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, and I love cooking and sharing my recipes with you!

My goal is to help you turn simple ingredients into next-level dishes that you’re proud to serve to friends and family. I love sharing pro tips and game-changing cooking techniques that take everyday recipes to restaurant-quality status, without making things complicated!

Why You Can Trust Me

• I develop, test, and photograph all of my own recipes. Unlike many recipe sites, I don’t hire any of this out. Every recipe you see here is created, tested, and photographed by me, from start to finish.
• NO AI!!! This site is completely run by me, a real human. 😉 No AI-generated recipes, no AI photos, no AI.
• I don’t do sponsored posts. I’m offered compensation for product recommendations and link placements on a daily basis, but I don’t accept any of these offers. If I recommend a product, it’s because I genuinely love it, not because someone paid me to promote it.
• I value quality over quantity. I only publish a recipe once it’s been thoroughly tested and I’m truly excited to share it with you. I take my time getting every recipe just right, and I include the tips, techniques, and little details that help you recreate it successfully in your own kitchen.

Whether you’re brand new to cooking or have years of experience, I’ve got your back! Check out my Recipe Index to find something delicious to make, or keep reading below to learn more about me and my story!

(And follow me on social media!) Join the 839K+ followers on Pinterest, 660K on Instagram, 200K on Facebook, 160K email subscribers and 12k 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. At the time, I had just started dating my (now) husband, and I was a firm believer that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach! Unfortunately, I didn’t have many cooking skills to offer. In fact, I’d grown pretty accustomed to the chef-prepared meals at my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega.

Like most of us, I turned to online recipes for dinner inspiration. But I often found myself disappointed when the finished dishes didn’t taste nearly as good as the photos looked, or when recipes weren’t quite as “quick and easy” as they claimed to be.

I started researching cooking methods and experimenting with different techniques, all while trying to keep things simple. I couldn’t believe how much of a difference the right technique or a simple ingredient could make! And I really couldn’t believe how much helpful information was missing from some of the recipe websites I came across.

Before long, I started sharing photos of my creations on Facebook. I thought my cell phone photography was pretty impressive at the time. Let me assure you, it was not. 🥴

At the suggestion of a friend, I started my food blog in the fall of 2013. The original domain name was almost as terrible as the photos, and I quickly realized that while I’d developed some pretty solid cooking skills, my photography and business knowledge had a long way to go.

So, I got to work! After spending the day at my regular 9-to-5 job, I’d come home and spend my evenings testing recipes, practicing photography, and learning everything I could about blogging and running a business.

In June 2018, I finally decided to take the leap and pursue my passion full-time, saying goodbye to the corporate world I’d known for 10 years. Leaving a stable job (with great benefits, might I add!) when I had a 2-year-old at home seems a little crazy looking back. But I had a feeling it might just be the best decision I’d ever make.

And it was. ❤️

In 2020, my husband Mark was able to join me in the business full-time. Exactly one year later, my sister Danielle joined us too! (But don’t worry- anything recipe/cooking related remains in my wheelhouse!)

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