About Recipe4Living
Recipe4Living is dedicated to fostering an online community interested in cooking, thinking, and living. Through reader feedback and contribution, we strive to create a meaningful space for people to come together and communicate about important topics ranging from the best cheesecake recipe to grilling tips to current trends in dieting. Recipe4Living understands that the best ideas come from a diverse community working together.
Since Recipe4Living is community-driven, please feel free to contribute your own recipes and tips for thinking and living healthy with the submission link. We also appreciate any feedback, questions, or concerns.
Thank you for visiting,
Recipe4Living Editorial Team
Meet the Recipe4Living Team
Emilie Yount, Editor
Born and raised in Chicago and a graduate of De Paul University, Emilie has loved words since day one. Her mother often had to drag her out of bookstores because of the amount of money she would end up spending in one short visit. She has always loved to read and has an eclectic taste ranging from Russian History to gonzo journalism. Prior to joining the team at Recipe4Living, Emilie was a freelance writer and interviewer for a variety of magazines and website publications. Her hobbies include talking too much, obsessing over film and attempting to utilize the Dictonary.com ‘word of the day’ in casual everyday conversation.
So, can she cook? Baking is an art, but stove-top cooking is done with love (and very few measurements), so Emilie prefers to make a substantial spicy stir-fry over worrying about the state of a soufflé. As said in the film Ratatouille – ANYONE can cook. Emilie hasn’t tried making a ratatouille as of yet, but chances are that she would try to make a deconstructed stovetop version before tackling the oven approach!
What is the best meal she has ever had? It is hard to say, being from Chicago, which is quickly turning into one of the food meccas of the world. Having many friends in the restaurant business, from chefs to managers to head honchos, she never refuses the opportunity to try something new. Some of her favorites include a good Chicago steakhouse, a quaint tapas bar and the French cuisine at a local spot that always hits all the right marks.
Any favorite restaurants?: Twist (Chicago) for excellent, well-priced tapas (particularly the blue cheese steak and tuna cannelloni plates) and Bistro Campagne (aforementioned French fabulousness). Enjoyable alfresco seating is also a must, especially in the Spring and Summer months!
Favorite Cookbook: She is not embarassed to admit that she is currently obsessed with The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory. The magical book focuses on specific items mentioned in the popular book series (chocolate frogs and treacle tarts!) in addition to traditional English and Irish fare.
Jennifer Jensen, Editor
Jennifer Jensen has lived her entire life in suburban Chicago. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2011 with a degree in English and experience writing for her college newspaper, it was only fitting that Jen would join Recipe4Living as an editor.
So can she Cook? Jen grew up in a family of traditional American chefs. Well, they’re not officially chefs, but Jen is confident in her abilities to make many different foods with specialties in grilling, stir fry, and baking.
What is the best meal she has ever had? Jen’s dad often cooks on the barbecue, and one of his staples is salmon, asparagus, and squash. He marinades all three in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and grills it outside for an amazing meal.
Any favorite restaurants? Because she loves creating her own masterpieces, Jen especially enjoys the stir fry of Mongolian BBQ.
Favorite cookbook: Jen turns to the Essential New York Times Cookbook for inspiration on a variety of topics.
Hillary Marshak, Editor
Born and raised a suburban Chicagoan, Hillary has loved editing since the day she was taught to read and write. She would even edit her brothers’ writing assignments before she was in the third grade. She plays word games for fun, anything from Boggle to Scrabble, but especially Wheel of Fortune. Prior to joining the Recipe4Living team, Hillary was a copy editor for her college newspaper: The Daily Illini. So, if you haven't guessed, she graduated from the University of Illinois (Urbana, Champaign) with a degree in news editorial journalism. Hillary could not be more excited to venture into the online publishing industry with Recipe4Living.com!
So, can she cook? A self-proclaimed unusual cook, Hillary's college years left her able to bake brie cheese at 2 in the morning, but unable to master a simple stir fry. She is quite passionate about making the perfect crème brulee (and has come close) but cannot, for the life of her, correctly bake a potato. So, needless to say, Hillary has much to learn in the pragmatic cooking realm, but she plans to improve with the help of Recipe4Living. In the meantime, she wants to tell every beginner cook that you don't have to be able to cook everything to be a great chef!
What is the best meal she has ever had? TOUGH QUESTION. Some may call it a fad, but there is definitely a great deal of enjoyment to be had while eating fresh-cut sushi. A piece of white tuna or salmon nigiri = gold. But, while I haven't been all around the world to try every exotic cuisine out there, I'd have to say the best meals I've had have been closest to home. To me, there is something overly comforting about a warm bowl of matzo ball soup, a dish of sweet and sour meatballs to dip challah into, or my grandmother's cholent (a stew of meat, potatoes, and barley). So, if I had to pick, Jewish and Japanese cooking top my favorites.
Any favorite restaurants?: Big Bowl (Ideal meal: lemon chicken, chicken satay and hibiscus iced tea), Cheesecake Factory (crusted chicken romano) and you guessed it, just about any sushi restaurant out there.
Favorite Cookbook: Creme Brulee, a compilation of recipes carried by Williams Sonoma
