{"id":5,"date":"2013-09-05T21:51:41","date_gmt":"2013-09-05T21:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dorkysdeals.wordpress.com\/?page_id=1"},"modified":"2025-11-02T19:42:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T00:42:58","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/crayonsandcravings.com\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About Jaclyn Shimmel \u2013 Crayons & Cravings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to Crayons & Cravings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your go-to for easy, crave-worthy recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Jaclyn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hey there! I’m Jaclyn. I’m a wife, mom, and the passionate creator and food lover behind Crayons & Cravings.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Headshot<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Cooking and baking for my family and friends is something I genuinely enjoy. It’s even more special when my 8-year-old son joins me as my little assistant in the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in New Jersey, I’m constantly inspired by the changing seasons and the flavors they bring. From old-fashioned recipes passed down from my mother to exploring the latest food trends on social media, I love merging the past with the present in my kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also hold a special place in my heart for holiday-themed recipes. Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, or the 4th of July, I enjoy creating memorable dishes and treats for each festive celebration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Adding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My recipe philosophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m all about sharing easy, approachable recipes. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or a kitchen newbie, I believe that cooking and baking should be fun and stress-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here on Crayons & Cravings, you’ll find family-friendly recipes made with common ingredients, simple step-by-step instructions, and helpful tips and tricks from my kitchen to yours to ensure success for every dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I have a genuine appreciation for cooking from scratch, I recognize the value of shortcuts, especially for those leading busy lives. Whether it’s whipping up a quick batch of lemon cake mix cookies<\/a> or opting for a can of cream of chicken soup to simplify dinner, I frequently incorporate time-saving tricks in my recipes that guarantee you get the best taste without spending unnecessary hours in the kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My blogging journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting as a hobby in 2013, I decided to embrace my food blogging passion full-time in 2017 with the birth of my son. My background in the education field taught me the value of attention to detail and the beauty of sharing knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to today, I’m grateful to share my love of food and cooking with over half a million monthly visitors and a social media community of over 900,000. My content has been featured in publications such as Reader’s Digest, Country Living, Parade, MSN, Taste of Home, and Buzzfeed. I am grateful every single day<\/em> for being able to turn my passion into my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Five<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Discover my recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pour yourself a cup of coffee or a chilled glass of iced tea and delve into my collection of recipes. Use the menu at the top of the page to pursue different categories of recipes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsure of where to begin? Here are my family’s top picks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n