Jillian, author of Food Folks and Fun, sitting at table smiling.

about jillian

creator of food folks and fun

I’m Jillian, the creator, and author of Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

My culinary roots sprouted when I was 8-years-old, making my first batch of pancakes with my dad. Since then, I have continued making delicious home-cooked meals and treats as one of the ways I show my love and appreciation for folks. 

recipe inspiration

I’ve lived in a few different places; Connecticut, Utah, New Mexico, Virginia, Arizona, Rhode Island, California, Japan, and South Korea to be exact. Each of these places have influenced my recipes.

For example, my New Mexico Posole recipe is inspired by the meal the PTO at the middle school I taught at in Albuquerque would make for the teachers every Christmas. My New York-Style Thin Crust Pizza is a nod to the amazing pizza I had growing up back East. Beef Negimaki is a recipe that I learned how to make at a Japanese cooking class while living in Japan, and my Grandma’s Gloumpki recipe is the food of my Polish ancestors. 

jillian’s favorite recipes

Baklava cut into diamonds on a platter.

Best Baklava Recipe

A pan full of creamy chicken enchiladas.

Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Cream Sauce

A close up picture of creme brulee with its crackly topping cracked into.

Instant Pot Creme Brulee

Cannolis stacked on top of each other.

How to make Cannoli Cream

The team behind Food Folks and Fun standing in kitchen smiling and laughing.

the team

behind food folks and fun

I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

explore with me

travel and recipe creation

I LOVE to travel (I’ve been to every single Disney theme park in the world!). Every Christmas season you can find me in Europe eating my way through Christmas Markets. My yearly pilgrimage has inspired recipes like Kinderpunsch and Hungarian Goulash

If I can’t take all of my family members, friends, and readers along with me to new places, then the least I can do is share recipe inspiration from those places. 

A cut and peeled avocado in a hand.

How To Peel An Avocado

An overhead picture of spiced creme brulee.

Spiced Creme Brulee – Alsace Crème Brûlée

let’s work together!

Food Folks and Fun is growing at a rapid pace and I’d love to work with your company or brand. I’ve done a bit of everything, including product reviews and recipe development. To learn more about what I offer check out my PR & Media page.