We’re excited to kick off our new Food Blogger Spotlight series — a celebration of passionate creators who bring creativity, authenticity, and heart to every dish they share. Each month, we’ll highlight a food blogger who inspires their audience through flavor, storytelling, and community.
To launch the series, we’re thrilled to feature Jennifer Sikora of Jen Around the World! In this first edition, Jennifer shares her approach to blogging—how she blends quality with personality and manages time without losing her genuine spark. Her insights offer a refreshing, down-to-earth look at staying inspired and true to yourself in today’s fast-paced digital kitchen.
Interested in a reciprocal backlink? Jennifer welcomes relevant, mutually beneficial collaborations… reach out to Jen Around the World today.
Do you remember the first time you discovered you have a passion for cooking? If you have any special kitchen stories or memories, please share them with us.
I have had a passion for cooking ever since I was little. As a young child, my idol was always Julia Child. I used to lay in the floor and watch her with my momma. One of my favorite memories will be with my own daughter who was 7 and we had just tried making homemade pizza from scratch. She was so proud of what we had accomplished. It was delicious and everyone raved about. That instilled that same love of cooking in her!
How long did it take before your food blog gained traction?
When I first started blogging, my site was focused on our homeschooling journey. During that time we started teaching the kids cooking classes as part of our curriculum and I would share our recipes and outcomes with my readers. Never in a million years did I think people would be interested in what I had to share, but little by little my blog started to grow. We left behind the homeschooling articles and decided to pursue fully into food and recipes. It took me a whole seven years for my blog to really start taking off. I didn’t know anything about SEO, etc. I was just writing from the heart and sharing any recipe I just happened to make that I thought others would like too.
Which part of the food blogging work do you prefer – envisioning a new recipe in your mind and cooking it; writing stories about the recipe; or getting creative with the food styling and food photography? And why?
I hired my daughter seven years ago to come and work alongside me as my food stylist and photographer. She has the perfect eye for it. We both work on research and development for what we will cook and create, but the cooking part is where I really shine. That is my favorite time to be in the kitchen.
What would be your most helpful advice to someone asking you for tips on getting started in the food blogging world?
Make sure to find someone who can walk you through how to do data research as you are posting. Use Google Search console, watch videos, pay attention to your data! It’s a gold mine when it comes to creating new content for your readers. And don’t be afraid to spend money on the stuff that will make a difference.
What’s one thing you’d do differently if you were starting your blog today?
What’s your go-to advice for someone struggling to find their unique voice or niche in the food blogging world?
Be true to yourself. The readers you have are there because there is something special about YOU. Don’t try to be like everyone else. One of my quirkest things about myself is my Southern accent. I used to try and hide it but now I wear it loud and proud and it is just a part of who I am.
We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the creative journey of Jennifer Sikora from Jen Around the World. The Food Blogger Spotlight is all about celebrating the passion and individuality behind every recipe, photo, and story shared online. If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming spotlight, or know someone who should be – fill out our Spotlight form here. We love connecting with bloggers who value quality, creativity, and community as much as we do.
Until next time, happy cooking and blogging!
Sure, you can get very technical about photography, but the good news is, you don’t have to be a professional photographer with expensive equipment to create mouthwatering shots.