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!
Julia, I love your story, life style and recipes, and I don’t even like to cook but you inspire me.
Jacqueline from Stoney Creek, Ontario Canada
Jacqueline, you are so sweet! Thank you for being so kind - your comment truly made my day! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Your receipts are amazing!!! I can’t wait to keep making them! DEE-LISH!
Debi, you are so kind! ❤️ I am so happy to have you here following along with me. ❤️
Wow, all these squash recipes look so good. I'll be trying some for sre. Love squash especially, Acorn.
Hi Lynda! If you love acorn squash, you’re in for such a treat — I have SO MANY delicious acorn squash recipes! ❤️
Hi Julia, I found you looking for a recipe for pasta with cherry tomatoes and feta as a way of celebrating the bounty of tomatoes we were so lucky to receive from our cousin… our inveterate gardener. We love the cooked recipe and can’t wait to try the similar one you recommended for a salad. I’m half Greek and spent my whole life enjoying, recreating and sharing the Greek and other ethnicities of dishes of my family. I totally agree that your salad recipe with “similar ingredients” is way better for a salad then chilling the warm recipe.. I’m not happy with a Greek tomato salad (aka horiatiki salata) unless it also has fresh English or Japanese cucumbers.
Beautiful job all around. I loved reading about your path to food blogging and I wish you all the best with this career.
Hi Catherine! I love hearing how food connects you to your roots and family traditions. Really appreciate you taking the time to write this sweet message for me, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes. ❤️ Sounds like your cousin’s garden is amazing — what a gift to cook with those fresh tomatoes.
Hi Julia. I love your recipes. I’d like to invest in a good cast iron skillet that would be the right size for your recipes. Can you recommend a size and brand? I am excited to try your new chicken pit pie.
I’ve made lots of your salads.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Gail,
Here are 3 cast iron skillets that I own and use on a regular basis (some of the links below are affiliate links):
➡️ Staub Enameled Cast Iron Fry Pan (12 Inch) - my favorite pan, I use it for most of my recipes:
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/staub-fry-pan/?pkey=s%7Cstaub%7C82
➡️ Staub Enameled Cast Iron Traditional Deep Skillet (11 Inch) - another great pan, it's a bit deeper than the one above:
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/staub-traditional-skillet/
➡️ 12-Inch Lodge Cast Iron Skillet:
Amazon link for Lodge Skillet
I also own and love these non-cast iron skillets/frying pans:
Also, in this recipe post below, I go in-depth about my favorite pans that I use for my website and the reasons why I love them:
https://juliasalbum.com/chicken-rice-feta-tomatoes/
Hi again Julia,
Thank you so much for all of the great pan advice and links! I really appreciate your help!
Gail
You're very welcome, Gail! I'm happy to help where I can! 🙂
I have made your Tuscan Salmon so many times! My family loves it and it’s perfect for guests.
Thank you.
I am so happy to hear you love my Tuscan salmon as much as I do! 🙂
Good day. I just recently found you and your wonderful recipes and am looking forward to trying several of them. Wondering where in Colorado you live? We’ve been there a few times and have a daughter, son-in-law and grand dog in Leadville. Thanks Bernie and Kathy
Hi Bernie and Kathy,
I’m so glad you found my site and are enjoying the recipes! Colorado really is a beautiful place to live and cook, and Leadville is such a special town. How lovely that get to visit your daughter and son-in-law (and grand dog!) there! ❤️
I’m printing out EVERY single one of these 20 Labor Day side dishes! They sound just INSANE!!!
HI Sharon! So glad you loved the lineup — hope they all totally rocked your Labor Day table!! 🙂
Are you a Chef or do you just live creating recipes and do such a great job at it. Love your recipes.
Thank you, Mary, you are so sweet! ❤️❤️ I'm not a chef, just someone who LOVES creating and sharing yummy recipes from my kitchen!! So happy you're enjoying them!! 🙂
Hi Julia,
Thank you for your recent email sharing the 15 best asparagus recipes. I was truly impressed by the variety and creativity showcased, from salads to main dishes. It is a genuine pleasure to be subscribed to your content.
Please continue this excellent work—I look forward to receiving more inspiring recipes from you.
Thank you so much, Lars!! I'm seriously grinning over here!! 🙂 I'm SO happy you loved the variety — asparagus is way more versatile than it gets credit for, right?! 🙂
I love your concept of weekly planning and the oh-so-tempting recipes! One additional piece that would be super-helpful and motivating (by eliminating yet another time-consuming step) would be the inclusion of a shopping list. Is that possible? Thanks for considering!
Hi Kathleen! YES — a shopping list is definitely possible, it’ll just take me a little time to put it all together in a good, helpful way! I really appreciate the suggestion!! Added to my ever-growing to-do list, LOL! 🙂
The breakfast recipes look awesome. Can’t wait to try.
So glad you enjoyed that email round-up, Carol! 🙂
Hi Julia , which company did you rent from in Provo to sail to west caicos?
I am sorry for my late response, Jen. Here is the company we used, they are amazing, they've been in business for 20 years and offer much more than sailing, you can have the whole boat experience. Here is their site:
https://bigbluecollective.com/
Hi Julia,
My name is Markus and I live in Las Vegas, NV. I found your blog a few months ago and have been making your recipes frequently and we absolutely love them! Thank you for sharing them with all of us out here. 🙂 One favor if possible, could you post some heart healthy ideas for main meals? We both fight high cholesterol and BP. I make your salads a couple times per week and we indulge in one of your cream based recipes now and then... they are so yummy! Thank you for what you are doing, you are truly appreciated! 🙂
Markus, this made my day!! 🙂 I’m so happy you’ve been cooking along and loving the recipes! Many of my latest recipes are not cream-based at all, lots of lighter, heart-healthy options mixed in. Here is the link to my latest recipes: https://juliasalbum.com/category/recipe/
And sorry for my late response, I was on vacation! 🙂
Just read your experience on an uninhabited Island. Loved your description of the vast starlit sky after a stormed rolled through that had frightened you. But you were thankful for your fear or you might have missed the beautiful night show that followed. Can't beat Mother Nature and you can't beat GREAT food. Love your recipes. Cheers! Wendy Thurston-Werry, Winnipeg, Canada.
Wendy, this note made me smile so big!! 🙂 You said it perfectly — can’t beat Mother Nature or great food!! ❤️ So happy you’re here enjoying the recipes right along with the stories — cheers to you in Winnipeg!! ❤️