Julie Laing

Julie’s 25-plus years as a writer and editor have taken her around the world, but she calls northwest Montana home. Since 2016, her writing has focused on original recipes, the techniques and tools used to make them, and the stories around them.

Julie is the author of The Complete Guide to Pickling (Callisto) and the Flathead Beacon food columnist. Her writing and photos regularly appear on Taste of Home, Allrecipes, The Spruce Eats, Kitchn, The Old Farmer’s Almanac website, Clean Plates, Simply Recipes, and numerous other places online and in print. Her food expertise has been featured in publications that include The Telegraph (UK), Insider, Cookbook Love Podcast, and Waggoner Cruising Guide. She also tests and develops recipes, edits the work of other writers, and teaches cooking workshops. She feasts on what her garden produces, and jars of homemade preserves, condiments, and ferments dominate her pantry and fridge.

Best piece of cooking advice: “Keep it fun. If you enjoy getting sticky with sourdough starter, dirty by pulling up carrots, or sweaty from canning jam, go for it. If those projects make you stressed, scale them down. A quick pickle you make in minutes can taste just as delicious as one you spent hours canning.”