About
About Recipe Ideas & Clara Bennett
From Spreadsheets to Sheet‑Pans
Hey, foodie friend! Welcome to this about Recipe Ideas page. I’m Clara Bennett, a former marketing analyst who swapped Excel charts for chocolate tarts after a life‑changing backpacking trip through Italy. First, I fell hard for seasonal produce; then, I fell harder for helping busy cooks get dinner on the table—fast.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!My Recipe Philosophy
Above all, flavor comes first. However, weeknights are hectic, so every post balances speed, budget and taste. Moreover, I test each dish at least twice and photograph it in natural light, ensuring your first try tastes like my fifth.
Behind the Scenes
Because great cooking is half science, you’ll often find me geeking out over why a roux thickens or how resting dough boosts rise. Meanwhile, my tiny team handles editing, social media and taste‑testing (tough job, right?).
Fun Facts & Community
Besides cooking, I thrift vintage cookbooks, teach neighborhood teens knife skills and foster rescue cats that love kitchen scraps. Finally, if you recreate a recipe, tag @recipeideas on Instagram—I answer every comment and adore seeing your spins.
Let’s Stay Connected
Therefore, bookmark Recipe‑Ideas.com, sign up for the weekly newsletter and drop any questions via the Contact page. Thanks for reading about Recipe Ideas—now grab a spatula and cook along! 🎉
My Story
Starting at a young age, I was on a diet. Like many women, I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. I ate vegetarian for most of my adolescence, and as my body started to change in high school, I started drinking diet shakes and working out to lose weight. While making these “lifestyle changes” started out innocent, I quickly became obsessed with counting calories and felt shame and guilt for missing a workout. Even though I had lost the weight I thought I needed to, I still felt like I needed to fix myself. Over the course of 10 years, I went vegan, ran marathons, read endless self-help books, and tried every new diet under the sun. In the process, I ran my health into the ground. I dealt with chronic back pain on a daily basis, I lost my period, was always getting sick, and my metabolism was completely destroyed. I also struggled with anxiety and digestive issues, including IBS. Eventually, I had a moment. After experiencing a severe injury, I asked myself, “Maria, who are you doing this for?” It wasn’t for me. I was being driven by what the world thought I should do and be. And in that moment, I started on a new path. In 2008, I started focusing on strength, muscle, and protein—and it completely changed my life. I stopped eating gluten and it healed my gut, which is why all of my recipes are allergy-friendly. Ultimate freedom came for me when I stopped finding my worth in what I ate or did for a workout. I stopped doing the endless amounts of cardio to “burn calories”, and switched to doing movement I genuinely enjoyed. Instead of putting my worth in my weight and thinking I needed to be a specific weight or have a six-pack to be healthy and worthy, I started doing what was right for my health—physically, mentally, and emotionally. While I’ve made just about every mistake with health and fitness, I wouldn’t change a thing. Experience has been my greatest teacher, and I am right here in this moment with you because of everything I’ve been through in life.Fun Facts:
- I eloped and got married on a gorgeous beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
- My favorite dessert is paleo chocolate cake. And yes, I eat cake for the icing.
- My favorite food is tacos.
- My favorite workout is cycling. There’s nothing better than being on the bike.
- I’m a Notre Dame football fan, and got to watch a game from the sidelines in South Bend.
- My happy place is HomeGoods. I mean… you try coming out of there without buying something. It’s impossible.
- I have a large collection of “rare” and “valuable” beanie babies in my attic.
- I danced ballet for ten years, then did competitive cheerleading in high school and college.
- The first triathlon I did, I didn’t finish because I forgot how the brakes worked and wrecked on my bike.
I’m Clara, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, personal trainer, author, and podcaster. I love helping people improve their physical and mental health through easy-to-understand wellness advice and delicious recipes made with nourishing ingredients. Pull up a seat—you’re welcome at this table!
