Welcome to Kitchen Bluebird! This food blog is all about the family recipes we grew up eating—the ones packed with memories and love—and the new dishes we’re creating in our kitchen today. Every recipe is made with care and a gluten-free twist so everyone can enjoy. It’s a celebration of good food, family traditions, and new flavors. Here’s what you’ll find on the blog.
Gluten-Free friendly
My husband, Sean, has celiac disease, so for the past 15 years, I’ve adapted many of the recipes we grew up eating to be safe and tasty for him. Most of my dishes are naturally gluten-free or easily modified to fit a gluten-free diet.
Time-Tested Favorites
Every recipe here has been made (and loved!) countless times by our family. Growing up with an Irish mother and an Italian/German father gave me a rich mix of culinary influences. Summers spent at my grandparents’ house, watching my Italian grandmother cook and bake in her cozy little kitchen, gave me an early love for food that I’m thrilled to share with you.
Mostly Semi-Homemade Recipes
Please repeat after me: My pantry is my friend. I rely on a lot of delicious pantry staples and a few smart shortcuts to help you create delicious meals in less time. Think canned beans, jarred sauces, pre-blended flours, frozen foods, (even boxed cake mix!) — ingredients that pack a punch and are easy to keep on hand. I share all my favorite pantry staples with you here and my recipes are designed to work with what you already have in your kitchen, so there’s no need for last-minute grocery runs or expensive specialty items.
That said, you’ll still find from-scratch recipes on this blog because that’s how they’ve always been made, and I’m committed to preserving the original family recipes.
Behind the Name: Kitchen Bluebird
This blog is deeply personal and rooted in family, and I want to share the story behind its name.
In 2023, I lost my Dad to an aggressive cancer—just 14 months after his diagnosis. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through, and it changed my perspective on life in so many ways.
Before my Dad passed away, he built us a wooden bluebird box for our yard. Not long after we hung it on our tree, a bluebird family moved in. One of them has become my little kitchen companion, often perching on the windowsill and tapping at the glass while I cook. That bluebird is a sweet reminder of my Dad and the love we shared. It’s also the inspiration behind Kitchen Bluebird. This blog isn’t just about food—it’s about family, memories, and the connections we create around the table.
My Dad and I shared many hobbies—woodworking, a love of history, and, of course, great food. He taught me so much over the years, but the most important lesson was how to enjoy the simple things in life. For my Dad, there was nothing better than gathering with family around a delicious meal. Some of my favorite memories are of him teaching me how to make his famous macaroni salad or standing by his side as he fried polenta in our kitchen.
Those moments will stay with me forever and remind me every day of how precious family time really is. That’s why I love food—it brings us together around the table. It’s a loving gesture to our family and friends, a way of nurturing and creating special moments just like my Dad did.
behind the blog: about me
My name is Karen, and first and foremost, I’m a loving wife and proud mom of two amazing children (and one quirky wheaten terrier).
I’ve always had a family that was big on food—it’s just part of who we are. Some of my earliest memories are tied to the kitchen, where so many special moments happened.
I drew a lot of my cooking inspiration from my Italian grandmother, Ida, my father’s mother. Her family immigrated from a small town in Northern Italy to the U.S., where they settled on a farm. She was one of the best cooks I’ve ever known, and I’m so grateful she passed down many of her cherished recipes. Although Ida was pure Italian, my grandfather was German, so her cooking was a mix of hearty Italian and German dishes—and I wholeheartedly enjoyed them both.
My mom’s side of the family is entirely Irish. Though I never had the chance to meet her parents, as they passed before I was born, their culinary traditions live on. We enjoyed classic Irish dishes like beef stew, soda bread, and corned beef with cabbage (a New Year’s tradition!) My mom was a dedicated cook—she spent countless hours in the kitchen feeding our family since dining out wasn’t something we often did. Her recipes are time-tested and packed with love, and I’m thrilled to share some of her beloved favorites with you.
This blog isn’t just about my family’s recipes—it’s about my husband’s too. I’ve had the joy of learning and carrying on many of his cherished family dishes, giving them a gluten-free twist while keeping the tradition alive.
Thank you for being here to share this journey with me. Let’s create something wonderful together!