Utah Taste & Chat Recap

I’m still kind of sitting here in shock that this actually happened! It’s something I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time.

I invited my followers to come hang out with me in person for a totally free Utah Taste & Chat event, and 35 actual humans showed up ready to eat, chat, and spend the afternoon together. I made seven recipes for everyone to try, including a few from my new cookbook, and what I thought would be a fun little meet-up turned into more than three hours of laughing, talking, swapping stories, and watching complete strangers become friends over plates of food.

Here are all the recipes we shared that day, along with some of my favorite comments everyone left behind.

1. Country Style Pork Ribs

I made these country style pork ribs because summer is coming up quickly and grocery prices are rising just as fast. These are from the “cheap eats’ meal plan and are a relatively inexpensive way to still enjoy some tasty ribs.

Very tender, fall apart, and just the right amount of sauce.

– Lynae

2. Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had to include these bakery style chocolate chip cookies because some recipes just never miss. They’re big, gooey, completely drool-worthy, and my kids love them so much that sharing them with everyone felt like the obvious choice.

It’s obvious why these are famous. Oh my! Will be making soon!

3. Cottage Cheese Chia Pudding

I wanted to share this cottage cheese chia pudding because I literally eat it every single day for breakfast and somehow people still aren’t talking about it enough. It’s a newer recipe on my site and will be in my new cookbook, so this felt like my chance to lovingly force everyone to discover my current obsession.

Loved this. I am not usually a cottage cheese fan but I LOVED this 10/10!

4. Strawberry Avocado Farro Salad

This strawberry avocado farro salad came straight from the new cookbook I’m working on, and wow, I am obsessed with it. Farro has officially become my favorite way to make a salad feel actually satisfying, and this one is just ridiculously good.

This was delightful and hearty! So satisfying as a meal not just a side!

I’m trying to detect all of these ingredients – so nutty and great texture! Thank you!

5. Caprese Avocado Salad

Caprese avocado salad is one of those party recipes that never lets me down and it is perfect for all your warm-weather events. Even people who swear they don’t like tomatoes end up going back for seconds, and for a Taste & Chat event, it was perfect because it’s easy to grab and fresh!

The dressing is so unexpected. The sweetness compliments the tomatoes and cheese perfectly. I want to drink it!

6. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These bakery style white chocolate macadamia nut cookies were a completely last-minute addition I decided to make the morning of the event because apparently I enjoy a little kitchen chaos. Zero regrets though, because they are so ridiculously good and absolutely worth the extra scramble to share.

7. German Potato Salad

Do you want to know what the crowd favorite recipe was? This! Of all the things I made, this was the stand-out favorite. This recipe comes from my great grandma, a German immigrant. I had to transform it into a modern recipe for an American audience, but it’s still so tasty. I’ve been making it for years while somehow not enough people have caught on. I brought it fully intending to change that, and hearing people say it was going straight into their Sunday dinner rotation or onto the menu for their next family gathering absolutely made my day.

So good, I think it will be my go to from now on. (Don’t tell my mom) 🙂

The tang and smoky flavors in this are FABULOUS! I will be making this one often!

I started doing what I do because I love sharing recipes, but days like this remind me it was never really just about the food. It’s about connection. I’ve always imagined the one person on the other side of the camera who would be watching my videos. Just one person at a time. Maybe sometimes two, even less often three. I’ve always imagined you and meeting you in person is like meeting someone I’ve only dreamed about.

Thank you to every single person who came, tasted different recipes, filled out comment cards, stayed to chat, and made this whole thing feel so special. I already have a million ideas for doing this again both in Utah, and the other places I’m traveling around to.