Editor-in-Chief & Culinary Storyteller | Recipe Strategist | Comfort-Food Explorer | Age 36
Austin-based editor who believes that simple recipes can still feel warm, nostalgic, and impossibly delicious.
Hey There! I’m Emily Hartwell
I’m the Editor-in-Chief behind your favorite comfort-driven, easy-to-follow recipes. My mission is simple: turn everyday ingredients into dishes that make people feel at home—no matter where they are.
I’ve spent over a decade shaping food content for some of the biggest culinary platforms in the U.S., but at the core of everything I do is one belief: food is connection, and recipes should feel like an invitation, not an instruction manual.
My Story
I grew up in a small town outside Austin, where weekend meals were never fancy, but always unforgettable. My dad made slow-cooked stews that simmered all day, filling the house with warmth, while my mom baked biscuits that tasted like soft pieces of comfort.
By the time I was 10, I was scribbling little “recipe books” in spiral notebooks. Food wasn’t just something we ate—it was how we laughed, talked, healed, and felt close.
When I hit my twenties, I moved to New York to chase a career in food publishing. I worked long days, tasted hundreds of dishes, reviewed thousands of recipes, and slowly learned how the right story can make a recipe come alive.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something was missing:
The world didn’t need more complicated recipes—it needed more soulful ones.
That realization became the foundation of my career.
The Turning Point
In 2018, I published a simple stovetop mac and cheese recipe on the site I was working for. I didn’t expect much reaction—after all, it was just mac and cheese.
But emails poured in.
A single mom who cooked it after a long shift.
A college student who said it tasted like home.
A widower who hadn’t cooked in years but felt inspired to try again.
For the first time, I saw—with absolute clarity—that food writing wasn’t about culinary perfection. It was about making people feel something.
That recipe changed the way I approached my work. I stopped writing for trends and started writing for people.
What I Learned the Hard Way
I learned quickly that being an editor-in-chief isn’t only about taste and technique—it’s about balance.
✔ Balancing creativity and clarity
✔ Balancing inspiration and accessibility
✔ Balancing flavor and time
I’ve written thousands of intros, revised more drafts than I can count, and burned enough casseroles to make any grandma cry.
The biggest lesson?
You can’t rush real flavor, and you can’t fake real connection.
Readers know when a recipe is written with care—and when it’s not.
My Approach Now
Today, my philosophy is rooted in three things:
Make it simple. Make it comforting. Make it unforgettable.
Whether I’m editing a recipe, shaping a blog’s voice, or planning seasonal content, I focus on:
✔ Warm storytelling
✔ Clear, friendly instructions
✔ Reliable, tested, realistic recipes
✔ Creating food moments people look forward to
I want readers to feel like they’re cooking with a friend who believes in them.
What I Believe
✨ Comfort food doesn’t need to be heavy—it needs to be honest.
✨ A good recipe should make you exhale, not stress.
✨ Food storytelling matters just as much as ingredients.
✨ Home cooks are heroes, and they deserve support.
✨ A shared meal can change the tone of an entire day.
How I Can Help You
In my role on your team, I:
● Shape the editorial voice so your content feels cohesive
● Craft intros, stories, and recipes with emotional impact
● Ensure content is SEO-smart without losing its soul
● Build trust with readers through authenticity and reliability
● Make your blog feel like a warm, welcoming kitchen
My goal is to help your audience feel seen, supported, and inspired—one recipe at a time.
A Little More About Me
When I’m not editing or testing recipes, you’ll find me:
🥾 Hiking Texas trails
☕ Sipping cold brew in indie coffee shops
📚 Reading Southern cookbooks
📸 Styling cozy comfort-food shots
🧡 Hosting casual dinners with friends
I believe the best meals are shared with laughter, honest conversation, and a table full of people who feel at home.
Let’s Connect
If you love comforting, approachable recipes that warm the soul, I’d love to hear from you.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @EmilyHartwellCooks
🌐 Recipes & inspiration: www.easycookingus.com