Celebrating Two Years of Build Your Bite: A Food Blogging Journey & Top Recipes
Today, October 19th, marks an incredibly special occasion: Build Your Bite® is celebrating its second anniversary! It feels like just yesterday I was taking that leap of faith, and now, two years later, we’re pausing to reflect on this amazing journey. While my “party hard” today involves trying to convince my two-month-old that sleep is a crucial activity, my heart is truly overflowing with gratitude and excitement for how far this food blog has come.
Starting Build Your Bite was more than just launching a website; it was embarking on an adventure that has profoundly transformed my life. From a hesitant dream to a thriving online community, these two years have been packed with learning, challenges, and immense joy. It’s a testament to the power of pursuing your passion, even when the path ahead seems uncertain, and building a career around what you truly love.
The Genesis of a Dream: From Passion to Plate
For as long as I can remember, I harbored a deep desire to start my own food blog. The idea of sharing my love for cooking and innovative recipes with the world always resonated deeply with me. There’s something inherently therapeutic and joyful about the act of preparing a meal; it consistently puts me in a better mood. My happiest moments are often spent in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors, developing new dishes, and bringing culinary ideas to life.
However, turning this passion into a professional venture felt incredibly daunting. I was a complete novice when it came to the technical aspects of blogging and running an online business. Photography, website development, SEO optimization, gaining an audience, and understanding digital marketing strategies were all foreign concepts. My primary skill was cooking, and that’s where my confidence lay. The thought of stepping into the complex digital world was intimidating, but my deep love for culinary arts always pulled me back.
It was my husband’s unwavering encouragement that finally gave me the push I needed. He saw the potential in my vision and supported my ambition, helping me overcome the initial fear of the unknown. And so, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, I hit “publish” on that very first post. We all have to start somewhere, and that small step on October 19th, two years ago, set everything in motion, laying the foundation for Build Your Bite to grow into the thriving food blog it is today.
A Pivotal Decision: Forging a New Path in Food Blogging
Two years ago, I was a 20-year-old, newly engaged, and gazing into a future that felt both exciting and profoundly uncertain. My lifelong dream was to be a stay-at-home mother, a goal that seemed increasingly difficult to achieve through conventional career paths. It was during this period of intense reflection that I stumbled upon the inspiring income reports from Pinch of Yum. These reports were an absolute revelation, showing me that it was genuinely possible for individuals to earn a living doing what they loved – specifically, through the dynamic world of food blogging. This discovery ignited a powerful spark within me, and I resolved to take that chance and build my own online space dedicated to delicious recipes.
The speed at which my life transformed after starting the blog was incredible. Just two months after launching Build Your Bite, I got married and made the significant decision to leave my traditional job, stepping into the unknown with faith and determination. Five months later, I took another bold and unconventional step: I withdrew from college, a mere semester short of completing my degree. This decision, as you can imagine, was met with considerable skepticism and even outright criticism from many in my circle. People openly told me how “stupid” I was for abandoning my academic pursuits, questioning my judgment and future prospects.
The Unseen Hard Work of a Dedicated Food Blogger
It’s important to clarify that my decision to leave college wasn’t due to poor academic performance; in fact, I’ve always excelled academically. My choice stemmed from a clear understanding that a traditional degree would likely lead me to a job I didn’t truly love, resulting in nothing more than a “meaningless slip of paper” in terms of my genuine aspirations for a fulfilling career. For years, I had known I didn’t want to be trapped in a career that felt unfulfilling and uninspired. I was determined to forge a path where I could earn a living by pursuing my passion for cooking, recipe development, and sharing culinary joy. With my husband’s incredible and unwavering 1000% support for my dream, Build Your Bite officially became my full-time pursuit, my mission, and my career.
This journey has been a whirlwind of countless unpaid hours, moments of intense frustration, and overwhelming happiness, all inextricably intertwined. It’s a career that, despite its numerous challenges and steep learning curves, I find incredibly fulfilling and deeply rewarding. One of the biggest misconceptions about being a food blogger is that it’s an easy, “sweet gig.” From the outside, it might appear effortless – beautiful food photos and delicious recipes. But behind the scenes, it demands an immense amount of dedication and relentless hard work. There are countless hours spent tackling technical issues, learning complex SEO strategies to ensure recipes are discoverable, creating high-quality visual content that truly tempts the palate, and meticulously promoting recipes across various platforms in the hope of generating traffic and reaching a wider, engaged audience.
Blogging is definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires sustained effort, continuous learning, and profound resilience, especially in those initial years when you’re pouring your heart and soul into your work without seeing immediate financial returns. I confess there were hundreds of times when I wanted to throw in the towel, to simply give up under the weight of the demands. But I never did. Instead, I learned the crucial importance of stepping back when overwhelmed, taking a breather, and then diving back in with renewed energy and focus. This unwavering perseverance and commitment to my craft is what has kept Build Your Bite thriving and growing, even through the toughest moments.
Balancing Motherhood with a Thriving Food Blog
Today, I am incredibly fortunate and blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to my sweet baby boy, a role that brings immeasurable joy and, admittedly, its own unique set of challenges. Juggling the beautiful responsibilities of caring for an infant and simultaneously running a growing food blog is no small feat. Some days are undeniably difficult, requiring immense patience, strategic planning, and often a few extra cups of coffee, but the rewards make every effort worthwhile. The flexibility that blogging offers is a huge blessing, allowing me to be present for my family while diligently pursuing my career and passion for food. This often means I dedicate many nights and weekends to work, finding pockets of time when my little one is asleep, but as the old saying goes, “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This sentiment truly encapsulates my experience with Build Your Bite. It’s not just a job; it’s a labor of love that allows me to combine my passion for food with my unwavering commitment to my family, creating a life that feels authentic and deeply satisfying.
Celebrating Milestones: Two Years of Recipes and Over 1 Million Page Views!
To celebrate this incredible two-year anniversary – and the amazing milestone of achieving over 1 million page views in the last year alone – I’m thrilled to share a countdown of my five most popular posts from the past year. These recipes have clearly resonated with you, my wonderful readers, and I’m so excited to highlight them, showcasing the diverse and delicious content that Build Your Bite offers.
I’d love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below which one is your favorite, or which delicious recipe you’re most excited to try first! Your feedback, engagement, and culinary adventures truly fuel the spirit of this blog.
#5 – Vegan Chickpea Stirfry Bowl
This vibrant and healthy Vegan Chickpea Stirfry Bowl proves that wholesome eating can be incredibly delicious and satisfying. Packed with protein from hearty chickpeas and an array of colorful, nutrient-rich vegetables, it’s a perfect weeknight meal that’s both quick to prepare and bursting with fresh flavors. Its immense popularity highlights the growing demand for plant-based, easy-to-make recipes that don’t compromise on taste or health benefits, making it a go-to for many readers seeking wholesome convenience.
#4 – Peanut Butter Cookie Mug Cake
Who doesn’t love a quick, single-serving dessert that feels indulgent yet effortless? This Peanut Butter Cookie Mug Cake is a dream come true for anyone craving something sweet, comforting, and intensely peanut buttery in mere minutes. Its incredible simplicity and rich, nutty flavor make it an instant hit, perfect for satisfying those spontaneous late-night cravings without having to bake a whole batch of cookies. It’s a testament to instant gratification done right, a truly beloved recipe that brings joy with every bite.
#3 – Healthy Instant Iced Coffee
For all the dedicated coffee lovers out there, this Healthy Instant Iced Coffee recipe is an absolute game-changer. It offers a refreshingly cool and energizing start to your day or a delightful afternoon pick-me-up, all while being wonderfully mindful of your health goals. Its unparalleled ease of preparation and consistently delicious taste make it a perennially popular choice, proving that you don’t need to visit an expensive coffee shop for a fantastic, homemade iced coffee experience. It’s the perfect blend of convenience and quality.
#2 – 4 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Simplicity meets pure indulgence with these utterly delicious 4 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie Bars. This recipe is a home baker’s dream, offering maximum flavor with an absolute minimum of effort, making it perfect for busy schedules. It’s incredibly versatile and ideal for last-minute treats, potlucks, bake sales, or simply satisfying that insistent sweet tooth. The sheer ease of this recipe, combined with its consistently delightful and crowd-pleasing results, is undoubtedly why it has climbed to the second most popular spot on Build Your Bite.
#1 – Easy Crockpot Baked Ziti
And coming in at number one, with overwhelming popularity, is the phenomenally loved Easy Crockpot Baked Ziti! This recipe truly embodies the core spirit of Build Your Bite: delivering delicious, comforting food that is accessible, practical, and wonderfully stress-free. Utilizing the humble crockpot transforms this classic Italian-American dish into an incredibly simple, “set-it-and-forget-it” meal, allowing you to enjoy a hearty, flavorful, and cheesy dinner with minimal hands-on time. It’s the ultimate convenient comfort food that has won the hearts (and stomachs) of countless readers, making it our undisputed champion and a true testament to easy home cooking!
Looking Ahead & A Heartfelt Thank You
As we close out this wonderful anniversary celebration, I want to extend my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, the incredible readers of Build Your Bite. Your consistent visits, thoughtful comments, inspiring emails, and shared love for these recipes are what make this blog truly special and worth every single moment of effort and dedication. I sincerely hope that you continue to enjoy the diverse array of recipes I share, find endless inspiration in your own kitchens, and feel a strong sense of connection with this warm and growing culinary community. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or favorite dishes – your interaction and feedback are always cherished and deeply valued.
Here’s to many more Build Your Bite birthdays, filled with even more delicious recipes, exciting culinary adventures, and a continued journey of sharing the joy of home cooking together!
With much love and appreciation,
Joy
More Food Blogging Journey Insights:
- 20 Things I Learned in My First Year Food Blogging
- Life As Entrepreneurs – Our Story
- 3 Year Recap: Continuing the Blogging Adventure
- 5 Years In – My Career As a Food Blogger: Sustaining the Dream