About

Hi, I'm Madison Harrison

Welcome to HeartyFoodie! I'm Madison, and I'm thrilled you've landed here. This website is my way of sharing the recipes that have shaped my life in the kitchen, filled my home with warmth, and kept my family well-fed and happy for over three decades. If you're looking for honest, flavorful food that doesn't require culinary wizardry, you're exactly where you need to be.

Finding My Way Through Food

I grew up in Nashville in the seventies and eighties, in a household where cooking wasn't just about eating—it was about connection. My father was a music producer who worked irregular hours, and my mother was a schoolteacher who somehow managed to put a home-cooked meal on the table almost every single night. She had this gift for making even the simplest dishes taste special, and our kitchen was always the warmest room in the house.

I was never particularly interested in cooking as a teenager. I was too busy with school, friends, and thinking about anything except what was happening in the kitchen. When I left for college in Boston, I survived on dining hall food and cheap pizza. It wasn't until I graduated and moved to San Francisco for my first job in nonprofit management that I realized I actually missed home cooking. Not just the food itself, but the ritual of it, the comfort, the way it made a place feel like home.

So I started calling my mom every week, asking her to walk me through her recipes. I'd write everything down in a spiral notebook, though she never measured anything, which made it challenging. She'd say things like "add butter until it looks right" or "you'll know the sauce is done when it smells like Sunday dinner." I had to learn through experimentation, making plenty of mistakes along the way. But gradually, cooking stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like something that grounded me.

Why I Started HeartyFoodie

After I got married and my husband and I settled in Denver about twenty-five years ago, cooking became even more central to my life. We had three kids in quick succession, and suddenly I was responsible for feeding five people three meals a day. I needed recipes that were practical, affordable, and actually delicious—not just fuel, but food that brought us together.

Over the years, I collected hundreds of recipes. Some came from my mother, some from friends, some I developed through trial and error. I kept them in notebooks, on scraps of paper tucked into cookbooks, scribbled on index cards. My family would joke that I needed to organize them before they all disappeared into the chaos of our kitchen drawers.

About five years ago, after our youngest went off to college and I found myself with more time on my hands, I finally decided to do something with all those recipes. My best friend suggested I start a website, and even though I was hesitant at first—I'm fifty-three and not exactly tech-savvy—I gave it a shot. That's how HeartyFoodie was born.

This website exists for home cooks who want recipes they can rely on. It's for busy families trying to get dinner on the table without losing their minds. It's for people who love comfort food that tastes like home. It's for anyone who wants straightforward, approachable American cooking that doesn't require specialty ingredients or fancy techniques. I share weeknight dinners, comforting classics, desserts that make any occasion feel special, and seasonal recipes that celebrate what's fresh and available throughout the year.

How I Develop My Recipes

Every recipe on HeartyFoodie is made in my own kitchen, typically several times before I publish it. I don't have a professional test kitchen or expensive equipment. I cook on a regular stove with pots and pans I've been using for years, and I shop at King Soopers and Costco like everyone else.

When I'm working on a new recipe, I start by making it based on my instincts or memories. Then I taste it critically, think about what could be better, and make it again with adjustments. Sometimes it's the seasoning that needs tweaking, sometimes the cooking method, sometimes just the way I've explained the steps. I keep refining until I'm confident that anyone following my instructions will end up with something delicious.

I also pay careful attention to making my recipes realistic. I'm not going to ask you to track down some obscure ingredient that requires a trip to three different stores. If a recipe calls for something less common, I'll explain why it matters and suggest alternatives if possible. My goal is that you can look at one of my recipes, check your pantry, maybe make one quick grocery run, and have everything you need to make a great meal.

Running This Website Alone

I manage HeartyFoodie completely on my own, which keeps me pretty busy these days. I handle all the recipe development, writing, photography planning, website maintenance, and everything in between. It's definitely a lot to juggle, especially since I'm still working part-time at the nonprofit I've been with for years. But I love having complete creative control and knowing that everything on this site reflects my actual experience and values.

My husband is my most reliable taste-tester and my most honest critic. After thirty years of marriage, he has no problem telling me when something needs more salt or when a dish just isn't working. Our kids, when they're home visiting, also provide valuable feedback. If they request a recipe or ask me to make something again, I know it's a keeper. They've grown up eating my cooking, so they have high standards and aren't shy about sharing their opinions.

Running everything solo means I sometimes move slower than I'd like, but it also means every single thing you see on HeartyFoodie is genuinely from me—my kitchen, my experience, my honest take on what works and what doesn't.

What You Can Expect from Me

My biggest priority is giving you recipes you can trust. I understand how frustrating it is to invest time, money, and effort into making something that doesn't turn out right. Every recipe on this site is something I've made for my own family, and I want it to work just as well in your kitchen as it does in mine.

I'm not trying to impress you with complicated techniques or trendy ingredients. I'm trying to share solid, dependable recipes that become part of your regular rotation—the ones you turn to when you need dinner on the table quickly, when you want to feed a crowd, or when you just need something comforting after a long day.

How This Website Operates

I believe in being transparent about how HeartyFoodie stays running. The website earns income through advertisements and affiliate links. When you see ads on the site or when I recommend kitchen tools and ingredients with purchase links, it helps support the time and effort that goes into creating, testing, and sharing all these recipes. This income is what makes it possible for me to keep everything free and accessible to everyone who wants to use it.

Thank You for Being Here

I'm genuinely grateful that you've found HeartyFoodie. Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight dinner solution, planning a special family gathering, or just browsing for inspiration, I hope you discover recipes here that become favorites in your own home. Take your time looking around, try whatever speaks to you, and know that I'm rooting for your success in the kitchen. Happy cooking!