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Food Blogger Spotlight #3: Ally Billhorn from Ally’s Sweet and Savory Eats

Welcome back to our series called Food Blogger Spotlight where we celebrate 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.

 

We’re simply overjoyed that our third featured blogger is Ally Billhorn from Ally’s Sweet and Savory Eats! In this spotlight, we dive into Ally’s journey in the blogging world as an OG food blogger that started her blog way back in 2009.  Ally shares some tried and true trips on how to hold on to your blogging passion and stay authentic in the ever-growing food niche.

 

Interested in a reciprocal backlink? Ally welcomes relevant, mutually beneficial collaborations… reach out to Ally’s Sweet and Savory Eats 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.

 

Probably in college! It was the first time I was on my own and I found enjoyment in cooking, even on a very tight budget. Growing up my Mom was a great cook and still is, although she’d never admit it, she claimed she was just feeding us! We always had home cooked meals and sweet treats around the house.

 

What do you wish you had known when you first started food blogging?

 

I am an OG food blogger, back when it was easy. I first published a food post in 2009 when it was very, very new. I had no idea it could be made into a career. If I had put a bit more effort into it right away, it probably would have taken off quicker!

 

What would be your most helpful advice to someone asking you for tips on getting started in the food blogging world?

 

Just be yourself. When I first started there were just a handful of us – now there are thousands, many of them young, talented and beyond tech savvy. Don’t get into the weeds on how they are succeeding so early in their career, just do your thing. Be passionate about what you are producing and your readers will see that.

 

When do you feel most inspired or creative as a food blogger?

 

When people respond back to a recipe they’ve tried of mine and it was a success for them. That gives me a little boost to keep going.

 

What’s one thing you’d do differently if you were starting your blog today?

 

I’d probably choose a different name for my blog! Back then, there wasn’t much thought put into these things, but today new bloggers are so creative.

 

What’s your go-to advice for someone struggling to find their unique voice or niche in the food blogging world?

 

If you love what you doing, then stay with it. Keep being you. Don’t try and become the blogger snagging all the brand deals. Your time will come if you are authentic.

 

 

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the aspiring food world of Ally Billhorn from Ally’s Sweet and Savory Eats.

 

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!

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Food Blogger Spotlight #2: Heather Johnson from The Food Hussy

Welcome back to our series called Food Blogger Spotlight where we celebrate 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.

 

We’re absolutely delighted that our second featured blogger is Heather Johnson from The Food Hussy! In this feature, we dive into Heather’s thoughts on blogging and how she became an expert in her niche of restaurant copycat recipes. Heather brings some amazing tips on how to inject your blog with genuine personality and turn it into a successful business.

 

Interested in a reciprocal backlink? Heather welcomes relevant, mutually beneficial collaborations… reach out to The Food Hussy today.

 

 

How long did it take before your food blog gained traction?

 

Probably a year or two in its first iteration as a restaurant review blog. Then for about 5-8 years I slowly transitioned from restaurant reviews, travel and recipes to 100% recipes. Then once I put 100% focus on that – I tripled in a year.

 

When do you feel most inspired or creative as a food blogger?

 

I love making funny cooking videos – so that really gets me going.

 

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?

 

Probably the research of digging and finding a term I think I can rank for – or cooking. I don’t test recipes – I just make them and tweak on the fly. After all this time I know what works – so when I’m making a recipe and taste it and think – oh it needs X Y or Z.

 

What would be your most helpful advice to someone asking you for tips on getting started in the food blogging world?

 

Become an expert in a niche. You can still do other recipes – but focus on getting authority in one area and then add more.

 

What are your most used kitchen utensils and tools and what would you recommend to a beginner cook?

 

Thermapen is essential as an instant read meat thermometer, a good cast iron pan, a big air fryer!

 

What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to food blogging right now?

 

Take your pick! AI coming in and displaying results and pushing our recipes down, never knowing why a recipe does well on Google and another doesn’t, trying to get any growth on Instagram.

 

 

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the creative journey of Heather Johnson from The Food Hussy.

 

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!

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Food Blogger Spotlight #1: Jennifer Sikora of Jen Around the World

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?

 

I would start from the begging and make sure to pay attention to any and all data right from the beginning. Look at what’s trending when trying to decide what to make. I would also work on building other ways to make income from my website like cookbooks, printable recipe cards and more.
 

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!