I get requested on a regular basis how we develop the recipes that you just see on this web site. So I believed I’d break it down for you at present!
Lots of you already know that I began Downshiftology eight years in the past after I left the company world. My aim was to share the simple, wholesome, gluten-free recipes that I used to be making in my very own kitchen. I had no concept once I began this web site that it might evolve into what it’s at present – a profitable enterprise and model with staff, a YouTube channel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and a bestselling cookbook!
As you may think, issues have modified a bit from these early days as a one-woman present photographing recipes in my mother or father’s basement. However one factor stays – making certain the success of my recipes in your kitchen will at all times be my prime precedence. So right here’s what goes into that.
How We Select Recipes
Earlier than we dive into the recipes, it’s vital to introduce you to my Social Media Supervisor, Emily Liao. Emily has been with me since 2019 and we’re joined on the hip working the day-to-day of Downshiftology and producing the recipes and movies you see.
Emily and I’ve a gathering each Monday morning to debate our content material calendar, which we plan weeks and months into the long run. A couple of standards we take a look at when selecting recipes are:
- Seasonality & Sourcing: are the elements “on a regular basis” objects and is the produce at present in-season? We at all times wish to ensure you’ll be capable of discover the elements in your native markets. So we’ll put up asparagus recipes in spring and butternut squash recipes in fall, when produce is in peak-season.
- Originality: will the recipe have our personal distinctive spin? All recipes on the web site are gluten-free and refined sugar-free with a give attention to being nutrient-dense and wholesome (minus my desserts, after all). Meaning I’ll at all times put my private contact on basic recipes like rooster salad, chili, and even in a single day oats. And whereas it’s arduous to make a one-ingredient recipe like poached eggs or bacon within the oven tremendous authentic, I at all times do my greatest to offer essentially the most useful suggestions based mostly on my private expertise!
- Problem Stage: are you able to simply reproduce the recipe in your kitchen with fundamental kitchen gear? I’m a giant proponent of fuss-free cooking. So most of my recipes solely want fundamental kitchen objects like pots, pans, mixing bowls, baking sheets, casserole dishes, and so on. And should you’d wish to take it a step additional, there could also be some specialty recipes that require a gradual cooker or air fryer.
How We Check Recipes
As soon as we’ve received a plan for recipes, I personally draft every recipe. Then, I get to work within the kitchen testing them! Most recipes are examined 3 to 4 occasions earlier than posting on the web site.
I’m all about foolproof, no-fail recipes and it’s actually vital to me that the recipes end up first strive in your kitchens. Particularly as sure elements like prime rib, turkey, or beef tenderloin might be fairly costly.
Moreover, I now outsource images (as of this yr!) and having a meals stylist {and professional} meals photographer who makes and pictures my recipes in an outdoor kitchen is yet another check to make sure the recipe is 100% prepared for the web site.
How We Shoot Recipe Movies
Even in spite of everything of those years I nonetheless shoot and edit all of my YouTube movies myself. Imagine me once I say, it’s a ton of labor! And I want I may carry on further assist for it. However I’ve but to seek out outsourced assist who can preserve my skilled type and save me time.
When it comes to social media movies like Reels, TikToks and Shorts, Emily shoots these on an iPhone in my kitchen, normally whereas I’m concurrently capturing the YouTube video. It makes for busy days within the kitchen, however we undoubtedly have a rhythm to it now. After which Emily edits these movies earlier than we put up them on social media.
Do You Ever Replace Recipes?
Sure, we positive do! I’m continuously reviewing older recipes on the web site to see if we have to: 1) replace the recipe in any respect based mostly on reader suggestions and/or 2) shoot new pictures to make the recipe look contemporary. Sustaining the standard of recipes, each previous and new, is equally vital. So that you may see basic reader-favorite recipes like guacamole or golden milk pop to the entrance of the web site once more if we’ve given them a current replace.
I hope that solutions some questions on how we develop, check, and guarantee recipes on Downshiftology are one of the best they will presumably be! In case you have extra questions, pop them in a remark beneath.
