Hi, I’m Stephanie!

The Cozy Cook is a recipe website started by Stephanie Melchione, and is designed to give busy families access to easy, family-friendly recipes with simple ingredients.

Hey, I’m Stephanie! (Otherwise known as The Cozy Cook!) I’m a two-time cookbook author who loves to cook and share my recipes with you! 

My goal is to help you take simple ingredients and transform them into next-level dishes that you’re proud to serve to friends and family. I enjoy sharing pro tips and game-changing cooking techniques that elevate recipes up to restaurant-quality status, while still keeping things simple.

Why You Can Trust Me

• I develop, test, and photograph all of my own recipes. Unlike many recipe sites, I do not hire any of this out. 
• I don’t do sponsored posts. I am offered compensation for product recommendations and link placements on a daily basis, however I don’t accept any of these offers. Any product I recommend is a genuine, non-sponsored, unpaid recommendation.
• I value quality over quantity. This means that I post 1 new recipe/week. I’ve noticed that many recipe sites seem to churn out recipes at a very rapid pace. I like to make sure that every recipe I provide has been thoroughly tested, and that you have all of the information that you need to ensure success. 

Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or have years of experience- I’ve got your back. Check out my Recipe Index to get cooking, or read more about me and my story below.

(And follow me on social media!) Join the 830K+ followers on Pinterest, 660K on Instagram, 200K on Facebook, 160K email subscribers and 11k on YouTube. I love connecting with you!

Have a question? Check out my FAQ Page!

My Back Story

I graduated from The University of New Hampshire in 2007. During this time, I had just started dating my (now) husband, and was a firm believer that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! Unfortunately, I didn’t have many skills to offer in the kitchen. In fact, I had grown used to having chef-prepared meals at my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. 

Like most of us, I turned to online recipes for dinner ideas. I often struggled to find ones that tasted as good as the flawless images appeared, or were really as “quick and easy” as they claimed to be.

I found myself researching cooking methods and trying to put them into practice while still keeping my recipes simple. I couldn’t believe what a difference a proper technique or a simple ingredient could make. And I really couldn’t believe the lack of information or guidance that existed on some of the websites that I found.

I began posting images of my recipes on Facebook (that I, of course thought were brilliant photos taken with my cell phone). Let me assure you, they were not. 🥴

At the suggestion of a friend, I started a food blog in the Fall of 2013. The domain name was almost as terrible as the photos, and I quickly realized that although I had mastered some skills in the kitchen, my business mindset and photography skills were definitely lacking.

As a result, I turned to photography and blogging resources. After working at my regular 9-5 job, I would come home and continuously test recipes, practice photography, and seek out blogging advice and education.

In June 2018,  I decided it was time to dive into my passion full-time and bid goodbye to the corporate world that I had known for 10 years. Leaving a stable 9-5 job (with great benefits might I add), with a 2-year old to support seems crazy when I look back, but I was pretty sure that it just might be the best decision I ever made. And it was.

In 2020, my husband Mark was able to join me in working for the business full time. Exactly a year later, my sister Danielle joined the team as well! We are so thankful and honored to be able to provide you with tried-and-true, fully tested recipes that will make you feel confident in the kitchen!

Thank you SO much for being here and for supporting our family business!

Check out my favorite kitchen tools and essentials here!

To learn more about my blogging journey, check out this podcast!

To see me on some local New Hampshire news segments, check this out and this out!

Keep scrolling down for more information about our goals here, as well as to access my Cookbooks and FREE e-Book!

My Goal at The Cozy Cook

Every time I prepare a recipe to feature on The Cozy Cook, I picture you. I picture busy working families, budget-conscience singles, and those of you who can barely make toast. I picture you standing in your kitchen, reading my instructions and following each step of my recipe.

I know you’re putting your trust in me. You’re spending money on the ingredients you’re using, and time on the reading, preparation, and cooking.  (And let’s not forget, you’re hungry.)

• My goal is to make sure your time and money aren’t wasted when you prepare a recipe that I’ve given you.
• I want to make your life easier by allowing you to prepare food that you’re proud of and will want to eat again.
• I want to provide you with more than a recipe, but also with the whys and hows behind each step, ingredient, and technique. (My pro tips are key!)
• I want you to come away from my recipes as a better and more confident home cook.

Order my NEW Cookbook, Let’s EAT! 

• By popular demand, I have a second published cookbook, Let’s Eat! Order your copy here! 

My Debut Cookbook – The Cozy Cookbook

• I am so proud to share my debut cookbook with you! Order yours now! Thousands have been sold worldwide!
• This 8 x 10-inch hardcover book features over 100 reader-favorite recipes, including easy dinner recipes, soups, side dishes, appetizers, desserts, and more.
• Click here for the cookbook stand that I own and LOVE to display this book on! It’s shaped like a cutting board and it holds the pages open for you while you’re cooking. (Affiliate link)

Get My Free E-Book! 

• I’ve got a FREE e-Book with 7 super popular dinner recipes! Click here to join my email list and I’ll send your e-Book right over!
• And be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact Me!

Email me at Stephanie@TheCozyCook.com. I also love to respond to recipe questions within the post itself, which also gives other readers a resource if they have the same question.

Please note that I do not accept guest contributions to my blog or link back to sites unless I organically arrive at them on my own.

Be sure to follow me on social media too: Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Features

I am proud to have been featured on websites such as Reader’s Digest, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Thrillist, Delish, Buzzfeed, Yahoo!, She Knows, and more.

I’ve also been featured by some fellow food bloggers including Gimme Some Oven, Brown Eyed Baker, and Recipe Tin Eats.

Lifestyle Photo Credit: Joyelle West