About

Thank you for visiting TRU Food Love! I’m Debbie – the food stylist, photographer, and enthusiastic learner behind this space. I’m wowed by the way beautiful plating can turn an ordinary dinner into something special, I’m a superfan of fresh herbs and bold flavors, and there’s nothing that brings me more joy than finally capturing a shot I’m proud of.

About TRU Food Love

TRU Food Love is where I celebrate recipes I love, from talented cookbook authors, food sites I drool over, and family favorites. I’ll elevate them through thoughtful styling and photography and share what I’m learning along the way.

I figured out early that recipe development wasn’t my sweet spot; cooking beautiful food was. I style, photograph, and have fun with edits, making each image shine.

You’ll find me making meals built around fresh, seasonal ingredients and vibrant flavors, the kind of food that tastes as good as it looks. I’m drawn to dishes with beautiful presentation, lots of fresh herbs, and flavors that make you excited to sit down and eat.

About Me

I’ve started the sweetest second act with a new marriage and began the second half of life. This means enjoying family, friends, food recipes, the curiosity for DIY home projects, and expressing my creative energy. By day, I’m a Digital Marketing Manager for a thriving credit union, which means I spend my work hours thinking strategically about storytelling, audience engagement, and growth. It’s work I genuinely enjoy.

This piece of the internet is my creative outlet. My second act. My proof to myself that you can grow something new without needing to be the expert first.

My love of food and cooking came in my 20s when travel expanded my palate beyond the simple, budget-conscious meals of my childhood. I learned so much from my original mother-in-law, a phenomenal cook who could feed a family of eight and make it look effortless. She taught me that good food doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to be made with care and beautiful, fresh ingredients.

I’m a self-taught home cook who’s more interested in beautiful presentation and vibrant flavors than in developing recipes from scratch. I want to share that you don’t need to invent something new to create something worth sharing.

The Photography Journey

My passion for photography started at 15 with my first camera, documenting the wild antics of my friends and me throughout the eighties (yes, there are photo albums full of doubles for sharing!). But food photography? That’s my current obsession and my biggest learning curve.

I have the camera, the lighting, and the props. What I’m building now is the confidence and skill, and more importantly, permission to be imperfect while I learn.

What You’ll Find Here

Recipes I love, beautifully photographed and honestly reviewed. Meals built around fresh, seasonal ingredients with vibrant flavors and gorgeous presentation. Food styling tips as I learn them, and DIY home projects that elevate your house into a home. And the occasional reminder that “published is better than perfect.”

I’m building TRU Food Love as a space for people who love beautiful food and want to create it without the pressure of perfection. For those who feel intimidated by the polished “expert” content online but still want to make something worth sharing.

This is my second act. My creative outlet. My way of building confidence through consistent action, not waiting until I’m “ready.” It’s proof that it’s never too late to get good at something you love.

I’m here to show up, create, learn, and share the journey.

xoxo, Debbie