Thanks for dropping by. Pleased to meet you!
My name is Melissa and there are very few moments in the day I’m not preoccupied with food. So why not start a food blog and monopolize those limited leftover bits?
When I’m not developing recipes, photographing, or writing about food, I’m exercising while browsing through food magazines, making lists of food I want to make, or trading recipes with my mom and sisters.
Food and I are BFFs.
Sometimes BFFs can get a little needy and consume all your time, though. With four kids and a husband, I curse food a lot too.
The grocery lists, meal planning, cleaning up one meal to start another, unwarranted complaints from kids, weeknight dinners, packing lunches, hurried breakfasts, and the incessant “I’m hungry, Mommy” all make it seem like a rollercoaster I will never get off.
Why do I go through all the extra effort? It’s how I create, show love, and provides me with moments of glorious salvation when I finally sit down to enjoy it.
Or, if I really want to get psychoanalytical about it, it might stem from being raised with five brothers and sisters where I always had to hoard, hide, or seize food quickly before it vanished.
Why a food blog?
MamaGourmand is the culmination of what occupies my mind, heart, and time – my family and food. Being a mother, I have to balance the hours in the kitchen with other practicalities, such as everyone having clean underwear.
I believe in the importance of nightly family meals because it’s the one moment everyday we are all together. Unfortunately the catalyst for making that happen is YOU – the person who cooks.
My recipes help you tackle the family meal with ease. There’s no need to be a total nut job while trying to pull it off!
I use simple directions, streamlined steps, affordable ingredients, and, most importantly, make sure it’s absolutely rewarding to eat.
This blog is an extension of me, how I juggle it all, get overwhelmed by it all, and love it all. It’s how a foodie feeds a family.
Wait. This is Gluten Free??
I grew up in a gluten utopia with an Italian mother and grandmother shunning store-bought pasta, bread, or desserts. We always sat down to THE BEST homemade meals.
When I had to become gluten free, (if you really want to get all up in my business you can read more about my health struggles here) I refused to be dependent on processed, expensive gluten free products or complicated recipes.
MamaGourmand’s recipes primarily use whole foods that are naturally gluten free. My (gluten loving) family and I enjoy all the same homemade meals that are just as comforting and delectable as the meals I grew up on.
So, yes,all the recipes are either gluten free or have gluten free adaptations, but more importantly it’s just good home cooking that all will enjoy!
Dawn Thompson says
I made these cookies except I substituted half the chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips and the recipe wasn’t so sweet, it was delicious. The best part is that I could share them with several family members who have gluten allergies. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa says
Hi Dawn, Yes! Thank you so much. I agree people with gluten allergies and without all equally LOVE these cookies.
Best,
Melissa
Garnella tomich says
My problem with your recipes is that you don’t show the ingredients and what amount to use. I find it very confusing. For instance, I wanted the recipe for your mother’s tomato pie but it was not put down as most recipes are. i.e. here are the ingredients and how to assemble.
Melissa says
Hello! Hopefully I can help…I think it may be you aren’t scrolling down far enough to see the recipe card? All of my recipes have a traditional recipe included. The top part in the blog post writes it out and down further is the recipe you can print or look at. If you want to skip all the writing there is also a button at top that says “jump to recipe.” Sorry for any confusion!
Best,
Melissa
Peggy Kidwell says
Ok, I’ve gotten 6 more recipes, side dishes, a soup and some desserts! I am actually excited about cooking again!!
I was planning on grilling steaks on my Big Green Egg tomorrow with corn or potatoes as our sides, however I have found your brussel sprouts and roasted zucchini recipes, so the family is gonna go green tomorrow! lol I have extra chicken tenderloins (after the smashing success of the cilantro lime chicken) so I may just marinade and grill the chicken so we can have Buffalo Chicken Tacos for Tuesday!
I commute 90 min each way, every day, so being able to knock out some meals on the weekend for easy heat ups during the week by the family is bonus.
Thank you, I am so glad that I stumbled upon you!
Peggy
Melissa says
Hello Peggy and welcome! That is so wonderful you found so many recipes you’re excited about already! I’m truly happy you found the site and I’m all about making busy moms’ lives easier!
Best,
Melissa
Lone Muchow says
Will be fun following you , I have been celiac for over 10 years and I have always been a from scratch girl baker, BTW love the danish plate you have your fluffy biscuits on. I am a born dane myself.
Melissa says
Hi Lone,
I’m so happy you stumbled upon the blog and happy to have you as part of our community! I didn’t realize my plate was danish. I’ll love it even more now. It’s my go to plate for photographing!
Best,
Melissa
Catherine Faircloth says
I would love to receive your recipes. Is there anyway that you send your recipes to email accounts.
I certainly would appreciate anything that you can do.
Melissa says
Hi Catherine, Of course, I’d be happy to help! I went ahead and plugged the email from this comment into my subscriber list. You should be getting a confirmation email. If you don’t receive it, check your spam folder or reach back out to me. Glad to have you as part of our community! Best, Melissa
Barbara Sheridan says
Melissa, made your tuna casserole from scratch the family loves the dish. Thank you for publishing it for others to cook. I am not usually a fan of tuna, but this casserole is a winner.
Melissa says
That’s so nice of you to say, Barbara. I’m always happy to share recipes, but I love hearing how those recipes transpire in others’ lives. So thank you for taking the time to write. 🙂
Linda Jordhoy says
I found your website yesterday when I was looking for a recipe for a sweet Irish soda bread. I made the bread yesterday and it was absolutely delicious and the best I have ever tasted. Thank you , it is now my go to recipe . I love your family photo ! Absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait for some new recipes to make . Thank you .
Melissa says
Thank you so much Linda! I really appreciate you taking the time to write and I’m even happier to have you join our community of home cooks! That is sweet of you to say about the family photo. I think it’s lovely too, but I may be a little biased…
Best,
Melissa