About Me – I’m Jennie!
The heart behind My Family Dinner Ideas. As a 45-year-old with a Master’s in Web Design & New Media and a B.S. in Sociology, I’ve spent years exploring how food brings people together. Growing up, family meals were my anchor—simple dishes that sparked conversations and strengthened bonds. Drawing from sociological research, like studies showing regular family dinners lower stress and boost emotional well-being in kids and adults alike, I create recipes that aren’t just easy and delicious but designed to foster those connections. Whether it’s a quick weeknight stir-fry or a holiday banana bread variation, my goal is to help busy families reclaim the table as a space for joy and resilience. When I’m not testing recipes, you’ll find me with my dogs in the garden or diving into the latest on communal eating dynamics. Let’s cook up some memories—drop a comment on your favorite family ritual!
From an early age, I knew creativity would shape my career, leading me to pursue a degree in Interior Design at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA. While studying, I worked as an interior designer for four years at Walls and Windows, a prestigious Main Line design firm. After graduation, I was honored with the Young Alumni of the Year award, and a tree was planted in my name, commemorating my achievements.
My passion for learning led me to St. Petersburg College in Florida, where I earned a degree in General Education, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Political Science from Florida State University. However, my love for design and technology soon steered me toward Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I earned a master’s degree in Interaction & UI/UX Design. I previously worked as an Interactive Designer for Salesforce through CloudSpokes, specializing in the design of internal communications, including presentations, branded documents, and visual assets that supported cross-team collaboration. This allowed me to blend my artistic talents with digital innovation, and ultimately, inspired me to create My Family Dinner Ideas—a space where I merge my love for design, photography, and cooking.
I began blogging in 2009, when I started my very first food blog on Blogspot, lol. One of my earliest posts was about my grandmother canning strawberry jam – a memory that’s even more special since her passing in May. That little blogspot blog sparked my love for sharing family recipes and grew into what you see today – My family dinner Ideas. If you would like to see where it all began, you can read that original post here. So, it really was an easy leap for me to run one of the largest food blogs on the internet so many years later. It really is my passion and what makes me happy, and I am so grateful that I get to do what I love every day and get paid well year after year.
Cooking and baking have been a lifelong passion, deeply rooted in family traditions. As a child, I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother, modifying recipes and perfecting homemade ice cream. That early love for food evolved into something even greater when I had the privilege of studying under Richard Eskite, one of San Francisco’s premier food photographers. His class ignited my passion for food styling and photography, a skill I now incorporate into every aspect of my website.
At My Family Dinner Ideas, I bring together decades of experience in cooking, baking, food photography, and digital design. Every recipe is developed with care, ensuring it’s both approachable for beginners and exciting for seasoned cooks. Many recipes are inspired by family traditions with modern twists, while others highlight new flavors and techniques. I also love providing variations and substitutions, allowing you to tailor recipes to your preferences with ease.
On busy workdays, you’ll find me in the kitchen alongside my mother, Debra Latta, creating, styling, and photographing the delicious recipes you see on the website. Cooking should be fun, stress-free, and a joyful experience, and my goal is to make sure you love being in the kitchen as much as I do. Whether you’re here for classic comfort food or looking for something new to try, I hope you’ll find inspiration and return often to see what’s fresh and delicious.
Happy Cooking!
— Jennie
A few of my favorites.
Fav Coffee
Chameleon organic
Fav TV Show
Gilmore girls
Fav recipe
Fluffernutter cookies
Fav HOliday
Christmas
Hi, I’m Debra Latta:
I’m thrilled that you’re here on the website, and are enjoying the recipes, photos, and information to help you make some easy and wonderful dishes for family and friends. It seems that most parties, big or small end up in the Kitchen, the heartbeat, or nerve center of the home. I know any party or get together I’ve ever had, or helped with ended up with people gathering in the kitchen. Good conversation and wonderful food are a fabulous way to spend and evening, and sometimes into the wee hours of the morning, enjoying, and savoring every moment.
I’ve been cooking for over 50 years, and have a lot experience with a variety of foods. I love casual dinners al fresco, brunch, midnight snacks, and everything in-between. Whether it’s a burger on the grill, or a 4 inch Cheesecake covered in Chocolate Ganache, I’ve probably tried my hand at it, and I come by it naturally. My Mother was a fantastic cook, and could make Pies that were to die for! She made everything from scratch, and put such love into all her endeavors, it’s no wonder I have a love for being in the kitchen, cooking meals, and fabulous desserts that go along with them. You’ll find many of those tried and true recipes here.
I spent many years in the Finance industry, but in the evenings, and on weekends, you could find me baking, or cooking something wonderful, like homemade Pasta, and sauce, with mini cheesecakes to finish it off. I always had a passion for cooking, and for writing from a young age. So, I eventually went back to school, and hold my degree in Motion Pictures and Television, with a focus on Screen Writing from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I have had the pleasure of writing for the Screen, and for Television, a Children’s interactive App, a children’s story book, for Blogs, content for websites, and now, finally a dream come true, I’m writing for My Family Dinner Ideas, and working in tandem with my Daughter to bring you these wonderful recipes, and ideas to share with your friends and families.
Food is the one thing that seems to bring people together, and is needed to sustain us all. I think the recipes you try should be delicious, and the instructions as simple as possible, and that’s what I strive to give you, to make your busy lives a little less stressful, and easier to follow and enjoy. Kitchen time should be wonderful, and fun, and whether it’s your spouse, significant other, children, or friends, everyone pitching in makes it a happy and helpful time while preparing something fabulous. It’s a great way to form a close bond with anyone special in your life, and the lasting memories are a real treasure. I encourage you to get in the kitchen, and make one of our recipes that you would enjoy. I invite you to come to the website everyday and look through the recipes, and see what new content is there for you to make and share. This truly is a passion, to share what I love with you and hope that it helps you to have a wonderful meal, and an enjoyable time with the people you love.
So, follow the website, and we’ll send you an update with new recipes, or content, and who knows, it might be the very thing you’ve needed! We’ll also give tips and helpful hints to make the process easier and let you know when you can make something ahead that helps free up your time if you’re giving a party, or having a large family dinner. We’ll also let you know when our cook book will be available, and it will contain some favorite recipes that you’ll only find there. Happy Cooking!
All content of My Family Dinner Ideas, this includes photography and text, are owned by Jennie Brown. Each photograph is taken in house by Jennie Brown and all written material on pages and recipes is written by Debra Latta. All material is copyright protected with all rights reserved. No part of this website: recipes, text, photographs, photography, graphics, or any other material may be copied, broadcast, republished, shared, on any social media channel or otherwise distributed without the written consent of the owner.
If you would like to use my work, for non-commercial use such as your own blog, you must contact me via email to do so. myfamilydinnerideas@gmail.com