Hey friend, so glad you’re here!
If you are anything like me, you love comfort food, but you are also a bit health-conscious. You want the deliciousness of your favorite recipes growing up but made in a slightly healthier way. I got you!
Here you’ll find just that!
About The Midwest Kitchen Blog
The Midwest Kitchen Blog is all about making your life easier by providing healthier comforting meals that are simple to put together. Whether you are health conscience or not. A chef or a novice in the kitchen, these recipes are approachable and simple for all skill levels.
Almost everything on the site is made from scratch with organic and whole ingredients with TONS of love because those are the best kind of dishes.
While my family and I do not follow any type of diet, we don’t eat pork or shellfish. What you will find are family favorites, kid-friendly snacks and treats for your little ones, and holiday favorites like Homemade Cranberry Sauce, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cornbread Dressing, and Whole Roasted Duck.
We're all busy and making something healthy but totally delicious shouldn't be an added source of stress. Whether you are running after little ones, looking for a homemade version of your favorite meal or treat, or simply trying to figure out what to make for a special dinner, there is something here to that will fit you and your family's needs!
About me
I'm Tonya, a self-trained cook who loves to experiment in the kitchen. I am the photographer and writer for The Midwest Kitchen Blog. I love a good book and a giant cup of tea! When I'm not in the kitchen, I'm a wildlife and landscape artist who is always covered in paint or graphite!
I was born in the Midwest and raised in the Lone Star State, the best state, of course! I founded The Midwest Kitchen Blog shortly after moving back to the Midwest. This blog came out of my desire to share all of the comforting recipes that my family loves and continues to enjoy.
Comforting food is something that is a part of my identity and some of my fondest food memories are of Thanksgiving morning and waking up to the smell of turkey legs boiling on the stove for my Grandpa’s Turkey Cornbread Dressing. Steaming bowls of collard or turnip greens served with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and tangy lemon juice with crumbled buttermilk cornbread served on top! Bubbly mac and cheese so cheesy and delicious that you will be in a food coma in minutes!
Ever since my mother first taught me how to cook at 8 years old, I have always loved to be in the kitchen. I went through many phases of cooking. Everything from learning how to cook with boxed mixes to now cooking almost everything from scratch. It has been a fun journey of learning how to season food in delicious ways, create new dishes with and without a recipe, and share it with people I love.
My mom has always been health conscience and when I started having health issues, food was one of the first places where we made a change. I always say that when we went gluten-free for a short time when I was 16, that’s when I truly learned to cook on a whole notha’ level!
Now, over ten years later, while we aren’t gluten-free anymore, I still attribute those and many other earlier diet changes to where I am now. I love learning more about food and of course, experimenting in the kitchen with recipes until I get just the right flavor I'm looking for!
Because of those health challenges, learning how to recreate some of my favorite foods (like these Orange Cranberry Muffins from Central Market) in my own kitchen has been great not only for my health but also for my soul!
There’s nothing like creating something with your own hands that not only tastes good but is something that your whole family enjoys!
The Midwest Kitchen Blog is a place where you will learn more about how to create delicious food from scratch in a way that your family(even your little ones!) will love. Here you will find comforting dishes inspired by my upbringing in the Great State of Texas and my family’s most treasured recipes from the heart of the Midwest!
Hope you stick around! Thanks for being here friend.