The Food Blog

No, Colleen Milne doesn’t have formal culinary training — but she’s always had one foot in the food world. Her first job? Working in a bakery, where she learned to knead dough and fill jelly donuts. Then a few years after that, she owned and operated a food truck. And — while she’s hesitant to brag about it — she’s won multiple chili cook-offs and been featured in many “Recipe of the Week” contests on her local radio station.

But for a long time, her passion and her career were separate. She would have a blast in the kitchen — but to pay her bills, she focused on a career in finance. And while she appreciated this career, she still felt like something was missing.

“I really needed a creative outlet,” explains Colleen. “I had been getting into photography as a hobby, so it just seemed like a natural thing to start a blog, just as a hobby.”

Colleen didn’t overthink the name. She named her blog The Food Blog and it’s — you guessed it — a food blog. And the mission of the site is as simple as its name: to share easy, healthy recipes for busy home cooks.

This simplicity resonated with readers, and before Colleen knew it, she had an audience of fellow home cooks. Now it was time to face an exciting new possibility: that she might be able to turn her newfound hobby into an income-generating career.

Now that Colleen can focus on blogging full-time, her life feels much more flexible. She no longer has to endure a stressful commute or spend time in a job that doesn’t engage her more creative impulses. She also has more time for family vacations, which has deepened her relationships.

Seeing her content resonate with readers is now one of the best parts of her job. For instance, her Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake is a fan favorite, standing out as her most popular recipe of 2024. Not far behind are her Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins, which are a sweet (but not too sweet) treat aimed at those who are trying to avoid gluten and carbs.

“I love the comments I receive when people make my recipes and enjoy them,” says Colleen. “I also love to hear about how readers put their own spin on a recipe. My favorite comment was on my Salmon Alfredo recipe from the granddaughter of Alfredo Di Lelio, who is the creator of Fettuccine Alfredo.”

When Colleen receives these comments, it reminds her how far she’s come. Not so long ago, she was posting food photos that were — in her words — “just so awful.” But after lots of self-learning and persistence, Colleen has come a long way. Now her food photography looks professional and does justice to the delicious meals she’s cooking up for readers.

“To those who are just getting started, start simple and don’t give up,” says Colleen. “Just keep trying because you'll get there. It’s not complicated but sometimes people overthink it. So just remember that cooking is actually much more enjoyable once you relax and just do it.”