Cook Like a Champion bio picture

  • Cookout Favorites for Memorial Day

    Spicy Poblano Burgers with Chipotle Cream - Smoky and spicy, these burgers are a different and delicious take on the standard grilled burger recipe.

    Bacon Burgers with Bacon Onion Balsamic Jam - These are for the serious bacon lover. There's bacon inside and on top of the burgers, and the sweet and savory jam is the perfect topping.

    Bacon Ranch Potato Salad - Homemade ranch dressing and crispy bacon turn traditional potato salad into something magical.

    Smoky Baked Beans - There's no need to buy canned baked beans when you can make these at home. The ingredients list includes chipotle, bacon and beer, so you know these are good.

About

Hi, I’m Courtney, the creator (and author-photographer) of Cook Like a Champion. I share the title of cook with my husband Eric, the tech support-kitchen cleaner-proofreader behind Cook Like a Champion. We both love cooking, baking and entertaining, and we spend most of our spare time in the kitchen. When we’re not eating food, chances are we’re thinking or talking about it.

I started this blog in 2008 as a way to chronicle recipes I was making as a newlywed. Along the way, Eric became interested in cooking and baking, and we’ve been unstoppable ever since. Our palettes have grown and expanded the same way our confidence in the kitchen has. Neither of us has any training, but we do have a lot of experience (along with the burns and occasional failures that come with it). We love trying new recipes and techniques and are constantly pushing each other to do so. No matter what we’re making, we always have fun doing it. We hope this blog will help us continue to learn and evolve in the kitchen and encourage and inspire you to try new things.

We currently reside in Central Virginia and love all the wonderful foods and wines the area has to offer. We welcomed our first child, Clara, on March 5, 2012 and are enjoying every second with our newest kitchen helper.

And yes, our last name really is Champion.

  • Jessica Zorger

    Hi Courtney!!! This is Jess, Brian’s wife….he was so excited the other night when he came home from meeting with you all and told me all about your website for cooking. I have enjoyed perusing it ever since!!! I definitely have to say that all of these wonderful kitchen creations were not being made when I was in the town home, but you have inspired me and I am going to start trying some of these recipes as well!!! They look delicious and they are even pretty to look at!!!

    Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself (I really do exist hahha) and say hello. Maybe we could all get together sometime – I would love to meet you and Eric, the dog and 2 cats : ) Until then, I will continue to enjoy your FABULOUS blog, and hopefully be able to make some of these things too!! Thanks for the ideas!!

    • Courtney

      Thanks, Jess! That’s so sweet of you to say! You’ll definitely have to come over soon to meet us and the animals. : )

  • reb

    Great blog. Very nice pictures. Thanks for all the recipes!

  • http://cookingwithwineinafish-bowlsizedglass.blogspot.com/ Ann @ Cooking with Wine

    Where in Central VA do you live? I grew up in Charlottesville and now I’m in Richmond. Small world!

    Anyway, I found your blog on the Nest (I’m a lurker) and all of your wonderful blogs inspired me to start my own. I’ve made a ton of things from yours and have a list a mile long of other things to try. I’m constantly amazed by the beautiful photos you take…just gorgeous.

    Just wanted to say hello from a fellow VA blogger!

    • Courtney

      That’s so funny! I actually live in Richmond, too. We’ve been to Charlottesville several times; we love all the wineries there. :) Your blog looks fantastic, and I love the name. Thanks for your sweet comments!

      • http://cookingwithwineinafish-bowlsizedglass.blogspot.com/ Ann @ Cooking with Wine

        Wow – I just saw this post about you living in Richmond, too! Small world, huh?

        Also – just wanted to tell you that I’d like to pass on the Stylish Blogger award to you! Love your blog…you can pick up the award on my blog post:
        http://cookingwithwineinafish-bowlsizedglass.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-award.html

        :-)

        • Courtney

          That’s so cool! I’ve gotten a couple comments from other bloggers in the area. We should all meet for dinner sometime soon!

          Thank you so much for the award and the sweet comment. :)

  • Shelly K

    Hi Courtney.

    I came across your blog today from a Pinterest site and I just wanted to let you know how great it is. I looked back through your recipes up until 2009 and it is amazing how your photos changed. You definitely take some beautiful pictures of your recipes. I have saved many of your recipes to make and will keep following you. Just wanted to say thanks for all your hard work!!!

    Shelly

    • Courtney

      Shelly, thank you so much for the super sweet comment! My photos have definitely changed over the years, but I know I still have room for improvement. :) I’m so glad you found some recipes you like, and I hope you’ll let me know how they turn out for you when you try them.

  • Barbara

    Just wanted to say I found your blog today and I’m smitten with so many of your recipes! I also live in Richmond, and wrote a food blog last year but gave it up after awhile. We have similar tastes in what we like to cook – I’ll definitely be following along from now on! Maybe I’ll see you guys around at the SOJ market this summer :)

    • Courtney

      Thank you so much! I’m so ready for the SOTJ market to start again. You’ll have to say hi if you see us! :)

  • Jennifer

    Hello!

    I came across your blogs randomly and I have to say that your recipes look fantastic! Unlike others who have commented here, I’m actually a university student from Canada, and everytime I go home(live on residence), I always look forward to cooking up a storm in my mom’s kitchen! Thanks for providing me with some new recipes to try out at home! :)

    Keep on cooking!

  • http://www.gastronometart.typepad.com Amy @ Gastronome Tart

    Hi Courtney,

    Thanks for following on twitter! Just started following you back, so I am looking forward to seeing what else you and your hubby cook up!

    As of the middle of this month, I will be moving to Richmond. I notice that you live in Glen Allen. What a small world! I also saw that you had mentioned wineries in the area. Which ones do you suggest? Any fave restaurants?

    Happy Cooking!

    Amy

    • Courtney

      How fun! I’ve got tons of favorites, so I’ll shoot you an email soon. Maybe we can meet up one day, too! :)

  • Oli

    Hi there, I’m cooking the chowder right now! Looks and smells great! I love your site – it’s great to see such nice food and pictures of it. Plus much of the warming food is perfect for here in not so sunny England! Keep up the good work!

  • Taylor

    Hey Courtney! I just happened to stumble upon your blog, and I love it. I’m still in high school, but cooking has recently become an interest of mine. I plan on trying a lot of your recipes! Keep ‘em coming and cheers from Kansas!

  • Stephanie @ LiveCookLove

    Hi Courtney!!! I’m so glad we got to meet this weekend :) I finally got a chance to check out your blog and it’s AMAZING!! I especially love all the beautiful pictures. I can’t wait to try some recipes! Keep in touch :)

    Stephanie

  • http://thelittlekimchipierogi.wordpress.com/ Joanna

    Courtney,

    Came across your blog the other day and its really great…the recipes are amazing and the photos are really just goregous. I’m from Northern Virginia and just started a food blog, so I wanted to drop you a line!

  • cathy Dinino

    I have followed annie for some time now..your blog looks fantastic..how do I join? would LOVE to get your daily updates if you offer them! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH Cathy in las Vegas

  • http://deartinybaby.wordpress.com Caroline Mincks

    Hi, Courtney, it’s MrsMincks from the boards :-) I just wanted to say that I saw your opera cake on the boards, and then saw it on Foodgawker! I was so excited to see it twice that I took it as a sign…I have to try and make it!

  • http://hiddenponies.com Anna @ hiddenponies

    Just found your blog, and I’m loving it! It’s so fresh and nicely organized, I’m looking forward to trying some of your recipes! Love that you got your husband interested in cooking too, I’m working on getting mine past breakfast foods (which he’s AWESOME at, so I KNOW he can do more!)

  • http://www.cookinuplife.com Courtney

    I love your blog! This sounds so much like my boyfriend and me– we just love cooking and thinking of new ideas with food! Glad I ran across your blog!

  • Leslie

    Courtney,
    I came across your blog today after reading about the virtual baby shower on The Curvy Carrot. What a wonderful site! Your recipes look amazing and I can’t wait to try some of them. I also love that you live in Virginia (I think?), as do I! Thanks for sharing your ideas, recipes and encouraging others!!!!

  • Richard

    Hi Courtney, I’ve been following your blog for quite some time now, and only realized tonight that you’re in Richmond! I found you by clicking through from Pink Parsley. I’ve lived in Hanover Co. and worked in Richmond all my life! Small world! You’ve got a great site and another local fan! It looks like I’m in the minority (male) based on your comments section!

  • Lisa

    I came across your recipe for Nuttela Stuffed French Toast in the Vancouver Whitecaps game day match program. I made it for Father’s Day Breakfast. It was a hit with everyone! Today I had a look at your blog and there are so many great looking recipes, that even I can make! I can’t wait to try your cheese biscuits and Chocolate PB torte.

  • B. Finn

    I’ve seen this blog for a while and I’ve tested out some of the recipes… but I never knew you lived in Virginia! I live up in NoVA, it’s great to see a Virginian!

    (ps, you should totally do a recipe to make use of the lovely apples we get in Virginia, especially around Shenandoah and the mountains)

  • Jessica Lucas

    Aww I love this