Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Davis.
Hi Elena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before working full-time on my food blog, I taught in public education for 13 years and acquired a master’s in reading. I left my teaching career to serve people by sharing my cooking and baking knowledge. I started my food blog in the summer of 2020 when we could not visit Italy or see our family. I poured my heart and longing for my Italian home into creating achievable recipes every person could recreate! What started as a hobby quickly turned into my passion and new job.
A little back story: In Italian culture, food is the thread of life; food is tradition, family, laughter, joyful memories, and a love language that binds generations. I fondly remember where groups of grandmothers gathered to plot their following meals and compare recipes and methods. This is where I developed my passion for cooking, baking, and, most of all, sharing food around tables of new acquaintances, old friends, and family. The flavors I bring to the table reflect recipes, memories, and stories from people and places that bring me joy.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think you can have a “smooth road” as an entrepreneur, and that’s also not the point. There is always growth in change and struggle. The ones that keep going and growing will make it in the end. The social media world and online food blog business industry are constantly changing and moving to cater to what and how people are searching for information. As a creator, I stay current with best practices and serve my audience best while adapting to these platforms’ changes. My most recent struggle is some setbacks from Google’s Helpful Content Update. Thousands of bloggers are in the same situation, and it is disheartening. The grit to keep going and make needed updates/changes is sometimes hard to find, but I’ve learned so much in this process and will become stronger. I remind myself that it is better to keep creating and serving others than let fear stop me because of the unknown. I encourage everyone to do the same. Keep going. It will be worth it.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cucina by Elena is a recipe website that provides achievable and delicious Italian (and more) recipes for busy foodies. Italian cooking is naturally rustic and made with simple quality ingredients. Most recipes are quick, easy, and incredibly delicious, so you can still cook from scratch in little time without compromising the flavor or integrity of classic Italian cooking! On busy nights, I love to make authentic Italian pasta carbonara (no cream); this quick meal is full of flavor and is loved by all! On weekends, I whip up a batch of Classic Italian Ragu Recipe (Meat Sauce) and freeze it in portions for the following weeks. I love making a Simple Italian Apple Cake (one bowl) midweek and enjoying it for breakfast or as an after-school snack.
You will also find a few more American-style recipes from my husband’s side of the family, such as Frozen Lemon Dessert (Creamy Lemony Treat) and Swedish Pancakes. Many recipes are made while helping a child with homework and holding a toddler in my arms. This is life for me. Everything I make is “made with more”! Join me as we cook, bake, and create together.
Cucina by Elena recipes are created to bring people together for easy weeknight meals, fun weekend gatherings, and homemade pizza or pasta-making parties. I love to connect with all of you! If you ever have a recipe question, comment in the post or email me. You can also find me on Instagram; send me a message there: @cucinabyelena.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was born in Sardegna, Italy, home of my mother’s family. My parents met in Paris, France, where I spent the first six years of my life. My biological father, from Reunion Island, France, and my mother separated when I was four years old. About a year later, my mamma met my Danish dad. My parents, genetic research scientists, then moved from Paris to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they fell in love with the mountains and have stayed ever since! I moved to the United States without knowing any English or anything about the culture. It was a complete shock, but I adapted quickly. I attribute parts of my resilient personality to learning to adapt to different situations as a child. My parents had demanding careers, yet they always managed to make delicious home-cooked meals on weeknights. This was an integral part of my childhood. As I grew older and moved out of their home, I carried this part of me wherever I went. I cooked and baked, making many memories and new friends by bringing people together with our family recipes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cucinabyelena.com
- Instagram: @cucinabyelena
- Facebook: @cucinabyelena
Image Credits
Elena Davis
