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!
Hi, any chance of being able to subscribe to get only vegetarian recipes via email?
Maybe less frequently as I appreciate it's extra work?
Hi Nadia! I don't have that option as of yet, and I don't even have enough vegetarian recipes, but I will certainly consider this for the future! 🙂
Hi Julia,
I. wanted to tell you that today when I clicked on all of your recipes (6/14) that they all said ACCESS DENIED! Is it just me?
Thanks,
Hi Patti! It’s not just you—I got a bunch of emails about that issue. Not sure what happened, but everything seems to be working fine now. If it pops up again, I’ll definitely reach out to my web host to look into it.
Hi Julia!
I stumbled here by chance after looking for a cilantro lime chicken pasta recipe and I am glad that I landed here. I read through your site and am loving your story and food vibe! I find myself always making the same dishes over and over for my family and am wanting to branch out. I think your site and recipes will help me do that!
Bonus! I read that you like to travel and at one time went to Barbados. My husband and I just went in May of this year for the first time and we loved it!
I look forward to trying out your recipes and seeing how I can change up our dinners for my family. Wish us luck 🙂
Hi Kadie! Hi! I’m so glad you found the site—and thank you for the kind words! I hope the recipes here give you some fun new inspiration to mix things up.
And yes, I love the smaller Caribbean islands! Barbados was such a special trip, and I recently spent quite a bit of time in Turks and Caicos too—equally stunning. Wishing you all the best in your travel and kitchen adventures—good luck and have fun cooking! 🙂 🙂
Julia, I love your recipes! I make meals using your recipes at least once a week, I mostly make Chicken and Fish. I am not crazy about orzo so I use rice. I love how quick it is to make a meal! Please keep them coming!
Jonathan Smith, Glenview Il
oh my goodness, I appreciate it so much, Jonathan! I’m so happy to hear my recipes are part of your weekly routine. 🙂 Warm wishes from my kitchen to yours!
Hi Julia,
A message from the Netherlands here. I stumbled upon your great recipes and would like to try them. Was wondering: how much is a 'cup', is that 200 ml/grams?
Anne
Hi Anne! So glad you found the recipes—welcome! 🙂 In U.S. measurements, 1 cup is about 240 ml for liquids. For dry ingredients, it depends on the ingredient—for example, 1 cup of flour is around 120 grams, and 1 cup of sugar is about 200 grams.
For most of my recipes, I have an automatic conversion to metric system. It's in the recipe card - just below the list of ingredients, you'll find two options: US Customary and Metric. By clicking on Metric, the ingredient quantities will automatically convert to grams.
Hi Julia,
A message from the Netherlands here. I stumbled upon your great recipes and would like to try them. Was wondering: how much is a 'cup', is that 200 ml/grams?
Anne
I am having difficulty finding your recipes for your bruschetta and your monster bars.
And your white lasagna soup is amazing! Thank you.
Ahh, thank you, Jo! Those 2 recipes are actually on my sister's site, I shared them on my Facebook page. Here are the links:
https://whatsinthepan.com/authentic-italian-bruschetta/
https://whatsinthepan.com/monster-cookie-bars/
Hey - just found your amazing recipes. How far ahead can I make the cilantro lime back bean rice. We are headed out for a weekend and I am doing a meal a few days in.....can I make it on Friday and serve on Sunday?
Thanks,
Becky
Hi Becky, apologies for the delayed reply—I was away at a food blogger conference. Yes, you can prepare this rice dish up to 3 days ahead. Just add a splash of chicken stock and fresh lime juice before reheating to refresh and fluff the rice.
Hi Julia,
I love your ideas and thoughtful recipes. My favorite is the spinach and mushroom creamy orzo. I would love you to consider creating cleaner and more healthful recipes that don't have cream or lots of cheese. We always look to eat healthy with no cream or butter.
Thanks,
Patti Okun
Hi Patti, thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback! 🙂 I’m happy to share that I already have several new, lighter, cream-free recipes published. Take a look at these recent recipes, even if some of them contain a small amount of butter, you can easily replace it with olive oil or dairy-free butter alternative:
https://juliasalbum.com/chicken-provencal/
https://juliasalbum.com/grilled-steak-salad/
https://juliasalbum.com/grilled-pork-chops/
https://juliasalbum.com/pan-seared-salmon-with-olives/
https://juliasalbum.com/chicken-shawarma-bowl/
https://juliasalbum.com/minestrone-soup/
Hi Julia
10 wonderful recipes just landed in my inbox, thank you! I'm excitedly scrolling through each one, and anxious to try them! One of my fav things about your recipes are they are delicious, and use simple everyday ingredients that I can find in my fridge and kitchen!
Do you have a physical cookbook available with all of your recipes?
Thanks again, I look forward to seeing you in my inbox!
Lynda
Hi Lynda, your comment truly made my day—thank you! I don’t have a physical cookbook just yet—all of my recipes live here on the website for now. 🙂 Maybe one day, when I have a little more time, I’ll be able to put the love and effort into creating one that’s truly worth it. ❤️ Thanks again for being here—until then, I’ll keep the recipes coming your way through this website! ❤️
Thank you so much! Cheers.
Welcome and enjoy the recipes! 🙂
Your recipes are fantastic. But your photography is even better! How do you get such good lighting and color?! Thanks from a Colorado State University graduate!
You are so sweet, Eric! I think it's just years of practice. Dark backgrounds also help a lot—they really make the food pop. I’m so glad you noticed!
Thanks! Do you have any lighting you recommend? Also do you use an iphone or a real (say, 35mm) camera? Cheers!
I always shoot in natural light, ideally (but not always) from a single window in a small room—it gives the kind of directional light I love. I use two older DSLR cameras: a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a discontinued Nikon model. I often shoot with both because their color profiles are so different, and I like comparing the results to choose my favorites. Honestly, both cameras are quite outdated and definitely due for an upgrade! I’ve tried using my iPhone (last year’s model) for photography, and while the camera is impressive for a phone, my older Canon and Nikon DSLRs still produce far superior images—there’s really no comparison!
I love your recipes, thank you for sharing! What is your twin sister‘s food blog?
Thanks, Olivia! 🙂 Here is her site: https://whatsinthepan.com/
Julia, I loved your recipes and tried a couples of them.
But the volumes of mails your sending, is to much for me to watch (time), and decide what to keep, that why I'm unsuscribe.
Anyway, thank you and congrat on your blog
Thanks you, Samuel, for your kind words—I’m really happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the recipes! I totally understand about the email volume, and I appreciate the feedback. It’s actually on my to-do list to offer a once-a-week email option (in addition to more emails per week) - like a summary weekly email. Once I figure out the technical aspect of it, that option will be live!
Hi Julia.
I am a self thought cook guy in my latter years do the fact that my wife (of 50 years) is still working and is not interested in cooking. So I had to take over 😉
I would like to thank you for your excellent recipes and clear language that even a man can understand, ha ha.
Best regards,
Henrik
Hi Henrik! Your message absolutely made my day—thank you! I love that you’ve taken over the kitchen and are enjoying it. 🙂 Wishing you and your wife all the best, and happy cooking!