I get requested on a regular basis how we develop the recipes that you simply see on this web site. And the quick reply is that now we have a number of high quality requirements that recipes should meet. So I believed I’d break it down for you at the moment!

A lot of that I began Downshiftology eight years in the past after I left the . My aim was to share the straightforward, wholesome, gluten-free recipes that I used to be making in my very own kitchen. I had no concept once I began this web site that it could evolve into what it’s at the moment – a profitable enterprise and model with staff, a with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and a !

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 prime precedence. So right here’s what goes into that.

How We Select Recipes

Earlier than we dive into the recipes, it’s essential to introduce you to my Social Media Supervisor, . Emily has been with me since 2019 and we’re joined on the hip working 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 long run. Just a few standards we have a look at when selecting recipes are:

• Seasonality & Sourcing: are the substances “on a regular basis” objects and is the produce at the moment in-season? We at all times wish to be sure you’ll be capable of discover the substances in your native markets. So we’ll submit recipes in spring and 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 give attention to being nutrient-dense and wholesome (minus my desserts, in fact). Which means I’ll at all times put my private contact on traditional recipes like , , and even . And whereas it’s exhausting to make a one-ingredient recipe like or tremendous unique, I at all times do my finest to offer essentially the most useful ideas primarily based on my private expertise!
• Problem Stage: are you able to simply reproduce the recipe in your kitchen with primary kitchen tools? I’m an enormous proponent of fuss-free cooking. So most of my recipes solely want primary kitchen objects like pots, pans, mixing bowls, baking sheets, casserole dishes, and many others. And should you’d wish to take it a step additional, there could also be some specialty recipes that require a gradual 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 occasions earlier than posting on the web site.

I’m all about foolproof, no-fail recipes and it’s actually essential to me that the recipes prove first attempt in your kitchens. Particularly as sure substances like , , or could be fairly costly.

Moreover, I now outsource images (as of this 12 months!) and having a meals stylist {and professional} who makes and images my recipes in an outdoor kitchen is yet one more take a look at to make sure the recipe is 100% prepared for the web site.

How We Shoot Recipe Movies

Even in any case 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 search out outsourced assist who can preserve my skilled fashion and save me time.

By way of social media movies like Reels, TikToks and Shorts, Emily shoots these on an iPhone in my kitchen, often whereas I’m concurrently capturing the YouTube video. It makes for busy days within the kitchen, however we undoubtedly 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 continually reviewing older recipes on the web site to see if we have to: 1) replace the recipe in any respect primarily based on reader suggestions and/or 2) shoot new pictures to make the recipe look contemporary. Sustaining the standard of recipes, each previous and new, is equally essential. So that you would possibly see traditional reader-favorite recipes like or pop to the entrance of the web site once more if we’ve given them a current replace.