Young entrepreneur and chef Junior Olivia Utterback has launched her new cooking site, offering a taste of her favorite dishes.
Utterback’s site, Cook With Olivia, officially went live on Oct. 17, making her recipes available to the public.
Her launch was the result of a two-month process using the Squarespace app to build the site. Utterback was new to web design and relied on YouTube tutorials to navigate the platform’s quirks and design features.
“The website is fairly easy to navigate,” Utterback said.
Her passion for cooking began during a casual hangout with her friends, when they decided to make chicken caesar smash tacos. The group enjoyed both the process and the final product — fresh, homemade food.
That experience sparked Utterback’s love for cooking.
“Cooking is where I feel most creative and free,” she said.
Utterback also credits her uncle, an experienced cook, for her love of cooking.
“He taught me how to properly cook beef wellington, as it can be very challenging,” Utterback said.
She said she drew inspiration for her recipes from TikTok and Instagram, featuring a variety of foods and desserts from different cultures. Her recipes range from high-protein, health-conscious meals to fun, sugar-filled pastries.
“My favorite dish I have made is lobster rolls,” she said.“My favorite dessert is my sugar-free high-protein banana bread.”
So far, she has published 13 scrumptious recipes. As she continues exploring her passion, she plans to update the website regularly with new content.
“My goal is to publish new content once every two weeks, and as I have more spare time in the summer, my goal is to upload new recipes once a week,” she said.
Utterback has even recruited peers to taste test some of her new recipes.
Senior Laine Wise made Utterback’s vanilla protein muffins and described them as “delectable.”
“They were so soft and flavorful,” Wise said. “I could seriously eat these every day.”
Utterback enjoyed learning that someone used her recipe and enjoyed it.
“This made me feel accomplished and happy that someone tried my recipe, enjoyed it, and it turned out to be successful,” Utterback said.
Like any new cook, she’s faced a few challenges along the way, including mastering the timing for each new dish.
“With each new recipe I make, I learn from mistakes and become more experienced each time,” Utterback said. “The first time I made cinnamon rolls, the dough wouldn’t rise, and they turned out a mess. I have always struggled with perfectionism, but cooking reminds me it’s okay to mess up.”
She hopes her website inspires others to try something new.
“Whether you’re just starting out or looking for fresh inspiration, I hope my recipes encourage you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and enjoy the process, make mistakes and all,” Utterback said.
In addition to her website, she cooks for her family about once a week and still plans cooking nights with her friends — the activity that first sparked her interest in cooking.
