About
Hi! I’m Brenda,
and I am
so glad
you’re here.
I love to make majorly delicious food and write about it. It’s just my thing. My goal here is to help you create food you’re proud of, so you can gather family & friends around the table and enjoy every last bite!
About A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
I started A Farmgirl’s Dabbles in 2010, to share all my favorite recipes with family and friends online. Word spread, and the blog grew. A lot! It’s now a whole-family affair, with my husband and two daughters by my side, and readers from around the world.
I learned from a very early age that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and that the best food is not only full of irresistible flavor, but also brings people together for genuine connection and celebration. This blog is an extension of our way of life. I’m here to help you create food you’re proud of, so you can cook and bake with joy and confidence while feeding the people you love!
How It All Began
I was juggling my days as the mom of two young girls while working part-time outside the home. Determined to hold fast to the sacredness of family dinnertime, and to keep meals “not boring”, I was always trying something new in the kitchen. And, of course, sharing photos of my dinners and desserts on Facebook.
Then the economy crashed, and I was forced to reevaluate life. I turned to the thing that sparked joy every day: creating deliciousness in the kitchen. Not long after, A Farmgirl’s Dabbles was born.
About one year in, I shared a recipe for homemade Lasagna Soup. And people went crazy for it! Now with hundreds of 5-star reviews, it remains one of my most-loved posts. This was the original lasagna soup recipe to hit the internet, and energized A Farmgirl’s Dabbles into a lively community of food lovers.
What You’ll Find Here
My original purpose still holds true today: I believe that deliciousness is meant to be shared, with recipes that work.
Your trust in my recipes means the world to me, and we work hard to carefully develop and thoroughly test each one in our home kitchen until it’s 100% dependable — and tastes so good that we can’t wait to make it again. (Nobody here complained about all the pasta and cheese it took to get our Macaroni & Cheese just right!)
We make sure that you can easily recreate any recipe in your own home, with ingredients lists and instructions that are easy to understand, step-by-step photos, helpful tips, ingredient swaps, and serving suggestions.
With a lifetime of kitchen experience and knowledge, and tons of creativity, I’m known for adding my own fun, modern twists to recipes. This makes them unique, with just the perfect special touch.
My recipes are a mix of old and new. Growing up on a South Dakota farm (hence the “farmgirl” title), my mom’s and grandmas’ cooking and baking influenced me tremendously. You’ll find classic comfort foods steeped in tradition as well as dishes inspired by our latest travels and restaurant experiences. I do my best to cook seasonally, from fresh, vibrant salads and quick pickles, to cozy soups and casseroles. Our family loves grilling, which often means inviting family & friends to our backyard for Blake’s Sweet & Smoky Grilled Salmon, a big bowl of my mom’s Cucumber Salad, and ice-cold Rhubarb Margaritas. We also live for a great dessert, especially easy Midwestern bars recipes and Christmas baking!
Our Family, Our Team
A Farmgirl’s Dabbles has always been a family effort.
Blake and I have included our two daughters, Hatti (24) and Tessa (19), in the kitchen since they were babies. Each one could confidently mince garlic and bake a pan of their grandma’s Fudgy Brownies before most kids learn how to toast a Pop-Tart. They continue to help with recipe testing, grocery runs, social media, and other behind-the-scenes tasks. And Blake takes charge of dishwashing and all the grilling recipes, plus he keeps the business and technical sides running smoothly.
This blog is our recipe box, our family scrapbook, and our table. We are so glad that you’re here!
LET’S CONNECT
Readers: I love to hear from you! Please leave comments and/or questions on any of my blog posts. I try to answer all comments asap.
Beyond the blog: I’m always cooking up something, and not necessarily in the kitchen. To keep up with me from week to week, subscribe to my Newsletter.
Social: Find me on Facebook and Instagram. And join me on Pinterest, where you can save all my recipes for mealtime inspiration.
Email: Shoot me an email at brenda@afarmgirlsdabbles.com.
Contact Form: Or use the form below!
