about
Hi, I’m Jenna! Welcome to my website.
I am a classically trained chef, freelance food writer and recipe developer. I started this blog back in 2007, while I was just a lowly culinary student making my way through the dark and scary baking and pastry kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu. Since then, I’ve worked as a pastry chef, a bread baker and a freelance food writer before turning my full attention to developing recipes on this site. Welcome! Here, my main focus is simply the celebration of food, whether that means baking up a batch of browned butter chocolate chip cookies, enjoying a dinner out with friends or making homemade pizza on a random Tuesday night.
My first book, a memoir of my time at Le Cordon Bleu, will be available in bookstores in September of 2012. On top of the blog and the book, I also write bi-weekly recipes for Health magazine and am half of the Fresh Tastes blog team over at PBS. It’s a lot of fun!
On this website you will find recipes, culinary lore and a little bit of my everyday life written in a slightly sarcastic and self-deprecating tone. I do not accept money to say nice things about anything or anyone…so please don’t ask!
Recently, I started a project to remake all of my great grandmother’s dessert recipes that I inherited back in 2006. My great grandmother worked as a cake decorator and baker all her life, and the collection of recipes I’m working through spans from the early 1920′s to the late 50′s. It involves a lot of Crisco and graham cracker crumbs.
Find me on Pinterest, StumbleUpon, Tastespotting, Foodgawker, and Tasty Kitchen,
Become a fan of ELR on Facebook!
{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
Love your new “about” page and the changes to your blog. I think you’re a really interesting person and I look forward to reading more!
I appreciate how you’re allowing your blog to evolve as you evolve as a person. I’m looking forward to continuing to follow you!
Love it! Rock on, Jenna
Good for you! I like the “new” direction of the blog!
way to go jenna! we change so much in our 20′s. i am glad you are evolving your blog with yourself
)
Fabulous!
Yeah! I like the new format
I actually used the browned butter cookie recipe and it was AMAZING!
Just have to say, I’m a fan of the “no product reviews.” It’s hard to trust reviews on free things since everything is better when it’s free.
I really appreciate your new blog focus. I’ve been reading for a little bit but I now really am going to come back daily. Real food = good food, so I’ll take your ideas and posts filled with butter, ghee, and flower. Yes please.
i meant *flour*
Very cool, I’m also loving the new blog direction. I’ve been doing the daily food blogging thing for over a month now and I’m tiring of it. There’s more to life! Very inspirational Jenna, I really do love your blog.
This is really cool Jenna! Yours was one of the first food blogs I came across over a year ago and it’s what inspired me to start my own this past spring. I also prefer the ‘random musings’ to the daily food diary; they’re so much more fun to write about! It means I don’t post every single day, but I put more time and effort into each one. I look forward to reading the new ELR
It’s really great to see your blog evolve. Change is awesome!
YAY Jenna! I am so excited to see the new blog and writing! =)
I love the changes in your life and your willingness to take us on the ride with you. I only follow a few bloggers religiously and you are definitely one of them. I love strong independent women. Keep up the good work Jenna!
Good for you! I’ll still be following!
Super! I have been enjoying your blog more than ever since you moved to California and started “celebrating” good food, wine and life in general.
Jenna, I love the new direction of the blog! I love your blog and I think it’s totally awesome that it can evolve along with the changes in your life.
That’s great; the new direction sounds like a more balanced, healthy, and enjoyable approach for you. I’m a new-ish reader who needs to lurk less and comment more but I’ll continue to read what you write…thanks and have fun!
I’m a recent new follower and I found your postings already interesting so I’m even more excited to read what’s come!
That picture is awesome! I like the new direction, and reading about your experiences with food!
I have been reading your blog for about a year now and love the new direction it is going. Can’t wait for your book.
Do you accept money to say mean things about anything and anyone? Just curious because I have a lot of enemies and a lot of money
Love your blog Jenna!
love your blog, hair and location!
since you never talk about running on your blog do you think its appropriate to still have “run” in your blog title? I mean do you even run?
I feel as though “run” can still be used in Jenna’s title – I do believe one of the definitions of run is (to go around, rove, or ramble without restraint). The new focus of her blog and celebration of food suits that perfectly!
If you don’t like the blog or title of her blog, then don’t read it. Free will is a remarkable thing.
Love it! The whole thing!
The evolution of Jenna, I love it!
It is wonderful to see your blog change and grow up with you, thank you for sharing
Lovin’ the new changes to the blog but you haven’t done any “run” posts, just “eat’ and “live” type stuff. Are you going to include any? And I realize you aren’t using this as an exercise log, but I would love to hear about some good yoga-ing, running, or whatever fitness type stuff you’ve been up to!
Thanks!
I love the changes, too Jenna! Keep rockin’!
I love the change in your blog
I can tell you’re really happy and I adore all your little adventures!!!
I love the new site. Learning about food and hearing interesting recipes and sitings are quite lovely!
Love your new attitude towards the website!
love your recipes! can’t wait to try them out, especially the desserts!
Congrats on your new look and vision, Jenna! I like the ‘celebration of food’ approach. Miss you!
You’re recipes are to die for!
Lovin’ it !
I love all of your recipes and beautiful photos, but I do miss your more personal reflection posts of quotidian life. I hope we can see more peppered in.
HI! I just found your blog. I will be checking back daily to see what you got cooking! Everything looks SO yummy!
I already Eat. But, I would love to learn to Live and Run. You have the cutest face in the world too! Can’t wait to join u on this journey!
P.S. I’m a southern girl transplanted in Northern California too and I am loving it!
Recently I have really changed a lot and started living a healthy lifestlye after I lost a loved one. I was living in nor cal @ the time and moved back to the south (east coast) to live with the fam….searching for new things to eat is really really hard down here you mostly have to make them yourself. You have so many wonderful recipie ideas and I love them! I want to say thank you for being so frank about life, and for all of your food gems. I feel ya, and you totally help me…so thanks.
I love how your blog has evolved overtime! This was THE FIRST food blog I ever read and I still follow religiously
You are so cute and charming Jenna!
I began reading your blog when I started my own blog about a year ago. My blog is much different – about my battle with depression and battling some really nasty struggles. Reading your blog has made me smile on many days when I didn’t think it was possible. Reading about obstacles that you have overcome, and seeing you today, this beautiful, shining example of how good life can be…you are awe-inspiring. I look forward to seeing where life takes you.
A blog about food and travel! My two favourite things. I look forward to reading your updates. Betty x
Love your blog! So looking forward to looking through all your recipes!
This blog is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Wonderful-groovy-tastic! I love it!
I just found your blog and I’m in love! So many great recipes…so little time!
Hi from Sydney, Australia! Stumbled across your blog and i’ll be stopping by to check out the great recipes…yumo!
My new favorite blog!
Great stuff. Photos are amazing. I am going to make twice baked cheddar potatoes for dinner tonight. Seriously.
thanks, David!
Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your website. Beautiful food, photos, and posts. Very inspiring!
Jenna, Rita at Publix bakery told me about your site. She used to be the receptionist at the upper school. I thought I come on board and take a look as food and health are important to me. Your photos are gorgeous and your recipes are varied. I’m impressed with how you have taken your interests–food, writing, health, and lifestyles in general–and turned them them into a full-time job that you enjoy.
So thrilled to have stumbled upon your site! I appreciate your recipe-style and can’t wait to work my way through them.
Couldn’t figure out where else to put this- but has anyone told you you look like the the girl from the movie Bottle Shock? It’s strange, because it’s a movie about Napa Valley. If you haven’t seen it, do!
Thanks for posting! I didn’t know you studied at the Le Cordon Bleu – but soughting after your true passion as a food writer and going after it is a brave, bold move! I’ll be reading your entries and commenting from time to time. Although, where does the “Run” part fit in?
- Vanessa
Project Zen
Just wanted to drop a note and tell you that I LOVE your blog! You are so darn cute, have a great outlook on life, and your recipe’s are fabulous. I’ve already printed off like 10 of them and added them to my binder of ‘must try’. Keep it up!
Hey!
I really LOVE your blog. Such great inspiration and information….I also am really digging the recipes….do you just make them up yourself? So awesome
My dietitian recently got turned on to a lifestyle site that has recipe Actionplans, as well as fitness ones like this one http://www.fitango.com/planstore.php?pid=27923, you should check it out if you love learning and tracking recipe progress. ..
Look forward to more recipes and stories….:)
Lindy from Texas
Jenna – you are ADORABLE! I just came upon your blog while searching Google for a vegetarian chili recipe. I can’t wait to try your recipes. I’ve flipped through a dozen and I have some cooking to do. Keep them coming! I love that I can add your widget to iGoogle too. Super grateful to find your blog.
- Brittany
Hi Jenna,
I enjoy reading your blog and wanted to nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award. After all a website about eating, living, and running, couldn’t be more versatile in my opinion.
Anyway, the rules, should you choose to accept the award are:
1. Thank the person who awarded you and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell 7 Random facts about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 7 new found (or old favorite) bloggers.
4. Contact each blogger you want to pass the award on to and let them know you’ve done so, and let the giver of your award know you accept it… or not.
All my best,
Waefarer
It’s great to see you doing such wonderful things in life as well for people . I hope all is well : ) Take care
J
Glad to have stumbled upon your blog. I am now a fan!
I see you have “Rescue” on your book shelf. Good book-I like anything by Anita Shreve.
Love your website and all the recipes!
Ditto what Laura said!
I found your website via the PBS/falafel link on Facebook – can’t wait to try your falafel recipe – and your other recipes too.
I’ll be back here regularly now! <3 ~D
I love your site! This is an awesome story and a great journey so far! Way to go!
I came for the steel cut oats…I’m staying for all the other recipes. My wife is going to love me (even more)
Thank you!
I love your blog and read it often. Your chewy choc chip cookies are now my go-to recipe now! And I’ve read quite a few of the books you suggest. awesome reading taste! ; )
are you on pinterest? I’d love to follow you on there!
I am! I don’t know what I’m doing on there but I just signed up!
yay! how can I find you? It’s a little confusing at first. I like to basically use it as a bookmark collection. I pin a lot(a few of your recipes!) of stuff from blogs, articles, and frequent sites I visit. But my friend calls it the lazy way to surf the web! She basically browses everybody else’s pins and repins what she wants to revisit!
As far as the name of the site…are you a runner too? I am, and am hopeful that your site will have recipes for good food that satisfies a runner’s need for fuel! (-:
So your job is to write about food? Uh, hello! That’s my dream job. How do you get into something like that?
is that a giant s’more on that plate?! nomnomnomnom.
ok, your posts crack me up. I found a link to your blog over at Peanut Butter Fingers this morning and I’ve been delaying my reading by reading your blog instead haha… anyway just wanted to stop by and say hello!
Jenna,
Hi. Corey’s mom here. I am wondering if you wanted to be a guess speaker via imovie in my communication class. We are about to begin “How to speeches.” Many of my students will select food as an opt. Email me and I will send you my phone number and we can chat. Thanks so much Mrs. Wood
Coming over from Tasty Kitchen. I am a new Northern CA food blogger. Love your blog and your recipes are amazing! I look forward to checking in frequently. Nice to meet you!
It was so nice meeting you last week at the FoodBuzz Festival
you too!!!
I look forward to trying all your recipes… especially your grandmother’s!
Katie
I’m new(ish) to your blog and finally got around to reading the “about” after being distracted by all the amazing recipes! I love your outlook on life and food, and LOVE seeing your grandmother’s recipes, I know so many of my favorite recipes are inherited from amazing cooks in my family.
Hi Jenna! I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks now and I just wanted to say that it’s my new favorite one! You’re hilarious and I love your recipes. Thank you for sharing!
-Andrea
Hi Jenna.
I’m just a lowly blogger over on Wordpress but have been following your joyful blog here for a while now, and when I recently received a ‘Liebster Award’ (basically another blogger said mine was one of her faves) I decided to pass it on to you too. The idea is that it’s like a chain prize. Anyway, I’m sure you’ve received much more prestigious awards in your time but I thought you might like to hear from one girl who really appreciates what you share with us here on Eat Live Run.
The post’s here if you want to check it out: http://wp.me/pVoTo-cD
Have a great day : )
Megan
xxx
so i used to live in norcal in college and my kitchen looks JUST LIKE the picture of yours. too crazy. http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j178/xxwxixsxhxx/UCSC%20Graduation%20NIGHT/?action=view¤t=61309084.jpg
anyway – love your blog – boxcar children cookbook = the best. =)
So glad to have found your site! Did you have any issues with disordered eating? If so how can you relate it to your life now??
I’ve just discovered your blog and think it’s lovely ~ I love food AND running, too!
Hard to go wrong here. Best wishes in 2012.
Tried your brown butter cookies several days ago. Fabulous! Really enjoy your blog and your story. Great inspiration for me.
Jenna, love love love the new abotu page. Up until today, I had no idea what your book will be about and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!
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