Meet Denise Browning

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Browning.

Hi Denise, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Brazil. Before marrying an American doctor and immigrating to the United States in 2002, I worked for several years as a lawyer.

I always loved to cook (and eat!) although I didn’t have much time to do so in my home country.

I used to observe my maternal grandmother when she was cooking and ask questions about food. She has been my source of inspiration ever since then. From her, I learned good food doesn’t need to be complicated or full of a lot of ingredients. Simple food can be just as good, depending on the quality of the ingredients and how well you are able to cook them.

My first 2 years in the U.S. were a real challenge! I had to adapt to the culture and learn the language– but above all, I had to be able to cope with how much I missed everything and everyone in Brazil.

Sometimes I felt like a child in the body of an adult. I knew exactly what I wanted to say but I couldn’t communicate my thoughts as well in English as I was used to doing in Portuguese. After a few months of studying English as a second language in Northern California, I worked as a tutor in some Elementary and Middle schools, helping students from Latin America and Mexico.

After a couple of years, I went to culinary school to pursue my passion and graduated with honors in the Culinary Arts – Le Cordon Bleu program. By the time I finished my externship, I was at the end of my pregnancy. I spend a few years taking care of my children, before starting work as a culinary instructor and food blogger.

The first 4 years, under “From Brazil To You.Org,” were dedicated to Brazilian cuisine. After that, we expanded the blog to include other cuisines from around the world, but mostly focusing on healthy cooking. That is how Easy and Delish came to be in two languages: English and Portuguese! All the global dishes we cook are easy to make and delicious, but most also have a healthy twist.

These 10 years of blogging have been full of challenges but at the same time very rewarding in many ways.

We receive more than a half-million visitors per month from around the globe, most from the United States and Brazil.

I have had the opportunity to develop recipes for many national and international food brands– among them Parma Ham, Cacique, Bush’s Beans, and Nestlé. In addition, I have worked as a food and culture consultant for a few multinational brands like Coca-Cola and developed an entire menu for a Spanish food restaurant in Brazil.

Our work has been featured in many well-known sources such as The Smithsonian Magazine, Elle Magazine, Huffington Post, and Livestrong, among others. We also have appeared for local food segments on Univision and Telemundo, as well as SA Live on KSAT 12.

Our mission has been to serve busy moms like me with healthy and simple recipes, food trends, and cooking tips, making their lives easier in the kitchen. At the same time, it is a tribute to the food and culture of my two countries and their diverse cuisines.

Our cookbook published in 2020, ‘The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook: 175 Easy Recipes for Busy People,’ reflects our cooking style and simple approach to food and all the busyness of life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been paved with much sweat and tears! Like many immigrant mothers, I had to first adapt to a very different culture… and then raise my children without family around at the same time that I was building a new career in a different country.

My days are filled with many hours of work, as well as domestic tasks and family commitments– to the point that I work on weekends and only have a short vacation once a year. Finding a balance between career and motherhood has been one of the greatest challenges so far.

It has cost me a great deal to be where I am, but at the same time it has provided me tremendous experience and growth. I feel blessed and grateful for all that I have!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am many things: a chef, writer, photographer, marketer, and businesswoman. Food and culture are my things!

I am proud of having created my own business from scratch directly from my own kitchen and being able to support my family with what I do best.

Unlike some other global food blogs, we put a healthy spin on traditional dishes and simplify the cooking process, making cooking joyful!

What matters most to you?
My children are everything to me! I work hard every day to provide them with all the opportunities that they deserve.

In addition, being useful to my audience is also very important to me. I feel very honored to serve them and be able to simplify their lives in ways that only busy moms can understand!

Last but not least: I take pride, as an immigrant, in holding high a flag that says ”Yes, we can!” We are also here to demonstrate work, ethics, professionalism, and achievements. We are part of this country and we are helping to shape it!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.easyanddelish.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easyanddelish/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easyanddelish/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/easy_and_delish
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EasyandDelish
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/easyanddelish/

Image Credits
Anna Angenend