What You Can Expect on Mytastedz
1.Simple, reliable recipes—both sweet and savory—that I’ve triple-tested in my own home kitchen. From comforting weeknight dinners to weekend baking projects, I hope they become staples in your home!
2.A weekly newsletter where I share fresh recipes, kitchen hacks, baking science secrets, and a little peek into my daily life.
3.Custom-designed meal planners and printable menus dedicated to helping you simplify your cooking routine and organize your busy week.
4.Practical baking tips and the “science” behind the sweets, ensuring you understand the why behind every recipe so you can bake with confidence.
5.All of my must-have kitchen equipment recommendations—from the essential digital food scale to my favorite cast-iron skillet for those perfect sears!
Let’s Start from the Beginning…
I’ve always been a “professional eater,” but not always a cook! Living in Austin, Texas, I was surrounded by incredible food—from smoky BBQ to artisanal bakeries. I found myself constantly asking, “How did they make that?” and “Could I do this in my own kitchen?
My journey started with a stubborn determination to recreate my favorite local bakery’s blueberry muffin. It took 12 attempts (and a lot of flour on the floor), but when I finally nailed it, I was hooked. That curiosity quickly spilled over into dinner time. I started experimenting with spices, textures, and flavors, turning my kitchen into a little test lab.
Mytastedz is the result of all those experiments. It’s where my craving for bakery-quality sweets meets my need for satisfying, homemade meals. I’m not a trained chef, just a curious home cook who refuses to settle for bland food. Here, you’ll find recipes that bring that “restaurant-quality” taste straight to your family table.
Turning My Kitchen into a Test Lab…
When I headed off to college at UT Austin, I didn’t take a fancy mixer with me; I took a massive appetite! Living in a city famous for its food trucks and BBQ meant my standards were high, but my student budget was low. While my roommates were surviving on instant noodles, I was in our tiny shared apartment, obsessively trying to recreate the spicy tacos and gourmet donuts I’d tasted around the city. I treated every failed batch of cookies and every pot of chili as a science experiment until I got the flavors exactly right.
I actually started my career in a generic corporate job, sitting in a gray cubicle daydreaming about what I would cook for dinner. I realized I didn’t want to spend my life filing reports; I wanted to create experiences. So, I spent every free moment reading cookbooks like textbooks and testing recipes until they were perfect. Eventually, I took a leap of faith to build MyTasteDZ, turning that obsession into a place where I could share those “restaurant-quality” discoveries with you—minus the expensive bill!
Banana Berry Protein Smoothie
Believe it or not, this smoothie was my most-made recipe in 2025 (with my recipe testing coming in a close second)! I had it for lunch almost every day, & I’ll definitely continue to in 2026! 😋 – Isabella
Get the recipe! →Fun Facts About Isabella
go-to recipe
I believe in balance! You’ll always find a jar of spicy homemade salsa (for tacos) AND a stash of frozen cookie dough balls in my freezer for emergency cravings.
weekend activity
“Researching” (aka eating!) at local Austin food trucks. I love ordering the wildest item on the menu just to see if I can recreate it better at home.
way to unwind
Hosting a casual backyard BBQ for friends or experimenting with new margarita flavors on the patio with my Golden Retriever, Biscuit.
More About Isabella & the Blog
Why is it called “MyTasteDZ” if you share savory meals too?
Great question! When I started, I was obsessed with recreating the perfect bakery sweets. But living in Austin, I quickly realized I couldn’t survive on sugar alone (believe me, I tried!). I decided to share the complete picture of my kitchen: from the indulgent cakes I bake for weekends to the flavorful, restaurant-style dinners I cook for friends on taco nights.
Do I need professional equipment to make your recipes?
Not at all! I don’t have a fancy commercial kitchen. Every single recipe on this blog is tested in my standard apartment kitchen here in Texas. If I can’t make it with a regular hand mixer, a basic bowl, or my trusty cast-iron skillet, it doesn’t make it to the blog. My goal is to give you restaurant-quality results with the tools you already own.
I’m a total beginner. Where should I start?
Welcome to the kitchen! For a sweet start, I recommend my Copycat Blueberry Muffins—they taste just like the bakery but are super easy. If you want a quick dinner, try my Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas; they are foolproof, packed with flavor, and leave you with almost no dishes to clean!
I’m looking for a baking challenge. What do you recommend?
If you want to flex your culinary muscles, try making Homemade Yeast Bread or French Macarons from scratch! They require a bit of patience and respect for the “science” of cooking, but the feeling of pulling them out of the oven is unmatched.
Do you offer vegan or gluten-free recipes?
I mostly specialize in the “real deal” (butter, flour, and sugar) because I love recreating authentic comfort food flavors. However, many of my savory dinner recipes are naturally fresh or easily customizable! I always try to note possible substitutions in the recipe notes whenever I’ve tested them.
Can I suggest a recipe for you to make?
Absolutely! I love hearing what you’re craving. Whether it’s a nostalgic dessert you miss or a restaurant dish you want to recreate at home, shoot me an email or DM me on Instagram. I might just feature it next!