cultures. ๐ Using olive oil instead of butter, vegetable oils, or lard is a healthier way to cook, I agree!! ๐ Thank you for such a thoughtful, encouraging note. Comments like this really do inspire me right back. โค๏ธ
HI, My name is Sheila, I just happened to come across your name. Iโm glad I did. Iโm looking for new ideas. Just to say a little bit about myself. I am a mom of ten, plus a hubby. Iโm always looking for new ideas in the kitchen. Particularly, since all my children have left the nest, so now I have to down size my grocery shopping. Anyway, Iโm excited to see what you offer. Perhaps I can squeeze right in.
Hi Sheila!! Oh wow, a mom of TEN?! Thatโs seriously amazing!! Iโm a mom of one (my mother-in-lawโs son ๐ ) and let me tell you - he's a handful, lol! ๐ Most of my recipes are for around 4 people, so sounds like the perfect way to ease into cooking for fewer folks now โค๏ธ I'm sooo happy you found meโcanโt wait for you to try some of the recipes!! Hope you find lots of fun new faves here!!
Hi Julia,
Just a quick message to thank you for all your wonderful recipes.
Sometimes I feel guilty using all these and not showing any acknowledgment.
So once again, thank you so much.
Kind regards,
Michael Brennan.
Michael, this absolutely made my day!! ๐ Thank you so much for taking the time to say thatโit truly means a lot. I really do put a lot of effort into my site, so I ALWAYS appreciate this kind of โappreciativeโ feedback. ๐
Hi Julia. I have been loving your recipes and Iโm grateful to have them! However, I am curious to know why there is often so much dairy. Could you explain your rationale for this or offer alternatives, please. Thank you.
Hi Irene! So glad youโve been enjoying my recipes. I do use dairy in a lot of my recipes because it adds creaminess and flavor (and protein!), but I totally get that itโs not for everyone. You can easily replace heavy cream or half-and-half in my recipes with unsweetened full-fat coconut milk. And, use your favorite vegan cheese instead of regular cheese. Iโve also got lots of recipes without cream! This collection has a bunch of themโthough itโs not all of my no-cream, no-cheese recipes, just a good handful to get you started:
Main dishes with NO CREAM and NO CHEESE
Also, my salads usually do not involve cream. They do have cheese, but that can be easily replaced with vegan alternatives:
https://juliasalbum.com/category/salads/
Happy New Year!! I have enjoyed and looked forward to your weekly recipes for a long time Iโm and no longer receiving them. What happened, I miss them very much?
Hmm, thatโs a bummer! Itโs possible the emails are landing in a different tab or your spam folder. To be safe, you can also re-subscribe here to make sure everything is set up correctly:
https://juliasalbum.com/subscribe/
I have tried numerous recipes of yours. Most turned out really well. Iโm looking for a recipe for chili Verdi made with tomatillos. Would you have you can post? Thank you. Terry
Hi Terry! Thank you so much for trusting my recipes - I really appreciate that. ๐ I donโt have that recipe on the site yet, but I do have a Pork Chile Verde coming very soon. Stay tuned! ๐
Just want to THANK YOU for the wonderful recipes you have shared throughout the year. You're always one of my go-to's for healthy and fresh and delicious. Just want to put my vote in for a cookbook with your amazing photographs... Wishing you and yours a fantastic 2026.
Thank you so much, Lana. This truly means a lot to me. Iโm so glad my recipes have been a go-to for you, and I really appreciate the kind words about both the food and the photography. A cookbook is definitely something I think about (sometimes). Wishing you a wonderful, healthy, and delicious 2026 as well! ๐
I want to thankyou and let you know how much I appreciate yourcemails fullbof gorgeous recipes.
Its so generous of you and adds to the quality of my life.
Aw thank you SO much for this sweet note, Gillie!! It truly means a lot to hear that the recipes bring a little extra joy to your days. Iโm just so happy youโre here and enjoying them! โค๏ธ
Hi. I really like your recipes. Do you have a recipe for tuna casserole? Regards.
Diane, I don't, but I will add it to my to-do list! And so glad you're here and enjoying my recipes. ๐
YES to cranberry recipes anytime!! I have 2 bags in my freezer and Iโm itching to try your new recipes.
Good to know! Then, I will start publishing my cranberry recipes that I did not have time to publish before the holiday season!
I also have cranberries left so if you can share a few recipes, that would be great!
Sounds good, Amy! I have quite a few truly amazing cranberry recipes that I didn't get to publish for the holiday season! So, stay tuned! ๐
I love your recipes. I like to cook but at 78 I also like easy clean up and variety, plus LEFT OVERS!!
Thank you for sharing!
Stephanie, Thank you so much for this - it truly means a lot to me. Iโm really glad the recipes fit what youโre looking for: good food, easy cleanup, variety, and leftovers you can enjoy again. Thank you for being here and for cooking along with me. โค๏ธ