Hi, I’m Jen and I live in Carlsbad, California (north San Diego), with my husband, Patrick, and my furry, four legged daughter, Kiwi, and together we WELCOME YOU to Carlsbad Cravings!!! I’m a cystic fibrosis survivor, lung & kidney transplant recipient, LOVER of life and FOOD!
At Carlsbad Cravings (est. 2014), you will find only my tried and true daringly delicious recipes with big, BOLD flavors – or what I like to describe as extraordinary flavors out of everyday ingredients. My #1 goal is to create the best version of every recipe (in my opinion), whether it’s Mexican, Italian, Asian or Greek. And if it’s not the best, then it doesn’t get shared! So, you can cook with confidence from my website, and hopefully you’ll think each recipe is “the best” too and discover many new favorites!
How it began
Some people escape in dreams of sandy beaches and sunny skies, I escape in dreams of mangos, chipotle peppers and bacon. My creativity as a former interior designer flourishes in the kitchen as I find something so satisfying in creating delicious, flavorful (spices are my forte!), fresh food…and then eating it!
As Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:
“Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. …” or something delicious!
I have been cooking and creating new recipes almost every day of the week since I got married in 2006 (see our love story here) and even created my own binder long before Carlsbad Cravings was born (see recipe binder below). When I was in desperate need of a kidney transplant and would come home from work exhausted with legs and feet so swollen I could only wear sandals and skirts (none of my shoes or pants would fit!), all l wanted to do was cook. Cooking and creating reinvigorated my exhausted self by feeding my mind, body and soul.
After I was blessed with new-found energy from my kidney transplant in October 2013 thanks to my doner sister (my lung transplant was in 1999), my doctor cautioned me about going back to work when I was so immune-suppressed. At that point, I was wondering what to do when my sister-in-law suggested I start a food blog. The words pierced my soul and I knew that was what I was supposed to do. I researched how to start a cooking site, how to turn it into a living and then I jumped in and never looked back!
Since launching Carlsbad Cravings in February 2014, I have shared over a thousand recipes that have reached over 140 million readers. I am honored every day to be invited into your homes. Thank you for making my recipes, trusting my recipes, leaving comments and for following along! You are the reason I’m allowed to do what I do! xo
Getting started – What seasonings to stock
To make every recipe the best version of itself, I rely heavily on seasonings. Seasonings MAKE a recipe! To that end, many of my recipes look like they have many ingredients, but often most of them are just dump-in spices, so please don’t be intimidated. I cook with the same spices all of the time, so once you purchase them, you’ll have everything you’ll need! Here are the pantry spices I recommend (you can purchase them little by little):
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried basil
- dried parsley
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- chili powder
- chipotle chile pepper
- ground cumin
- smoked paprika
- cayenne pepper
- ground ginger
- chicken bouillon
- beef bouillon
jump to recipe button
To help readers succeed and eliminate any guesswork, I include detailed tips and tricks in every recipe post. If you just want the recipe, you can use the “jump to recipe” button located at the top of every post to skip directly to the recipe. With that, everyone wins! Now, I hope you enjoy exploring my site and hopefully will create your own recipe binder full of Carlsbad Cravings favorites!
Want to Know More?
If you are curious about my journey with cystic fibrosis, my lung transplant, kidney transplant, love story
and more of my life, click on the links below:
Do You Love to Cook?
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Babb Kaaren says
I found you, of course, in the Internet while noodling about for something. Now, I’m addicted to your thoughtful recipes, through detailed instructions and most of all, the way these recipes work. My “Italian” daughter (by association only, lives in Carlsbad and is the owner of Gelato Love which has a storefront in Carlsbad Village, and a “lab” Carlsbad Gateway Center. She is Italian, authentic, charming, and makes a very delicious product. Check her out: Paola Richard at Gelato Love.
Jen says
Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m so pleased you’re loving my recipes! That is such a small world, that your daughter owns Gelato Love in Carlsbad! I LOVE gelato, in fact, my last major trip before Covid was actually to Italy. I will definitely check Gelato Love out this week, thank you!
Jenny says
I love soooo many of your recipes and a lot of them remind me of my time in SoCal (which I miss) and all the delicious food there! I really loved that white sauce that Rubio’s puts on their fish tacos and I was curious if you happen to have a copy cat recipe or one very similar so I could make my own for fish tacos. I would be forever grateful to you Keep on keepin on with all the yum yum recipes, we love them ♥️
Jen says
Thanks so much Jenny for taking the time to comment, I love hearing my recipes remind you of home! I haven’t tried experimenting with Rubio white sauce (but I will!), but a quick google says: 1/2 cup mayonnaise. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. 1/2 teaspoon cumin. 1/2 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped or 1 teaspoon dill pickle juice.
Alisha Guess says
Hi Jen!
I lived in South Carlsbad for 13 years until I moved to Indiana 2 years ago to take care of my parents and 95 year old Grandmother. LOVE LOVE LOVE it there!
Your story is amazing and inspiring. You and your husband are awesome! Not going to lie I couldn’t help but cry while reading it.
I also share your love of cooking. Since my husband and I moved here (our 6 kids are grown and all over the US) I have been cooking like crazy, trying anything and everything. I cook for my parents and grandmother 3/4 nights a week and we frequently have guests over and I like to cook foods that they wouldn’t necessarily try out on their own. Tonight I am using your Pad Thai recipe. I have one that is my go to but I have loved all of yours so far so changing it up!
Keep up the great work! 🙂
Jen says
What a small world Alisha! We love Carlsbad too and my website name is insurance we never leave (I hope!) 😉 Thank you for taking the time to read my story, I’m touched it brought tears to your eyes. You sound like a saint cooking for your family! We must be foodie kindred spirits – I love that you are so adventurous in the kitchen – it keeps cooking, and life, fun! I hope you love the Pad Thai recipe and continue to have fun exploring all of my recipes!
Roy says
Hello Jen,
My life took a turn much later in life than yours. In 2007 the doctors removed part of my lung (cancer) and started me on peritoneal dialysis. My kidney transplant occured in 2011. Just wanted to share that others have appreciated the new energy after the transplant.
So, back to the main reason I am on your website. I found your recipe for pecan/graham cracker pie crust. I used it as a base in a springform pan for a cream based pecan pie (no syrup). The combination worked great for me. Thanks for the recipe.
Jen says
Hi Roy, welcome! I’m so pleased the pecan graham cracker crust was a win! More importantly, I’m grateful you were able to receive a kidney transplant as well – they are miraculous!