I get requested on a regular basis how we develop the recipes that you just see on this web site. So I assumed I’d break it down for you at present!

Lots of that I began Downshiftology eight years in the past after I left the corporate world. My purpose was to share the straightforward, wholesome, gluten-free recipes that I used to be making in my very own kitchen. I had no thought once I began this web site that it could evolve into what it’s at present – a profitable enterprise and model with staff, a YouTube channel with thousands and 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 dad or mum’s basement. However one factor stays – guaranteeing the success of my recipes in your kitchen will at all times be my high 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 operating 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 longer term. A number of standards we have a look at when selecting recipes are:

• Seasonality & Sourcing: are the substances “on a regular basis” gadgets and is the produce at present in-season? We at all times need to ensure you’ll have the ability to discover the substances in your native markets. So we’ll submit 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 deal with being nutrient-dense and wholesome (minus my desserts, in fact). Meaning I’ll at all times put my private contact on basic recipes like chicken salad, chili, and even overnight oats. And whereas it’s arduous to make a one-ingredient recipe like poached eggs or bacon in the oven tremendous unique, I at all times do my finest to supply essentially the most useful suggestions based mostly on my private expertise!
• Issue Stage: are you able to simply reproduce the recipe in your kitchen with fundamental kitchen tools? I’m a giant proponent of fuss-free cooking. So most of my recipes solely want fundamental kitchen gadgets like pots, pans, mixing bowls, baking sheets, casserole dishes, and so forth. And if you happen to’d wish to take it a step additional, there could also be some specialty recipes that require a sluggish cooker or air fryer.

How We Take a look at Recipes

As soon as we’ve acquired 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 instances 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 attempt in your kitchens. Particularly as sure substances like prime rib, turkey, or beef tenderloin will be fairly costly.

Moreover, I now outsource images (as of this 12 months!) and having a meals stylist {and professional} food photographer who makes and images my recipes in an outdoor kitchen is 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 might carry on further assist for it. However I’ve but to seek out outsourced assist who can preserve my skilled fashion 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 positively have a rhythm to it now. After which Emily edits these movies earlier than we submit them on social media.

Do You Ever Replace Recipes?

Sure, we positive do! I’m consistently 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 images to make the recipe look recent. Sustaining the standard of recipes, each outdated 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 latest replace.